Most of the world may be enduring the devastating effects of a long term global recession, but judging by the recent news out of China there are still a few people out there who can afford to splurge on life’s luxuries. A limited edition Rolls Royce automobile designed to cater to the booming luxury car market in China has completely sold out in a span of just two months. The sleek and stylish Rolls Royce Year of the Dragon Phantom, which is designed to honor the Chinese New Year and boasts a price tag of $1.2 million, proved to be recession-proof as Chinese consumers snapped the limited edition vehicle up at an astounding pace. Created specifically in commemoration of the Chinese Year of the Dragon, which recently started amidst national celebrations, the Rolls Royce Year of the Dragon Phantom attracted China’s elite crowd by becoming a must have status symbol. With the next Year of the Dragon set to begin in 2024, Chinese drivers no doubt responded to the immediacy of the dragon trend and the desire to possess a vehicle which separates them from the crowd. In a nation of over 1 billion residents, distinguishing yourself from the rest can be a difficult task, but the one of a kind design of this Rolls Royce will surely do the trick.

The top specification version of the vehicle comes in a customized shade of maroon and is emblazoned with ornate gold detailing which depicts dragons to complete the theme. These features, which appeal directly to the Chinese people’s sense of history and aesthetics, no doubt fueled the frenzy of purchases that led to the Rolls Royce Year of the Dragon Phantom to sell out so quickly. Customers who shelled out over a million bucks to enjoy this luxurious ride are also able to fully customize the vehicle with special embroidery, food and wine cabinets and other accoutrements. According to Rolls Royce marketing executives, this element of extreme personalization was a major factor in the rush to buy the Dragon Phantom, because Chinese consumers crave the opportunity to express themselves publically.

The particular affinity that Chinese drivers have clearly shown for Rolls Royce’s Year of the Dragon Phantom is an extension of the country’s overall desire for luxury automobiles. Rolls Royce alone features a total of 14 showrooms throughout China and plans to open more throughout 2012 to meet an ever growing demand for high end items in the country. While the overwhelming success of the company’s commemoration of the Chinese New Year surely contributed the sales success Rolls Royce enjoyed in 2011, there is no reason to expect a decline next year. The global economy is finally beginning to show signs of life and China is home to a growing market for high-end luxury vehicles. After selling a car priced at $1.2 million completely out of stock within a span of just 2 months, Rolls Royce is surely ready to double down on their presence within the expanding Chinese marketplace.

Emma Martin is a contributing writer for eRentals, the best online care rental supplier with over 12,000 locations worldwide.

Even if you’ve got lots of it, it seems inevitable that everyone at some point will worry about money.  That’s not to say that it isn’t healthy in some aspects to devote time to organizing your finances, planning ways to acquire more money, or continue to develop strategies for managing it.  Undue worrying about money will contribute to a decline in your health.  Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t stay up all night letting fears about money dance in your head:

Time management.  While it is natural for human beings to worry, too much is not productive and actually doesn’t accomplish anything.  Therefore, devoting too much time to worry about anything, especially your finances, is really just an enormous waste.  If you do feel worried, find ways to be proactive.  Try to find the root of your fears and develop an action strategy to combat it.  What can you do to change whatever situation is causing you so much worry?

Fulfilling life.  They say that money can’t buy happiness.  While that may be true, certainly a lack of money or worry about your finances can keep you from enjoying the more fulfilling things in your life, especially when spending time with your children or loved ones.  Your health also includes your mental well-being, and this will suffer as well if you let worrying get in the way of enjoying your life.

Up all night.  How many times have you lain awake all night because you are worrying too much about your perceived money problems?  Lack of sleep can lead to physical problems as well as behavioral issues.  Many people who worry too much take up drinking or smoking and then suffer additional problems because of the ways they abuse those products.  Instead of staying up all night, take a natural sleep supplement such as melatonin.  Worrying won’t solve any of your problems, and staring at the ceiling into the wee hours of the night isn’t going to fix them either.

Illness.  Chronic worrying can lead to a whole host of unpleasant physical side effects, including a suppression of the immune system that leads to increased illness.  If you are feeling anxious about your money, you may be subject to more headaches, fatigue, memory loss, an inability to concentrate, uncontrollable sweating, or nausea.  More severe conditions such as digestive disorders and heart attack may also result from too much stress.

Relationships.  Increased irritability is one side effect of too much worry, and can lead you to mistreat the people closest to you.  If you are fixated on money, it may also cause the people close to you to lie about their own financial situations in order to appease you.  This may be the perfect time for a reality check:  which means more to you, your relationships or our bank account?

If you are continuing to worry about money even after reading this article, perhaps you should consider ways to cut back on necessary expenses, such as looking into discount dental plans.

The problem with lending, as opposed to giving money is that a loan inherently implies repayment.  So if someone asks you for a loan you expect to get the money back at some point (whereas simply giving them the money would result in no debt).  As a millionaire, however, you’re in a difficult position when it comes to making personal loans at the request of family and friends that may not be as well off as you.  Because you have the money, you may not have any qualms about lending it out (and they might not hesitate to ask if you are the generous sort).  But the other side of the equation is that borrowers may not feel particularly inclined to pay you back simply because they imagine you can afford to be without it.  Unfortunately, this type of situation can ruin your personal relationships.  So while you certainly can lend money to your family and friends, it behooves you to demand that they repay loans just like they would with any other type of lender.

There are several reasons for a hardline attitude when it comes to personal loans.  For one thing, just because you have better-than-adequate funds at your disposal doesn’t mean you can afford to flush them down the drain on bad investments (which personal loans could definitely become).  After all, you didn’t get where you are by making bad financial decisions.  And if you continue to lend without first getting repayment on earlier loans, you’re basically letting people walk all over you.  That’s not a good feeling for you, and believe it or not your family and friends will grow to resent you for it.  So if you’re going to make personal loans to your loved ones, you must do so with the expectation of repayment.

This is not to say that you have to sue your family and friends should they fail to repay a loan (although you definitely shouldn’t lend to them again).  But you should take steps to make your intentions known, including a written agreement.  This could be as simple as an IOU or as complex as a legal contract, but between friends you should probably go with a basic document that includes the amount of the loan, the interest rate, and a schedule for repayment, as well as your signature, the signature of the borrower, and perhaps a notary public to act as a witness.  This document will hold up in court (should you find it necessary) and it will protect you from having to pay any gift tax (should the IRS require proof that the money was a loan rather than a gift).  Further, such an agreement will likely deter anyone who has it in mind to take the money and run.

You aren’t an ATM, so don’t let your family and friends treat you like one just because you have money.  You also aren’t a bank or a company that offers payday loans; if you were, you’d offer much less favorable terms.  Remind your family and friends of this when they come to you for money, and let them know that while you’re happy to do them a favor, you do expect them to live up to their end of the arrangement.  But if you feel uncomfortable about the situation or you’ve simply been burned too many times, simply say no.  Your family and friends might be mad, but they’ll come around eventually.