Then there is that other sort of person that believes that nothing can be as wonderful as the fun that a person can have right now. Since I can't "take it with me", as they say, I might as well "eat, drink and be merry" right now.
I myself don't adhere to either of these points of view. I have a tendency towards not missing opportunities today that might never come again, such as spending money, perhaps more than is wise, on a meaningful activity with my family which will become a wonderful memory to cherish for years to come. In many ways this type of spending is actually a type of investing; in the future of the health of my family. The relationships we develop with our loved ones must be worked on now, and not at some obscure future time. Remember Harry Chapin's famous song "Cat's Cradle?" This song illustrated the well-known "tomorrow" syndrome in a poignant and heartbreaking way. The mistake we all have a tendency to make when we tell our children "we'll get together when I have time."
Of course, on the other hand, quality time with our families does not always require large sums of money. Sometimes the inexpensive or free moments can be the best. But sometimes a really great time for everyone might require some money spent, and if so, sometimes it might be wise to say, "the future is now."
Then again, if we are lucky, and we live a long time, long enough to retire and do some of the things we just couldn't do when we were working 40 or more hours each week; when our children needed a lot of tending to and all the other things that get in the way of traveling, hobbies we love, enjoying long walks, or whatever it may be, it might be nice to have a bit of money to enjoy that time without worry.
So in conclusion it appears to me that the correct approach to this dilemma is to strive towards a responsible savings plan to ensure a worry-free and active retirement, while at the same time keeping our options open for some "irresponsible" spending today, while we still have our good health and our young children around to enjoy ourselves together with them. It is true you can't take it with you, but it is also true that one day the future will be here and you will be happy that you were prepared and ready to meet it in style.
Emily Salisbury, the author of this article, writes about crafts, cooking, and home decorating. Her creative skills are far more developed than her financial skills, so she turns to professionals for investment advice.
Putting together a savings plan she could live with wasn't easy, so Emily looked for a reliable investment adviser. Harry Rady of Rady Asset Management came highly recommended and helped her to make a plan that lets her enjoy her life now while planning for a secure retirement.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emily_Salisbury
Posts
