Recently I went on a date with one of my teenage sons to get a treat at a local food court. We spent $15 and a few hours together, and it was quite enjoyable. Although the financial commitment of our time together was relatively small, it got me thinking about the bigger picture of how this applies to why I save and how I spend? And, just as importantly, how do these questions and answers relate to long-term retirement planning?
Why do we save our money? At times we find ourselves so focused on saving for the future, saving up for what's coming next we forget to enjoy the small and simple pleasures of life right now. Money is for our fulfillment, and we are meant to enjoy life both now and in the future. Keep in mind I am not justifying spending everything now and forgetting about retirement. I am talking about being prepared for retirement in conjunction with enjoying our resources now.
In thinking about the date with my son, the opportunity to try something new and the hours we spent together made that a memorable and uplifting experience. It's moments like these that remind me that we make money to enjoy experiences in life.
What do you enjoy in life? Where do you find fulfillment? Is it a $15 date with a child or grandchild, or is it something more? We should be using our money to find that enjoyment and fulfillment. That doesn’t mean carelessly throwing our money at anything that catches our attention. Instead, it means using and saving our money with the intent of finding enjoyment in life.