What did you choose today?
Protector by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
“When you go to work, you’re trading some of your life force for money.”
I didn’t understand my father's comment at first.
Then I realized what he was saying had more to do with spending money than working for it.
Let’s say you have $400 and you want a new 'phone' (substitute any new toy for phone).
Maybe you don’t really need a new 'phone'.
Your old one still works and it’s only a couple of years old.
The problem is, you want the new one.
If you work for $10/hour, that $400 took you 40 hours to earn.
That’s a week of full-time work.
You worked for 40 hours at a low paying job which you likely don’t love, using up some of your energy, your precious life force.
You can’t get that life force back.
We all have limited time here on earth.
I know it seems silly to talk about life force and cell phones, but that’s exactly the point.
You are spending your life force when you spend money.
The first question is: Are you willing to trade 40 hours of your life force for a new phone?
The answer might be yes, and that’s ok.
Others may answer differently, depending on their wants and needs.
The second question is: What other things might I do with 40 hours' worth of my time?
Again, everyone will have different answers, ranging from saving it for the future to spending it on travel.
It’s an interesting way to look at spending, isn’t it?
Thinking about major purchases in this way gives you perspective, and that’s a great thing!