In his Advice to a Young Tradesman, Written by an Old One, Benjamin Franklin first remarked that time is money. No doubt you’ve heard the saying, but I hadn’t known from whom it had originated. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the day to day, but sometimes we need to step back and reflect. Have those who swarm the malls to purchase the latest gadget found the meaning of life? Senseless accumulation of goods?
Don’t get me wrong, I love tech gadgets. I accumulate more than my fair share. But I’m just thinking out loud here. Most of us trade our time (labor) for money. Each day we work, we are paid a sum. We then use this money on both necessary and unnecessary expenses. Benjamin Franklin said to waste neither time or money. If money is wasted, we must spend additional time to earn back that money that was wasted. Everything we buy should contribute more to our happiness than the time spent working to pay for that item hinders our happiness.
Theoretically, there is nearly no limit to money Whether you have a little or a lot, there is essentially an infinite supply to money. Thus, based on the principles of supply and demand, it must be less valuable than time, which is a finite resource (at this point). While you can always earn more money, you can’t earn more time.
As someone who is obsessed with tracking my finances, sometimes I get too wrapped up and begin to treat my time as if money > time. However, only upon pausing to ponder my life, am I reminded that money > time. So as you spend time with family and friends these holidays, remember that time truly is a finite resource and should be cherished, not wasted.
(Image: Flickr)
