The cost of not spending when you can
One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately is that the value of money changes depending on when we use it.
We tend to think $10,000 saved today will be worth more in the future because it can be invested and grow.
Financially, that makes perfect sense.
But life doesn't always work that way.
A family holiday when your children are 12 and 15 might be worth more to you than the same holiday when they're 22 and 25.
An experience with your parents while they're still healthy enough to enjoy it can't necessarily be postponed for another ten years.
And some of the things we'd like to do ourselves may simply be more enjoyable while we have the health and energy to do them.
I think this becomes particularly relevant in our 40s and 50s.
We've spent a long time being told to prepare for the future — pay down the mortgage, build super, invest and save for retirement.
And all of that is important.
But sometimes we can become so focused on having enough later that we forget some opportunities have an expiry date.
That doesn't mean we should stop saving or spend money we can't afford.
It means understanding whether we're on track — and if we are, giving ourselves permission to use some of our money when it can create the most value in our lives.
Because money can be carried forward.
Time can't.