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Time is Your Most Precious Asset
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I spent a lot of time writing about money. Bargaineering is, after all, a personal finance blog and personal finance is mostly about money. The problem with writing mostly about money is that you can easily start to think of everything in those terms. As the adage goes, a hammer sees only nails, right? You start to think that the main pursuit of life is accumulating more wealth. You start thinking about trade-offs as simply about being dollars and cents. That would make sense if money was the most precious asset in the world. It’s not. It’s not diamonds, it’s not gold, it’s not any of those things.
The most precious asset in the world is not money.
It’s time.
When you go to work, you’re trading your time for your money.
The amount of money you can accumulate is theoretically very high. It’s not infinite, but the sky is truly the limit. Just look at the list of the richest people in the world. While many have inherited their wealth, plenty have built it themselves.
The reality though, and this hits home during the holidays, is that after a few million, how much more do you need? Those folks have billions. All it takes is one idea, brilliant execution at the perfect time and you should be set for life. But, you can never do the same with time. Once that second passes, it’s gone. You may not know how much time you have left on this Earth but you know, with absolutely certainty, it’s not infinite.
So this holiday season, as people go crazy in the stores buying the latest gadget or toy that the brand marketers have tricked us into believing is valuable… remember that the only thing that is valuable is your time.
(Photo: tonivc)
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I am always reminded of this when I hear of someone passing away when they are young. We aren’t guaranteed a long life so make the most of the time you have. I just make sure I don’t use that as an excuse to be irresponsible and not plan for my likely future.
As Ben Franklin first said “time is money”
Jim, how did you get so wise?
100% accidental
Thanks Jim! I needed to hear that today.
You couldn’t be more right. Money is important, but not as important as our time with family and friends. Plan on making the most of that this Christmas.
You are correct Jim. Time is one of the precious assets in the life of man, you cannot buy or return the time you wasted. Additionally, if Gold is known as the most precious metal, therefore it is true that “TIME IS GOLD”.
There’s always trade offs, whether your working or spending time with friends and family. If you boil it all down, we really are trading time for money/things and vice versa.
My parents raised us to know that ‘giving of yourself’ is the most important gift of all and that helping others when needed was the two-way street that led to contentment with yourself. Even a short visit with a lonely neighbor can change an attitude and bring a smile that lasts all day.
The time that it takes is the main reason I don’t participate in Black Friday.
WOW !
One pay check from homeless, but I see myself as a very wealthy women . Time spent loving and helping someone , is time well spent. Yes we need money. But it don,t warm the heart.
So true…and time increases in value the older you get.
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Hebrews 13:5 ESV.
I think the author of this book of the Bible is talking partially about our precious time. Money can never replace our time… it only seems to help. Faith is Jesus Christ provides ultimate security.