05/13/2026
Applying financial critical thinking to Life:
My wife and I talk about life values we want our daughters to learn all the time.
Recently we gave her 20 dollars for her school shop.
She came back with a necklace for mom, a flower for mom, a keychain for grandma, and this beautiful #1 dad keychain.
My wife asked her how much money she has left she didn’t know, she’s like some dollars.
My wife said she probably went into debt buying all that with 20 dollars, maybe the teacher gave it to her. Lol
She then said her friends around her age used a couple dollars and saved the rest.
She asked me which one I think is better.
I said well… if the one that saves, saves for a reason like when I was little saving quarter by quarter for a gameboy, then I prefer the saver.
But if you save money just to look at it, then I’d be my daughter 200x over , atleast she got to yolo and do what she wants.
This translated in my mind to financial planning with clients. Some people use way below their means with a strong base of fixed income (SS + pension).
Still looking to save, invest, and grow with no true purpose tied to it. Kind of reminds me of the Morgan Hausel quote of “I’m fulfilled because I know what’s my enough.”(something like that)
So rather the goal is a Michilen dining experience or a multi-family home. As long as it’s something you fully embraced , I believe it’s worth it.
