Today my daughter told me that she wanted to be a doctor in space. She wants to be the doctor to the astronauts. When I asked her why, she told me that it was so she could have lots of money. I thought this was a strange concept for a five-year-old to be talking about. I asked her what she meant. She told me that she wanted to have more money than I did.
I asked her what she meant. She told me that sometimes she wanted to get treats at the grocery store, and I had told her we couldn’t afford the treats at the time. She told me she always wanted to get treats at the grocery store when she was grown up. I told her that if I went back to work, that we could afford all the treats that she wanted at the grocery store. So she could choose if she wanted mommy at home or treats from the store. She chose mommy at home.
This made me happy. The choice to be at home with my children has been a financial trade off for my family. When I quit working five years ago our income was cut in half. We did not have any debt at that time, and so we were able to make that choice. It has not always been easy. It means that we have done without new cars, new clothes, the latest toys and gadgets.
However, through careful planning, and budgeting, we have always been able to provide for the needs of our family. I feel that the choice has been the right one for our family. The bonds I am building with my children, and the time I spend with them now will help them in the future.
Everyone has a similar decision to make at some point in your life. It may not have anything to do with staying home with your children. It may be that you decide to pursue a different career choice. You may decide that you want to travel extensively. It may be spending more time with your parents. By planning now you will be in a position in the future to pursue your other goals. A budget is not a restraint, but rather a ladder that can get you where you really want to go.
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