A down payment on our dream

Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want. Anna Lappe, O Magazine, June 2003

Have you ever heard Charles Dickens' aphorism, "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."

Pithy.  Earn money.  Spend less than we earn.  I couldn't agree more.

But there's so much more to be said about money.

Like 'annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six' -- on what?  And why?

In other words, once we've exceeded this basic hurdle of money management (spending less than we earn), then what?

For instance, how do we spend our money?  Doesn't how we spend mirror how we see the world, reflecting back to us if there's a place for our dream?

Source:  istockphoto

For example, when we spend money to house, feed, clothe, educate -- and play with -- our children, aren't we making a down payment on their happiness, their 'who they are', and on a close-knit family? 

What about money spent on savings and investment?  Maybe we are spending now so we can feel secure in the event of a rainy day.  Perhaps we want a world in which our children go to college.  And maybe we want the financial wherewithal to give back.

As we participate in philanthropic pursuits, like the Snow Leopard Trust as my daughter does, aren't we casting a vote for a world where we take care of our own, even as everyone is our own?  If we tithe, are we not spending for a world where God matters? 

There are so many great ways to spend our money, but I do wonder Is there any room in our budget, any money at all, for a world in which our dream has a place?

Perhaps, we feel we don't have the money (or time, or permission) to put toward our dream.  Happily, Psyche didn't need to shear the rams and then obtain all of their fleece, she needed a just bit of fleece that the ram's had perchance rubbed off on the brambles in order to complete her hero's journey.

Just a little bit of fleece, a little bit of time, a little bit of money, to make a down payment on our dream.

If you do a quick rundown of what you spend each month, how much do you spend on your children's dreams?  Or your dreams for your children and/or spouse?  Friends?  The world?  Yours?

What else can Psyche's journey teach us about making a down payment on our dreams?

How can we harness Charles Dickens' advice on behalf of following the advice of Anna Lappe?

P.S. Matt Langdon over at The Hero Workshop forwarded this article Look at yourself before it's too late to change -- a good, quick read.

Related posts:
Psyche and choice
Valuing what women do
Systergy in St. Louis
A philanthropic hero's journey:  Luanne Zurlo
Of Corvettes and Porsches

Comments

[tracy ho]

Great post , but that life get, money recycle.

Good luck ,

Tracy Ho
wisdomgettingloaded

[ice]

thanks for the idea.

[Barbara]

This is something that we all need to think about. Thank you for the post. The trick is a balance between garnering personal wealth while we watch our family, church or charity suffer and giving it all away, leaving ourselves the one needing help. If I, personally, were to come down on one side or the other I would choose generosity within my reach. It seems that in this universe, generosity is a success in and of itself.

Thank you for you comment Whitney. I cannot tell you how I appreciate your support.

b

[EHD]

Money is a tool. Like any tool, it can be used for good or ill. We can also confuse the tool and the goal. A good outcome comes from striking the proper balance between dreams and means, balancing present and future.

Two extreme examples: My parents are poor money managers. They are also selfless and generous. Consequently, they have a lot of successful, well-educated, well-loved children (and now grandchildren), but very few retirement assets. It is a stressful place to be, although I believe they would make the same choices again.

My mother-in-law is frugal to a fault. She was poor for many years, but by watching every single penny accumulated significant assets. However, her children don't particularly like each other or her. She spend a lot of time worrying about asset preservation and passing them on to the next generation without realizing that spending the money NOW would create priceless memories. She can't take the money with her, but she could take some mended family relationships into eternity.

If I had to pick a model, I would pick my parents. Fortunately, I have sufficient means to create memories while also providing for my future.

The challenge that many face today is excess. How do we teach our children that money does not buy happiness or love? (It can buy the experiences that may deepen happiness and love, but it's a fine and tricky distinction.)

[Jessica]

Wow, I love the the idea of looking at our budget this way. Thank you!