There is More than Money

I watched Ponyo with my daughter this evening, without the computer and without working on anything. I desperately need to clean my house and do a ton of other things, but I realized that I haven’t spent much time with her actually doing anything. She begs me every night to play a game with her, she asks what we’ll do when summer comes. Will we go to a waterpark? Will we play croquet outside? Hey, maybe we can go to Hollywood? (She doesn’t even know where Hollywood is. A good suggestion nevertheless.)

And although I watched the movie with her, my mind was still going and working and wondering. Trying to keep track of the things I still need to get finished up tonight. Did I forget something? I always forget something. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much about Ponyo. Luckily, the Movie Gallery is going out of business so DVDs are less than $5. Since we don’t have satellite television anymore I’ve been buying really cheap movies to watch. So, we can watch it again sometime and maybe I’ll pay attention.

Frugalness and making money and budgeting can get out of hand, I think. We can become so focused on the making of money that we forget why we are making the money. In my case, I want to get out of debt, I want to take care of my daughter, I want to give her a good life until she is able to give herself a fantastic life on her own.

Giving her a good life though doesn’t mean buying her games I don’t have time to play and providing nice clothes so the other kids and parents don’t pity her for having an unmarried mother. (That’s actually for my benefit anyway. I doubt anyone else really cares what my 6 year old is wearing.)

A good life for my daughter also has to include time and sharing. Doing things together, having fun, enjoying today because today is short. She’s 6 and it seems like only yesterday she was learning to walk. Based upon this definition, have I given her a good life so far? Maybe not.

I’m considering taking her to the movies this weekend. Not because I have a coupon or there’s a great deal. Movie theaters don’t really fit into my budget. My bills are not paid and I am not out of debt (yet). I’m taking her because we deserve it. She puts up with me and watches me work until she goes to bed daily. She understands when I tell her we don’t have money for that, although she did suggest once to just go that machine at the gas station to get some. There is room in everyone’s budget to forget about the budget and to consider what we’re doing and if in the long run it will be worth it.

To me, it is worth all of the work. But sometimes we need to breathe a little. Which means movies or dinner or vacations we can’t really afford, and if things really work out…maybe even a trip to Hollywood. Or Texas, she has suggested that too.

Have a great weekend, everyone! (And spend a little. You won’t die.)