Put your wallet away

When my family came from Cuba in 1963, my father's salary was barely enough to cover rent and expenses; somehow they managed to deposit money in their savings account every week.

Unlike our generation, my parents were able to survive without the list of "must haves." Their list consisted of the necessities of life.

I grew up in a little house, with few toys, one television, air conditioning that we only turned on at night and we rarely went out to eat.

And guess what? I had a wonderful childhood and I didn't notice we had been economically challenged until my teens.

Most of us spend money on things we don't really need. The stop at Starbuck's on the way to the office. The little toy you bought your child at the grocery store so that he'd let you shop.

The popcorn and drinks you bought at the movies, the pizza you ordered on Saturday night and the shoes (your third pair of black pumps) you bought at the mall.

You might think that you can't live without these things, but when you consider the amount of money you're throwing away every month giving up a few of these things might be worth it.

Too many people are stressing themselves out in order to live what they consider to be the good life.

At the end of the month when the bills start pouring in and it's just you and your credit card statement the reality sets in.

We do our children harm when we raise them believing that unless they have the latest toys they won't be happy.

We have raised a generation of children that don't know how to have fun unless they are spending money? They don't know how to hang out at someone's house and just be.

Today's parents never say no. It's easier to give children money and drop them off somewhere than it is to have them at home.

But is giving your children everything they want really making them happier? Are you teaching your children how to live responsibly within their means? Are you preparing them for the challenges they will have in the future?

Living a good life is about being able to sleep at night. It's about saving money to buy a home you can afford. It's about living comfortably and yes, going out to eat and doing fun things, but only if and when you can afford it.

Challenge yourself to be truthful about your financial situation. Is the stress really worth it?

We have become a society that measures wealth by the dollar sign and not by the things that really matter.

Our health, our family, our friends, these are the things that really matter. Put your wallet away and invest your time doing something worthwhile. The odds are you will end up richer, in a much more profound and meaningful way.

Maria Luisa Salcines is a freelance writer, certified parent educator and corporate empowerment consultant with The International Network for Children and Families in Redirecting Children's Behavior, Redirecting for a Cooperative Classroom, and Redirecting Corporate America. Contact her at her Web site at www.redirectingchildrenrgv.org.