Watch Your Choices And Reward Yourself

I attended a seminar where the speaker admonished anyone in the audience who watched cable television at night.  I instantly felt guilty (even though I have no bad debt, I AM the Queen of Guilt).  My husband and I have watched every episode of CSI, NCSI, CSI Miami, 24, Law & Order and the Sopranos!  Boy, did I feel he had my number!  I was so busted!rnrnI have heard this same line from speakers all over the world.  This particular speaker was fabulous. And it is true that you should not lose focus on your goal. You absolutely need to prioritize your activities. You will not get yourself out of debt watching TV. But, as I sat there listening to him rebuking the audience one more time, my guilt turned into anger and frustration.  Why was I angry when I thought the speaker was so great? I realized there is another perspective and it should be shared.  My husband, Michael, and I enjoy those cable programs.  We use this time at night to reward ourselves. We have earned that quiet time; we got the job done! If I have created opportunity for myself during the day, I reward myself by cuddling on the sofa with my husband for a couple of hours.  The shows are irrelevant, but the time cuddling with my husband is priceless.  (However, I do give thanks for TIVO because I have lost patience for commercials!) There are many nights where Michael will say, “Are you coming to watch television?  Should I wait for you, or not?”  He asks me this because I am in our home office furiously answering e-mails or sending new ones.  Why?  So I can say, “I’ll be there in just a minute, as soon as I finish here.”  When I turn off the lights in my office, I know I have earned the time cuddling with my husband!  And more, I have worked on my future!  Now to the real point.  The issue isn’t the debt you are in today; the issue is what you are doing for your future! What are you doing for your future?  There are 24 hours in the day.  You may be committed to 8 hours for your job, but that still leaves you 16 hours.  You may give 8 hours to sleep (wouldn’t that be a gift?).  That still leaves 8 hours.  Let’s assume you need 2 hours to commute back and forth to work (ugh!), 1 hour to get ready for your day, 1 hour for dinner (hopefully with your family), you still have 4 hours in your day.  Can you commit to spending 1 hour of that remaining 4 hours a day to your future?  In other words, can you commit to spending 7 hours a week to your future? However, if you can and will commit to spending 4 hours a week on your future, magic can and will happen in your life. It all starts with a desire and commitment to make the necessary changes to build our future. What will you do with this new found time to work on your future? Share your vision of your future and what you are working on so we can support you with guidance and wisdom. Pay Your Family First is a company dedicated to providing financial education for families. Our goal is to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit and a love for learning. Join us! www.payyourfamilyfirst.com. – – – – – Sharon Lechter CEO – Pay Your Family FirstrnCo-author of Three Feet From Gold and Rich Dad Poor Dad Member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy Member of the National CPA’s Commission on Financial Literacy of the AICPA.