Money Doesn't Always Buy Happiness

I rarely share stories I get via email but this one really touched me. It's one we should all remember when it comes to our lives and money.

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

"Daddy, may I ask you a question?"

"Yeah sure, what it is?" replied the man.

"Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"

"That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?" the man said angrily.

"I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"

"If you must know, I make $50 an hour."

"Oh," the little boy replied with his head down. He then looked up and shyly asked, "Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'

The father was furious.

"If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities," the father said.

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down and started to think. Maybe there was something his son really needed to buy with that $25.00. He had to admit that his son really didn't ask for money very often

The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

"Are you asleep, son?" He asked.

"No daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy.

"I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier," said the man. "It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you asked for."

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. "Oh, thank you daddy!" he yelled.

Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money and started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father.

"Why do you want more money if you already have some?" the father grumbled.

"Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied. "Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son and he begged for his forgiveness.

As a Financial Life Planner, I sometimes ask my clients what they would do if they had all of the money in the world. I get answers such as: I would buy a bigger house, travel, donate money to charity.

But the most common answer I get is that "I'd spend more time with those I love."

At the end of the day, we are all looking for happiness. It doesn't take gobs of money to be happy. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you love.