Vol. 258: 'Memories are Life's Greatest Asset' - Rethinking How We Spend Time and Money

This is Sana Moriyama.

This time, I would like to talk about the theme of 'creating life memories.'
When you spend your days talking about asset building and household finances,
it is easy for your focus to lean toward 'saving' and 'growing' money.

Of course, that is important, but
what I have been feeling again recently is that
finding ways to turn money into irreplaceable assets called memories is just as important.

'The right time to go' only lasts for a fleeting moment

This spring, my family went on an overseas trip.

My youngest is still in first grade. My oldest is in sixth grade, and
thinking that there might only be a few years left before they stop wanting to go out with their parents...
I deeply felt how truly precious this current moment is.

Actually, when the topic of the trip came up,
'Spending money at this time is a bit...'
'We have other plans, too...' I hesitated for a moment.

But my husband quietly said,
'The time when we can actually go passes by in a flash, doesn't it?'
and that really resonated with me.

That's right.
We think we can go on family trips anytime, but
when you consider how few chances there are for the whole family to be together while the children are still small, it's actually quite rare.

And in the end, that trip became an experience that we can truly say 'I'm so glad we went!'
The local hotels, the local markets, the drone show we saw abroad at night—

all of these are memories that photos just can't fully capture.

'Time' is the greatest asset

When we talk about asset building,
we tend to focus on 'money' and 'financial assets,'
but actually, the most important thing is 'time'.

Everyone only has 24 hours in a day,
and no matter how much money you have, you cannot 'buy more.'

And time has a 'peak season of value.'

Especially for the child-rearing generation, now is a truly precious time.

It's something money can't buy, but by using money wisely, it becomes richer.
When you realize that such 'time' only exists now, there is no reason not to cherish it.

Can 'memories' be bought with money?

Of course, you can't buy memories themselves.
But you can use money to create the 'opportunity' for them.

These might all be significant expenses if you convert them into money.

But if they become 'times when the family can laugh together' 10 or 20 years from now,
I think that is the best investment.

'Idle time' and 'meaningful time' are both the same one hour

There is a story like this.

One summer day, when we had no particular plans, the children said, 'We want to play in the river!'

From an adult's perspective, I honestly felt, 'Preparing is such a hassle...', but

when we took our swimsuits to a nearby river...
Before I knew it, the children were having a blast.
Dipping their feet in the river, finding small fish and getting excited,
before we knew it, my husband and I were also caught up in it, fully immersed.

There were no special facilities or luxurious leisure activities, but those two hours became 'time that remains in our memories.'

Perhaps the value of time is determined by how you spend it.

Cultivate the mindset of 'turning money into experiences'

What we have always been conscious of is
'turning money into life experiences.'

For example, we review our monthly subscriptions and cut back on mindless spending at convenience stores so we can use that money for 'truly valuable experiences.'
Unlike material goods, these memories never fade away.

We are convinced that 'our actions today' create 'our memories of tomorrow.'

Especially for the child-rearing generation,
I feel it is important to consciously design
the 'irreplaceable time' spent with family.

Saving money is, of course, important.

But,

using money to create memories is not a waste, but an 'investment in the future.'

Conclusion: Create your own life highlights

When looking at social media,
it is easy to get caught up in other people's travels and purchases, but
what matters is 'creating your own highlights yourself.'

Instead of following someone else's values,
choose 'good memories for yourselves.'

We want to ensure we can use our 'time' and 'money' for that
without any regrets.

If we can do that, I believe asset building will surely
become more meaningful
as a 'means to enrich our lives.'

Thank you for reading until the end today.

I have compiled my practical methods so far into a Kindle book.