A guy at work talks about a particular kind of coin that he collects. He absolutely loves the way the coins look. They are really pretty coins. They look like this. But he can't pay as much or buy as often as he wants because he can't afford them.
The last time he told me this was right after he came in from smoking a cigarette.
If he smokes two packs a week, my guess is that he'd have the money to afford another coin per month just from quitting the smoking.
A phrase closely related to “I can't afford it” is “I don't have the time.” My thesis adviser said many times that God gives everyone 24 hours per day. So it's not really that people don't have the time to do things — or, at least, they don't have any less time than anyone else. Gary North responded to this question something like this: “Have you thrown away your TV?” (I hardly ever watch TV anymore Now if I could make all the time I spend on the computer productive…)
Both statements are almost always underpinned by priorities that are out of whack. Finding where these priorities are out of whack, though, might be pretty straightforward. If I find myself saying “I can't afford it,” I can ask instead, “How can I afford it?” If my colleague asked this, he might find that he could afford to buy more coins if he quit smoking. Or, if I find myself saying “I don't have the time,” I can ask instead, “How can I find the time?” I'd look for activities to cut, maybe starting with unproductive ones like TV or surfing Digg or whatever, and then with productive but less important activities, until I can gather up the time to do something really spectacular.
All of this from asking a question rather than making a statement.
Well, yeah, he can't afford it because he smokes. I'm not a smoker, but I have known plenty. And I don't know one that doesn't want to quit. I've known some that have quit, but they still ended up smoking again. It's a very powerful addiction.
At least he realizes that he can't afford the coins and doesn't just buy them on credit.
And about "I don't have the time", I think people often say that when they mean, "I don't have the energy." At least, that's the way it is for me. There may be 24 hours in the day, but only so many that I have the energy to be really productive. I have no problem watching t.v. when I'm just too tired to do anything else.
And usually, I watch t.v. while doing other things. Actually, I can't remember the last time that I just watched t.v. I watch it while cooking, while on the computer, while practicing music…
So, I don't know that I'd be much more productive if I gave up t.v. altogether.
I always believe that whereas there is NEVER enough time to do everything, there is ALWAYS enough time to do the important things. What is important to you, will get done.
Here here! This reminded me of a conversation I had 2 days ago with a co-worker. I am retiring in 5 short days (at the ripe old age of 44). She is closing in on "normal" retirement age but wonders how she will ever afford retirement. A problem for many people, I understand.
But in her case, it's just as you say, priorities. She sent 2 kids to private schools (although public schools in her area are very good) to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars a year. She and her husband have 2 luxury cars, she has a penchant for new clothes, and they own a boat!
It's all about deciding what to spend your money on, isn't it?
I've found myself asking "How can I find the time?" more and more recently. You really can find the time for things that are important. Like you said though, you have to re-prioritize.