Do you think money or time is more important?

Question

Other than working just to pay the bills, do you think parents that work for extra's like holidays, brand clothes etc., are being better to their children by providing this stuff, or is time more important.

Personally I think time is better.

But it is easy for me to say this because I don't need to work.

This is not a working mother bashing debate.

Answer 1

Time. It's a pretty simple answer that I think most people would agree on.



The problem is not the theory, it is the implementation. I hear so many people say "Oh, I would love to spend more time with my family, but I have to work to pay the bills." Sure you do. BUT you don't have to have so many bills.



It has been proven that most families do not actually make more income with both parents working. Once you pay the daycare, second car costs, clothes, food, etc., you not making anything worthwhile.



Years ago a very wise friend told me that 20 years from now my daughter would not care if we drove a new car or if we had big house or if she had all name brand clothes. But, she would remember that I had time for her.



*DISCLAIMER - This obviously is in regards to people that have a choice. I am well aware that many do not.

Answer 2

To each their own--I personally think time is better but I have a great man that provides for us so I can stay home with the kids. I mean, its a demanding world out there today and alot of parents just want whats good for their kids and what will make their children happy; whether it be brand name clothes or the newest cell.

There is also so much change and evolution in regards to women and the role we play these days. It is not normal for a women to be working 13 hour days out side of the home...women are striving for independance and thats all cool but its not my thing. I know that I belong at home here with the little ones--I am old fashioned though and this time I have with them is precious...more precious that hours and a paycheck.

Answer 3

I believe time is more important.

It's kind of a catch 22 though.

I don't like working all the time, especially during part of my kids visits.

You can give your child all the time in the world, but if you can't provide basic essentials, time spent with your children can't replace that stuff.

Nothing wrong with being an at home mom or dad, I was at home with the children for some time too not so long ago.

Those of us who do have to work regret not having as much time to spend with our kids though.

Answer 4

after you can provide for the basics, i think time. there's actually some research that if you can provide for the basics, you don't really get any extra happiness from the other things.



(not to bash working parents of either gender. there's nothing wrong with both parents' choosing to work because it brings them satisfaction, models a good work ethic, prevents one parent from feeling dependent on the other, or actually benefits other people in some way. the pediatrician giving her time to other people's kids is clearly using her time very productively. so is the social worker or the governor or the teacher or the scientist or hundreds of other professions. i also don't think kids need to be with their parents 24-7 or that it remotely harms them to spend time with another loving caretaker for part of the day. i just don't think providing the exotic vacation or brand-name clothes is by itself necessarily a good reason to be working the kind of brutal hours that take away from having any meaningful interaction with a child)

Answer 5

I think that time is important in the early years. Once kids go to school and start having their own social lives then you can work to save for holidays and brand name clothes. Eventually your kids are not around as much as they use to be, so you might as well do something for your own future and theirs too.



Which is why I'm doing my Uni degree while my kids are little, I can spend time with them while leisurely doing my degree, once they are all at school I can return to work in a part time capacity while everyone is adjusting, then go full time. I really want to be able to go on holidays with my kids because once they get older it is one of the few times you can just be together as a family.



I can't leave all the bill paying to my partner or he will be working until he is over 80. I would like us to be able to retire together and live out our lives without having to worry about money.



You do have to consider your kids, but your own future too, depending on your own individual situation.

Answer 6

Time, definitely. Money can not buy time.



I know people that work all of the time in order to be able to afford this and that. They have all of these nice things, and never even have the time to enjoy it. What is the point?



Money is great, but my children enjoy us just sitting down and playing a board game with them, going outside and playing catch or any number of simple things. Of course, those vacations are great but if it came down to it, we would do without them in order to have time to spend together as a family.

Answer 7

Time! Most definitely! The time I get to spend with my husband and my children I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world! You can not replace memories!! Go look up the lyrics to a song by a band called Casting Crowns (I love them) the song title is American Dream. I think this song is SOOOO true!! God Bless you all!

Answer 8

i would say time is more important. there is a lot of things you can do with time that you can't do with money like teach your children morals, values, respect, love, show them life and how to have fun but take care of responsibilities etc. what does money buy you other then the artificial stuff that you really don't need? stuff that you should teach your children that they CAN live without.

Answer 9

Money is a major thing in my life or maybe everyones life but its still not most important

Answer 10

Time, definitely. But I know some parents have to work a lot to provide for essentials and I respect that.

Answer 11

time defineatly, but I grew up in proverty so it is hard for me to find an equal blance sometimes b.c I want to be able to provide things for my daughter tha working just to pay the bills wont allow me to do. NOt so much brand name clothes, more like extra curicular activites for her like toddler gymnastics & saf-t-swim-things like that

Answer 12

time is way more important even as a stay at home mum id would put down the iron and spend time with the kids before anything i dont want them to remember me as a house freak who couldnt spend time with them

Answer 13

Time.

Answer 14

time cause it does not end. Money you may not have it tomorrow. You can give them all the money, but it is the money they shall remember. You give the kids sometime in the park and that is what they will remember- you and them just hanging around enjoying each other.

Answer 15

Time is more important to me, especially the time I spend with my family♥

Answer 16

i dont work but my mom did n i know that other then the bills i would of loved spending time with her! instead i had to stay with my grandma or an babysitter which sucked!

Answer 17

No amount of money will help if your time is up.

Answer 18

Time, definitely. And that's something money can't buy back, either.

Answer 19

i believe time is more important

Answer 20

whats more important is time :)

Answer 21

time. cuz u can't buy it back.