Work/life Balance And The Debit Card - When We Don’t Walk The Talk

Work/Life Balance and the Debit Card - When We Don’t Walk the Talk

I’d never made as much money before in my life, but I’d never traded more of myself for it.^a —Liz Perle

GIRLFRIENDS, when I read this statement in Liz Perle’s book, I groaned out loud because I could totally relate.

I realized in the midnineties at the height of my corporate career that I had a disconnect. I was a walking, talking contradiction of my values when it came to money. I wanted more time with my family; I needed less stress for my health; I desired a more fulfilling career; but I wrestled for months with the idea that I made too much money to quit. Night after night, I thought myself crazy for staying in my job and crazy for even considering leaving the financial security behind. Finally, logic prevailed.

We all have our own built-in, deeply held value systems, but it’s interesting how they’re not always supported by the way we handle our money. Women who wouldn’t dream of stealing a pencil at the office will sneak twenty-dollar bills from their husbands’ wallets or will “disguise” new purchases in the closet. H-e-l-l-o? Does this seem healthy to anyone out there?

We work in jobs we hate to buy stuff that fills us emotionally for only days (and sometimes hours). We purchase things to fill a void, only to be awakened at 4 a.m. guilt-ridden about our spending extravaganza. We buy stuff for our kids to entertain them while we’re physically or emotionally absent. Something’s gotta give.

At some point we must all make an honest assessment and compare what we really value with how we really live. And then we must decide to align our walk with our talk.

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Are you happy? Or miserable—even with the big fat paycheck?

^a Perle, Money, A Memoir, 107.