Time Or Money?

I will gladly acknowledge that the beginning of today’s post is my opinion…

Perhaps without realizing it, some people are so obsessed with saving money that they engage in behavior that, de facto, places little or no value on their time. Driving around for 20-30 minutes to save 1-2 cents a gallon on gasoline is an example. (Not to mention the gas, which costs money, wasted in the effort.) Yes, I realize that today with the existence of gas “apps” that behavior almost certainly happens much less than in the past.

Spending 15-25 hours a week preparing meals, not because a person enjoys it, but because they think that dining out is too expensive is another example. OK, before you write that some people cannot afford to dine out, I grant that the bottom quintile or bottom third in income/wealth lives in a different context. Still, remember the old saying, “Time Is Money.”

I believe that saving time is at least as important as saving money. Our time is finite.

I did not grow up in a well-to-do family. Still, one of the reasons I liked dining out is that it spared my mother from having to prepare the meal. She could use her time for something else, like something as “mundane” reading the newspaper, which she enjoyed very much.

Once again (more than half the time I type “agaib” before I get it right and type “again”), I think many people obsessed with saving money are valuing their time at next-to-nothing or nothing. Time is very valuable, often more valuable than money.

******************

I wish Dr. Zal the best of luck as today marks his last day (hopefully) in the working world. He did retire once before, but through a combination of circumstances returned for a 15-month gig with a big pharmaceutical company.

By retiring in his early 60s, Dr. Zal is valuing time over money. As someone with a Ph.D. STEM degree, he can work as long as he wants. He has decided that spending time with his family, including his two grandchildren, and taking time for himself take precedence.

******************

For Dirty Dingus McGee (and for the rest of you, too) I offer a link to this story called “Myths and Legends of the 1934-37 Chrysler Airflow.” This car was part of his Ultimate Garage and was a significant car in automotive history, even if it was not a commercial success.

The Airflow was the first mass-production car where aerodynamic considerations were foremost in body design. This in-depth piece from Ate Up With Motor provides much insight.

Chrysler Corporation produced about 55,000 Airflows from 1934 to 1937–about 29,000 Chryslers and 26,000 DeSotos. (This does not count production of chassis only or of Imperial Airflow models.) DeSoto only offered an Airflow model for 1934; make sales dropped by half compared to 1933. I don’t know if that was the impetus to offer the Airstream for 1935 and later, but Airstream production was more than 20,000 units for 1935 compared to about 14,000 Airflow units for 1934 and only about 7,000 for 1935.

I have often disagreed with the old saw that if you build a better mousetrap the world will beat a path to your door. Perception is reality, even if it isn’t.