We’ll get to the banking products later on today, but first I wanted to discuss something with everyone:  How much is your time worth?  This is something my wife and I take into consideration now when we are debating over making something or purchasing the same thing elsewhere.

 We’ve found a kind of continuum of time and cost, and watching both of these things can indicate what you’re doing with your money.  For example

• High Time Low Cost- Cooking for yourself.  Making your own meals is much cheaper than going out to eat.  Last night I made three servings of spaghetti (2 for dinner, 1 for lunch today).  It cost us roughly $2 or $0.67 apiece.  Three servings of spaghetti at a sit-down restaurant would cost us $21 or ten and a half times as much!
• High Time High Cost- This one is worth it in my opinion though, children.  Children will need a lot of time and unless you’ve got them doing the work of a farmhand before they go to school, children do cost a lot of money as well.
• Low Time High Cost- Gambling, Lottery, impulse buys, and drugs on the street all fall into this category.  It would seem that all things in this category are things people can be addicted to as well.  Figure out what your addictions are and avoid them.
• Low Time Low Cost- Basic stuff like tying your shoes, asking someone how their day is, smiling, all things that make you feel a little better as well. (Try smiling at someone for a full 60 seconds if you don’t believe me)

So how do you value your time?  Have you found ways to save time or cost of things you like to do?  Do you have a weird addiction you wouldn’t mind sharing?  Do you think this is garbage?  I want to know.