    End of the week, and almost the end of the summer of ‘07.  I think we’re getting back to normal, whatever that means… it seems like the credit crisis and banking turmoil is settling down. And it feels like it’s time to get back to basics.  I’ve come to two primary realizations this month: Â
    1) I can save and/or invest more money over time than I have been- I can do better!   So I’ve started two new savings allottments. One to a money market fund at Vanguard, and the other a high-yield savings account with ING.  I looked at my saving efforts and realized I’m not doing enough! For my Roth IRA investment each year, I like to have it available for either lump-sum investment at the beginning of the year, or as partial investments throughout the year. So I hold my savings in a money market or high-yield account until that time. I’ve got that one covered so far. The same goes for my brokerage account. Just save money over time until the right opportunity presents itself.  After I have that emergency fund saved up… 3-6 months of necessary expenses. Oh, and after I keep that unsecured credit card debt paid off. But I can do better… and I’m starting today!
    What’s the second realization?   It is the more important one… something we have all long known and worked “around” but are sometimes hesitant to really acknowledge.  But I’m going on the record because it’s important to me.
  2)  While I work hard to save and plan for the future, I will not sacrifice the time I have today, wherever possible, to enjoy life and those around me. Nothing magical, nothing new. But a statement of firm conviction. I will not feel guilty about doing so either… sometimes other people think we’re not working hard enough, or doing what they think is necessary. You know what? They have their own life… our life is OURS! Do with it as you see best!  I have long felt this way, but I have not long lived this way.  That is more recent… perhaps we reach a point in our life where it really begins to mean something.  For me, it speaks to family and doing things together, as well as working towards dreams and goals we really desire. For all of that… I can do better!
    And here too is what I’m talking about.   For me this is a wonderful example that serves to help us remember to cherish the days we have.   A Carnegie-Mellon University Professor named Randy Pausch, who gives his thoughts on life, before his life runs out. Thank you, Paul. From the article by Jeff Zaslow of the WSJ:
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