I used to have savings. I had a broker, an IRA, a college fund set up for all of my children and some other investments.

It was nice to have at that time in my life. During that time my daughter called me one day telling me she had blacked out. She complained of excruciating headaches and blurred vision also.

I thought it might be related to the birth control pills she was taking and told her to stop taking them immediately. I also told her that she needed to go back to her doctor for a check up.

She said she didn’t have the money. I said don’t worry about it I have savings and I will help out. She apologized for having to use my money.

At this point I had to view my priorities. I loved having money in savings and a rainy day fund but if my daughter suffered a stroke because of the medication she was taking there was one thing that that money couldn’t do. The money wouldn’t make my daughter magically reappear as the beautiful and intelligent daughter she was.

This gave me a whole new viewpoint on savings. I like to have savings but if someone in my family needs money and that money is just sitting in a fund bearing interest it is worthless. Money shared with others for the good of others is money which bears the best interest. The money I used to help my daughter may have saved her life. The interest that I was gaining from that money did not have the ability to heal her.

Savings and a retirement fund is a very wonderful thing to accomplish in life. But if one is more concerned about their IRA’s than the welfare of others one may need to examine their priorities.