If You Don’t Fly Private, Your Kids Will!

If You Don’t Fly Private, Your Kids Will!

Let me clear the air before I begin. I don’t fly private. I have never flown private. I don’t even fly first class. I do know people who do, and I’ll splurge for the extra legroom economy seat, but that’s about as fancy as it gets for me.

One of my very privileged buddies, on the other hand, flies private all the time. A few months back, I was telling him that even if I could afford it, which I can’t, I don’t know how anyone justifies it. That’s when he hit me with this: “Hey, if I don’t fly private, my kids will.”

I chuckled at first. Then I thought about it a little longer and realized he’s not entirely wrong. Here’s why.

The Millionaire Living on Social Security

All too often, I see people who are afraid to spend money, especially in retirement. I meet retirees living on Social Security alone with millions in the bank. Their rationale is usually the same: they want to leave as much behind as possible, or they’re worried about their children. Meanwhile, they’re sitting on a nest egg that could let them truly enjoy their golden years.

That money took decades of hard work and discipline to build. It was never meant to just sit there.

What Your Kids Actually Want

As the child of a living parent, I can tell you what brings me the most joy: watching my mother live her best life. If a few dollars trickle down when she passes, wonderful. But would I rather her last check bounce, knowing she lived the absolute best life during these golden years? Absolutely!

In most cases, and I don’t want to speak for everyone, your kids will be fine. They love seeing their parents live their best lives, and if anything, they’d love to be included. Want to spend money on a great, crazy vacation? Cool. Feel free to invite us along 😊

Some of the best things you can leave your kids don’t show up on a statement. The trip where everyone was together. The stories they’ll still be telling at Thanksgiving twenty years from now. That’s an inheritance too.

A Better Life Doesn’t Have to Wait

I know we love our children more than ourselves, and we want them to have a better life than the one we had. To me, that’s the definition of great parenting: making sure my children, and the next generation in general, have a better lifestyle than I do. But that doesn’t mean we should wait until tomorrow to enjoy the fruits of today’s labor.

I want my children to still have to work for things and build their own lives. There’s a pride that comes from earning something yourself, and I don’t want to take that away from them. If there’s a little or a lot of money left over, I’ll make sure it goes to them. But I also want to make sure I’m spending my money, both now and in retirement: on lifestyle, my passions, my charities, and most importantly, my family.

Spend With a Plan, Not With Fear

I’m not telling you to spend irresponsibly. The difference between reckless spending and joyful spending is a plan. When you know what you need, what you want to give, and what you want to leave behind, you can spend the rest without the guilt. A good plan doesn’t just protect your money. It gives you permission to use it.

This message isn’t just for my mother; it’s for all the parents out there. Spend on you and on what brings the most joy to YOUR life. Don’t hold onto these funds just to make your kids richer. We’ll be richer knowing the special people who raised us lived their best lives, because we want for you the same thing you want for us.

Oh, and if that does involve flying private, send me an invite as a thank you. It always looked awesome.

As always, stay wealthy, healthy, and happy.