We don’t have the luxury of time. We spend more because of how we live, but it’s important to be with our family and friends.

The remark contrasts money’s renewability with time’s irreversibility. Blakely frames higher spending not as mere indulgence but as a byproduct of a demanding modern lifestyle—one that often substitutes convenience for time. The ethical pivot of the quote is that, even if spending rises, the non-negotiable priority should remain relationships: choosing presence with family and friends over additional work, optimization, or consumption. Implicitly, it argues for intentional trade-offs—using resources to protect time and connection—while warning that no amount of wealth can buy back missed moments.