mamash: Though it wasn’t my comment that you quoted, I’d like to ask you since you sound like a responsible parent: which do you think is generally the preferable option (ie what Hashem wants)- for a mother to work full-time and stash away some money, or for a mother to work part-time (sending children off in the morning, greeting them after school, holding baby more) and no extra money for stashing?
Practically, does it make sense to invest money while in debt (student loans, mortgage)? You usually pay a higher interest rate on loans than you earn on savings. Our goal is to clear our debts sooner (15 yr mortgage, not 30, so build equity faster). I like to think of equity as savings- makes me feel better about not actually putting money aside.
Hashkafically, to what extent are we supposed to anticipate and plan for problems and futures? It seems to me that we should only put away money if it doesn’t interfere with our present obligations. Well, I take my responsibilities as wife and mother very seriously, and I think that working more hours at this point in my life would interfere with my Avodas Hakodesh.
Also, we do put away money; we call it tzedakah. In the words of one amazing teacher: “The money you have, you one day won’t; what you give away, you keep forever.”