I love the new Volkswagen commercial. And not for the reasons you might expect. If you haven't seen it, here it is:
The song is from 1939 but the catchy version in the commercial was recorded by Elaine Stritch in 1956 (and is the best version of the song I've listened to).
The lyrics are:
"I ask you one question.
Are you having any fun?
Watchu you getting out of living?
Who cares for what you've got,
if you're not having any fun.
Are you having any fun?
Are you getting any loving?
If other people do,
why can't you have a little fun?
Why should you work and save and save?
Life is full of if's and but's.
Even the squirrels save and save.
And what have they got? Nuts.
It's better to have a little fun.
You ain't gonna live forever.
So while you're young and gay, still okay.
Have a little fun.
And have, have a little fun."
The commercial is for Volkswagen's new ID. Buzz, their all-electric van. Everyone in the commercial is having fun (surprise!), and it features colorful variations of the van and the people in it. It's a very lighthearted commercial compared to some of the more dramatic and serious ones you see for cars.
The commercial closes with the words: "Once you see life half full, it'll never look the same."
The message of the commercial hit me like a tidal wave. Even though I'm not considering buying the van, I couldn't agree more with what it portrayed.
It's weird for me to say out loud, especially in a profession where I'm geared to accumulate and grow wealth. It's also tough for me personally because I live a fairly frugal lifestyle.
But 2024 was a crazy year, and maybe it's time I take this message more into consideration in 2025. I know some of my clients should.
No one knows what tomorrow brings, and the tradeoff between spending and saving is a never-ending balancing act.
You should not abandon saving and spend everything you earn. But where do you draw the line? A lot of times, that's where a financial advisor comes into play. But it's a question that will be answered together, not independently.
So, as 2025 begins and you have a solid savings plan in place, I ask you: "Are you having any fun?"