My wife got a call from her grandfather recently. We had been planning to go to visit them, but then were having second thoughts because of circumstances and airfare.

“Buy the tickets,” he said, first thing. “I’ll pay for them. Your grandmother and I want to celebrate our great-granddaughter’s first birthday, like we had planned. I’m 92-years-old and this is how I want to spend my money—to be with my family.”

He’s a living legend—one of my favorite humans. He’s also teaching us something.

Many of us plan and save and even stockpile our money. Others of us spend frivolously, barely knowing where it went. But spending with purpose is better. We all would agree. We just need to sit down and make sure we’re prioritizing the things—the people—that matter most.

And we don’t have to wait until we’re 92 to be generous toward the people we love.