"Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time..."

In the American culture, it seems as though that we are always busy. I know that is how my life is. I run around between work and school, come home and clean and cook, help my daughter with her homework, do my own homework, and never get a chance to sit down and hang with my daughter or my boyfriend until it's nearly time to go to bed. The weekends are just as busy for me as well. I never seem to have enough quality time with my family and friends. But when I do get some spare time to just relax and hang I take advantage of it and enjoy it. So in that respect spare time is a gift for me.
Also, time can be a gift when you are given time off from work or if you get out of work or class early. I once had a pretty serious family emergency and I had to take some time off of work. My boss ended up giving me the time off without taking the time out of my vacation time, which was a very generous gift of time.
On the other hand, the phrase "time is money" is absolutely true. I work to get paid. If I work late or come in early, I get paid overtime or bank my hours for time off. I would not work late or come in early if I was not getting paid though. And obviously, I would not work at all if I wasn't getting paid. On days that I have school, I have to leave work early or I come in late. I also have to pay back my boss those hours that I am gone, otherwise I would not get paid for that time that I am gone. Any time I take away from work means I can get paid less. I don't know about any one else but I know I can't live without money.