(MONEY Magazine) – December's surprising Idea of the Month has generated considerable mail: It showed readers how to determine whether they might actually be saving too much money. "Before people die, they rarely say, 'I wish I'd saved another dollar,'" warned Judy Lau, pictured at right, president of the Denver-based Institute of Certified Financial Planners. "Usually they say, 'I wish I'd spent more time with my family.'" Many of you told MONEY that the article has prompted you to reconsider priorities. Another December article, "Change Your Life," also attracted strong response. By reporting how more people than ever are earning all they want by doing what they love, the article tapped into many readers' dreams. You called it both "inspiring" and "a blueprint for a beautiful future."

A standing ovation for December's Idea of the Month: "Here's How to Determine If You Might Actually Be Saving Too Much Money." It was the best real-life advice I have ever read in a financial publication. Everyone should constantly remind themselves of your suggestion to "take a close look at your life and ask: What am I giving up today for this opulent lifestyle tomorrow?" Indeed, if what you're sacrificing is time with your loved ones, realize those moments can't be bought later, no matter how much money you accumulate. JOSEPH DAUDISH Westchester, Ill.

We do need to save, but it is important to enjoy life along the way, as sometimes it gets cut short. After 26 years of military service, I retired and am working in the corporate world. I'm trying to make enough money so I can get my two daughters through college. But thanks for showing me that I also need to stop every once in a while and smell the roses. BILL MALKEMES Madison, Ala.

HIS DREAM CAME TRUE

December's "Change Your Life" was on the mark. You certainly can make your dreams come true, and earn what you need, by doing what you like. A while ago I started using the Internet to sell computer software that I had written. While the software represented only a niche market, I discovered that the Internet allows you to market to the entire world, and there are a lot of people in the world. Income from software registrations started flowing in at a steadily increasing pace. So after doing this as a second job for a year, I was able to quit my primary $80,000-a-year management job to pursue my software business full time. It is now bringing in close to $100,000 a year.

And the real beauty of the business is this: Software-registration sales flow in on a steady basis independent of your daily working hours. So you can work when you want and as much or as little as you want, as long as you continue to update your software and provide product support to users. I feel like I've retired at 36, since I am doing exactly what I love to do and am financially provided for at the same time. Talk about a dream come true. MICHAEL POTTER Los Alamos, N.M. HEADING OFF A $350 MISTAKE

Often when reading MONEY I find I am already doing what you recommend. This provides me reassurance and confidence that I am managing my finances well.

However, September's "Avoid the Five Big 401(k) Mistakes" [in the Bonus Section for subscribers only] opened my eyes to something I never knew. Without your advice, I would have reached the 1997 $9,500 federal limit on contributions in mid-October. And I would have missed out on approximately $350 of company matching funds for the rest of the year. By stretching out my contributions, I was able to take full advantage of the matching funds.

That one article has paid for years of my subscription to MONEY. MICHAEL MATTOX Marlboro, Mass.

CORRECTION

In our April story "Protect Yourself Against the Great Retirement Rip-Off," MONEY erroneously implied that CIGNA charges a 1.25% annuity fee in connection with its 401(k) plan for the small-plan marketplace. In fact, CIGNA's asset-based fee is well below that figure. We deeply regret the error.