"Sacrifice implies you lose something with nothing gained." Not true. That is just pure loss. According to its definition¹, "sacrifice" means either "to surren

"Sacrifice implies you lose something with nothing gained." Not true. That is just pure loss. According to its definition¹, "sacrifice" means either "to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else" or "to dispose of (goods, property, etc.) regardless of profit". Parents working hard in order to provide for their kids may involve something from both of the meanings. "you aren't sacrificing by working more hours to afford that big house and nice car you have" It depends on how you look at it, and working more hours for a nice house and car can be both a transaction and a sacrifice. If you consider the leisure time you have to give up (assuming that you don't particularly enjoy your work) then it's a sacrifice. If you consider the time and energy involved in the paid work then it's just a transaction. ¹ http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sacrifice http://www.dictionary.com/browse/sacrifice