Most people are taught to prioritise saving and investing early in life, often with the idea that future security is the ultimate goal. While this mindset promotes discipline, it can also lead to an overlooked trade-off, postponing meaningful experiences and delaying generosity until it’s too late to enjoy their impact truly.
Striking the right balance between building wealth and living well isn’t easy, but it’s essential.
Here are a few ideas that can help guide the way.
1. Spend With Intention, Not Guilt
Money is a tool, not a trophy. It’s not about spending recklessly, but about using money where it brings real value, experiences, connection, growth, and fulfilment. The challenge isn’t just how much to spend, but when and on what. Timing matters.
Health, energy, and time are limited resources that don’t always align with financial peaks. Many people are so focused on saving for someday that they forget to live today. They wait until retirement to enjoy the money they have worked so hard to earn, only to find that time, energy, or health have become limiting factors
2. Your Wealth Has a “Use By” Date
Wealth is most valuable when it can be translated into experiences or help, both of which are time-sensitive. Waiting too long to enjoy or share what you’ve built often means missing the window when it has the most meaning. The question becomes not “How much can I accumulate?” but “What is this money for, and when should it be used?”
3. Investing vs. Giving: Finding the Sweet Spot
Investing is essential for long-term security and growth. But hoarding out of fear can create a lopsided life. On the flip side, giving or spending too freely can put future stability at risk. The key is to view both investing and giving as parts of a larger strategy, one that maximises both life satisfaction and financial resilience.
How should we look for a balance?
Use data, not emotions.
Plan with real numbers: life expectancy, spending needs, investment projections, so you’re not saving blindly or giving impulsively.
Create “experience budgets.”
Allocate a portion of wealth specifically for memorable experiences, especially during your healthiest years.
Give with intention, not just inheritance.
Supporting loved ones or causes during your lifetime allows you to witness the impact and give when it’s most needed. For your family, give enough to support key milestones when your children need it most, in their 20s or 30s, for education, home purchases, starting a business or starting a family, without encouraging dependency. If you wait until your 80s, your kids might be in their 50s, past the stage where your help can transform their lives. Timing matters.
Revisit your balance regularly. Life changes, so should your balance between growth and generosity. Reevaluate often.
4. Memory is a Return on Investment
Experiences don’t just live in the moment, they continue to pay emotional dividends through memories, stories, and personal growth. These returns are often more enduring than financial ones, especially as time passes and priorities shift.
5. Design a Fulfilment Curve
Not all stages of life are equal when it comes to how you can enjoy your money. Your 30s, 40s, and 50s may offer the best mix of health, independence, and earning power. Think of your life in phases and ask: What is the best use of my resources right now?
6. Give back to Society
Wealth doesn’t grow in a vacuum. Society, through opportunities, networks and resources, plays a role in building our fortunes. Giving back is a way to honour that contribution. Beyond gratitude, giving brings joy and purpose, enriching our lives as much as it helps others
As a financial planner, I have helped a large number of people grow their portfolios, plan for retirement, and make smart financial decisions. It’s a work and a passion I deeply believe in. But over the years, I have also seen a pattern that concerns me: people getting so focused on savings and investing that they forget why they started in the first place. The goal isn’t just to accumulate money. It’s to use money as a tool to live a rich and meaningful life.
Closing Thoughts
The goal isn’t to spend down to zero recklessly, it’s to live with zero regret. Money should serve our lives, not define them. Investing wisely and giving generously aren’t opposites; they’re complementary parts of a well-lived life. Financial success isn’t just about returns. It’s also about memories, experiences, and the peace of mind that comes from aligning our money with our values
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