Value Experiences, Not Money
or Three Ideas From Die With Zero
Hey Friends,
Saying that experiences – and by extension memories – matter more than money is nothing new. On some level, I think we’re all familiar with the concept and heard it on numerous occasions.
And yet, this exact idea has stuck in my head for the past few days after reading a book called “Die With Zero” by Bill Perkins. Somehow, the book explains this rather obvious truth in a curiously unusual manner that got me thinking.
The concepts outlined in this book are universally applicable to just about anyone. And so I thought I’d use this opportunity to share some of the main takeaways from reading it.
Aim to Die With Zero
That’s the core message of the book and one that the title derives from. Simply put, the idea is that money is effectively useless to us once we’re dead. Therefore, we should live our lives in such a way that we don’t have any of it left by the time we eventually perish.
Why is that? Well, there are two main reasons.
For one, the money we leave behind represents all the extra work we did but never enjoyed the fruits of. Think of it like this. If your hourly rate is $50 and you die with $100.000 in your bank account, you worked 2000 hours more than you had to.
Assuming a normal 8-hour 5-day workweek, that’s more than a year of your life spent working for no good reason! Why would you do that to yourself? Even if you love your job, there are probably things that you would rather do given the opportunity.
Secondly, that leftover money stands for all the great experiences you could have had but didn’t. Imagine all the cool stuff you could do with an extra 100.000 and the quality of life that you would have had, had you just chosen to spend it.
Maximize Positive Life Experiences (Rather than Money)
This leads us straight to the second main takeaway. As the author himself puts it, there are no prizes for being the richest person in the cemetery. That’s why rather than maximizing our wealth, we should be focusing on meaningful happy experiences.
It is these, rather than money, that bring us memories we enjoy for the rest of our lives. Sounds pretty obvious. And yet, all too often, we ask ourselves “what will this cost me?” before “what will I get out of this?”. At least, I know I do.
What we need to remember is that money is just a means to an end. All it does is help us live our life to the fullest. So why, rather than use it for something that really matters, we concentrate on earning more and more of it?
Work hard when you’re young and then, once you’re older, you can finally enjoy living your life. Probably sounds familiar. That’s something we are repeatedly told by our parents and grandparents. But there’s only one big problem with it.
As You Get Older, Your Health Will Inevitably Decline
The older we get, the less energy and health we have. That’s a simple fact of life. So what’s the point of delaying all the great experiences until later, when we either can’t have them anymore or won’t be able to extract as much enjoyment out of them?
That’s my third takeaway from the book and one that got me thinking the most. I love all things outdoors – hiking, skiing, traveling. As a 60-year-old retiree, would I be able to enjoy them in the same way as I do now, in my 30-ies?
Probably not. And all the money amassed through hard work would be of little help by then. That’s why often, there is no better time than now. The experiences we invest in today will likely yield higher dividends than those we delay for too long.
That trip you’re thinking of doing but not sure you have the budget for. Or that new sport you always wanted to try but never got to. Will you be able to do it in 5 years? Will you enjoy it as much? If the answer is no (or not sure), maybe it’s time to put that money to good use.
But What About…?
In the book, the author goes much deeper into these and other topics and addresses all sorts of additional questions. Isn’t it selfish? What about the kids? What if you run out of money before you die? What if you love your job? Isn’t it risky and reckless?
If that’s something that resonates with you, the book is not overly long and well worth the time. You can grab it on Amazon or Audible if you prefer to listen. The latter is what I did and it’s super easy to follow. And read by the author himself, which is always a plus.
By the way, I’m not paid or sponsored to promote the book. I just genuinely thought it was a great read. That said, the link above is my Amazon affiliate link, so if enough of you click it, I might be able to buy myself a coffee. And coffee is one of the things that keeps me focused when writing these newsletters, so please don’t be shy.
Even if you’re not interested in the book, I still hope this has been somewhat thought-provoking. So as always feel free to reach out and let me know what you think.
Cheers,- Alex
Latest from Sunset Obsession
A Winter Dream: How to Visit Ravennaschlucht Christmas Market
10 Great Reasons Why Madeira Is a Perfect Travel Destination
Sunset Obsession Image of the Week
This week’s blog article talks about my favorite Christmas market – Ravennaschlucht, in the Black Forest. It’s an incredibly charming place and visiting it last year was an awesome experience – kinda ties into the topic of today’s letter, doesn’t it?
So, here’s a shot from last year’s Ravennaschlucht Christmas market. The winter is coming, folks, so if you’re looking for a cozy nice place to be this December put this one on the list.
Quote of the Week
“The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end that’s all there is.”
― Bill Perkins