If you are a regular reader, you know I talk a lot about saving money. A lot!
“Save, invest, repeat, save, invest, repeat” is one of my mantras. It is also the key to reaching financial independence.
Another of my mantras is “Capture those dollars”, so much so that clients KNOW what I’m going to say when they share news such as getting a raise.
One client recently emailed: “You make me laugh with your wonderful enthusiasm about all things savings.”
But I came across two items recently that made me wonder if I should talk a bit more about spending.
The first was a post from Mike Piper, one of my favorite bloggers, reviewing the book “My Money Journey, How 30 People Found Financial Freedom and You Can Too”. I haven’t read the book yet, it’s on the teetering To Be Read pile.
In his review, Piper says that in several of the stories the authors had “doubt as to whether the sacrifices were ultimately worth it or whether a somewhat slower path to financial independence (and spending more along the way) would have been preferable.” (emphasis mine).
I found that absolutely fascinating.
The second was a guest post on a site for advisors by Meg Bartelt, CFP® of Flow Financial Planning. I enjoyed her post about her firm’s best practices for managing client meetings.
But what really got my attention was a question she explicitly asks all clients: “What did you spend money on in the last year that brought you joy?”
Wow. What a great question. It gave me pause and I’ve been thinking about it a lot.
So readers, I ask each of you: “What did you spend money on in the last year that brought you joy?”
Let me know at michelle@briofp.com
