Spending less money makes it easier to invest and build long-term wealth. While it’s good to be responsible with your money, it’s possible to take savings a little too far. Ramit Sethi, author of “I Will Teach You To Be Rich,” recently threw cold water on the idea of relentlessly saving money and viewing that as a good thing.
“I don’t find it inspiring to idolize people who spend as little money as possible,” he stated in an X post.
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While he doesn’t advocate for a reckless YOLO mentality when it comes to money management, he also doesn’t believe we should be celebrating the 92-year-old who died with millions of dollars. Sethi is one of the few financial experts to dive deep into the nuance of cheap vs. frugal living. Here’s what you can learn from his X post.
People shouldn’t be afraid to spend money when it’s on things that matter. Sethi views these people as inspirations, but it’s not going to do much good if you have thousands of dollars in credit card debt. He reaches a middle ground that can help people look for better role models and set better financial goals.
“I’m inspired by the people who spend their money extravagantly on the things they love while cutting costs mercilessly on the things they don’t. If someone buys a $2,000 handmade blanket made by an artisan they’ve followed for 12 years, amazing.”
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The handmade blanket example is valuable because it’s a high-end purchase with thought. Making impulsive purchases can put you deeper into debt and result in you having a bunch of things that you don’t really need. If you say no to many expenses, the few things you say yes to hold more value.
Although a budget is a good resource to keep your spending under control, it can become problematic if you only view life with a survival mindset. Sethi believes in creating a rich life instead of one that revolves around penny-pinching.
“I’m not inspired by building a life around how little you can spend. What a tragedy to live a smaller life than you have to,” he stated.
