Retirement Guru: Intentional Spending

The Key to Living and Dying with Zero

Bill Perkins’ book Die With Zero challenges the traditional idea of wealth accumulation. Instead of hoarding money until the end, he argues that we should focus on maximizing life experiences, ensuring that our wealth translates into meaningful memories, not just an untouched inheritance. But how do we put this idea into practice without falling into reckless spending? The answer lies in intentional spending.

What Is Intentional Spending?

Intentional spending is the concept of using money deliberately, aligning expenditures with our values, priorities, and long-term happiness. It’s not about being frugal for the sake of frugality or spending extravagantly for short-term pleasure. Instead, it’s about making conscious choices that enhance our lives.

Too often, we either spend mindlessly — on things that bring little joy — or delay spending indefinitely, waiting for a “better time” that never arrives. Intentional spending forces us to ask:

• Does this purchase add real value to my life?
• Am I spending on experiences that align with my personal goals?
• Am I saving too much at the expense of opportunities to live fully today?