April 17, 2025 • 23 mins
Where we prioritize is what we truly value. This explorative conversation challenges us to examine not just how we save, but what we're actually saving for. Are our financial decisions aligned with what brings true happiness and life satisfaction?
Through personal reflection and wisdom gathered from others, I've identified five core areas worth investing in without hesitation. First are meaningful experiences with loved ones - those camping trips, family vacations, and shared adventures that become our most cherished memories. Next come soul-fulfilling personal activities that give us genuine life energy, whether that's surfing, golf, creative pursuits, or whatever uniquely energizes you.
A functional home environment designed to facilitate family connections represents another crucial investment. This isn't about luxury or size - often a thoughtfully designed modest space better fosters togetherness than an expansive mansion with separate wings. Quality food and physical health maintenance follow closely behind, as these directly impact our longevity and quality of life.
Perhaps most surprising is the emphasis on relationship maintenance, particularly with your spouse. Professional couples therapy, even when relationships aren't in crisis, provides tremendous value since our spousal relationship is the strongest predictor of overall happiness.
This perspective shift asks us to consider a powerful thought experiment: If Warren Buffett could trade all his billions for his 30-year-old health and vitality, wouldn't he take that deal? If health truly outvalues wealth, are our daily decisions reflecting this priority?
While financial prudence remains important - emergency funds and safety nets are essential - this conversation challenges mindless accumulation without purpose. The question becomes: are we saving just to save, or are we thoughtfully investing in what genuinely enhances our lives?
What do you spend your money on without hesitation? Does it align with what truly matters most? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you're a driven, active person who wants to reach
and pursue a higher qualitylife with some ambition, then
guess what this podcast is foryou.
This is the Driven AthletePodcast.
I heard something interestingrecently from wise individuals
that I like to listen to and getsome content from, and
different perspective reframeson things.
(00:21):
And this was a question waslike what do you spend your
money on?
Like, what is what is it thatyou save for?
Like, what is it that you don'tspare an expense?
We're like we save money forthis, right, what are those
things?
And we're not going to be cheapwith it.
Like we're this is what we savefor, right, what are those
things?
From what I've heard in my ownreflections on some stuff, I
(00:43):
came up with some things.
Another way of asking is likeokay, money is important, right,
so it is what it is right, weneed money for the world to go
around.
It's just a matter of like,what is somebody willing to do
to make more money?
And that way where the moralethics kind of come in, and that
would be, I mean, if it's likebad stuff, greed, right, greed,
unfortunately, is an insatiablething that comes with money, but
(01:03):
we need money.
Money is not bad inherently.
I think it's just like thewillingness to do things and the
love for money.
All right, so if money isimportant, what is it you spend
your money on?
What is it you save for?
Another question would be likeall right, then, if that's a
very important thing for yourlife, what is it you're actually
investing in?
What is it that you're actuallypouring your investments into
(01:24):
that you would then, by default,declare as the most important
thing that you're finding veryimportant, right?
So, thoughts with that, what isit that you spend your money on
?
In my opinion, things that I'vegathered.
Here's what I was going toshare.
I think top not in anyparticular order, I would say
what is it you spend your moneyon?
One of the most importantthings would be experiences with
(01:48):
people that you love the mostor, that matter, the most right,
experiences being like funtrips, camping trips, going on
fun family excursions right?
I'm thinking like in my headfamily.
Right, that's gonna be the mostimportant people in my life
that I'm going to invest my timeand invest money in, to do fun
things and experience thingstogether, and that forges and
(02:10):
builds bonds of relationships.
And I know very commonly formyself and also people I've
asked in the past or just randomconversations with people.
Some of the first memories theythink about when they were kids
is fun trips with their family,their parents, their dad, their
mom, like whatever like acamping trip.
I remember this.
One time we did this and it waskind of off the cuff or it was
(02:32):
not really planned and thingswere off schedule, right, but
that ended up being the most funthing.
Another person I've talkedrecently.
They were like I remember thiscamping trip we went on when we
were young and one of the mostbest memories and earliest
memories they have that hadreally good um experience with
with their family was like acamping trip.
That was kind of raw, like itwas roughing it, like it wasn't
(02:54):
glamping by any means they had.
It was just like a tent.
They had no bathroom so theyjust had to do their thing and
then in nature and they had topack and they had to fish for
their own food.
But this person reflected andwas saying that was one of the
really fun, enjoyable time thatthey can remember, a good, great
memory.
And I was like all right, well,I'm going to put one of the
(03:15):
most important things that wespend our money on and that
we're saving for this, it wouldbe family experiences.
If that's camping, hiking trips, excursions, a cruise, theme
parks, like all together forthat purpose, together it's
going to forge and create morebonds with the people you
experience it with, right?
So I was like all right, I'mgoing to put that on my list
(03:37):
Experiences with the people thatmatter the most.
The next thing that I have onmy list would be and this is
more personal, so likeindividual based but soul
fulfilling activities.
So have hobbies that you thinkare really enjoyable, hobbies,
things that you enjoy doing mostin life, that give you life
energy.
Like what are the things thatyou find the most enjoyable for
(03:59):
you?
What gives you life energy?
I was first brought up to thiswhen I was in grad school.
There was like this wellnessthing that we were going through
and one of the questionnairesthat was coming in was like what
are the most fun things you'dlike to do the most in life?
Top three things.
And I wrote on my list and forme personally, sharing this and
I would right now like this ispersonal hobbies.
(04:19):
Right, this is outside of familyexperiences, but I would say
surfing outside of familyexperiences.
But I would say surfing find alot of it.
I just really enjoy it gives melife energy, like when I'm out
there doing my thing and in theocean, uncontrolled.
It's athletic, it creates a lotof physical activity and it's
(04:41):
challenging, but it's fulfilling.
It just gives me life energy.
I just really enjoy that.
I always feel on a super highafterwards.
Just gives me life energy.
I just really enjoy that.
I always feel on a super highafterwards Like man, I feel good
, right, I feel like it's me,I'm back in myself.
So surfing will be on that list.
I enjoy playing golf.
When I play well, right, andright now I'm averaging probably
like one round a year, justwith the family life and stuff
going on.
We're on the grind right now.
We got young kids and running apractice and all these things
(05:04):
moving parts.
So there'll be a time we'll getback to playing golf again, but
right now I have to focus onother stuff.
But I would say golf is on thelist.
I enjoy playing golf again,kind of maybe being outdoors, um
, a nature, uncontrolledenvironments.
It's challenging, it's aphysical requirements, um, it's
not like me watching TV, right,it's like a physical activity
(05:25):
and it's outside of nature, um,and even if I, if I play well, I
enjoy it more and with peoplethat I like hanging out with,
right, so that those threethings combined that makes it
really fun and enjoyable.
It gives me life energy.
I look forward to doing, I lovedoing it, um.
Another one would be exercising.
Like fitness, I always feelaccomplished, I feel good.
(05:46):
It gives me life energy,especially afterwards knowing
that I did something productivethat's helpful for my life and
longevity and health andwellness.
So I would say exercise is partof my list too.
I've gone through, I mean Iwould even I would suggest to
people, and including myself,that I've done.
But I'm only going to most ofthose three.
But to do five, what's your topfive things that you enjoy
(06:07):
doing most in life that givesyou life energy.
I would put that as my number.
The second thing in this list,which is soul-fulfilling
activities, hobbies that youenjoy, that for you personally,
your own things, and if youinclude the people you enjoy
doing that with, I don't know ifthat would count as, like the
experiences with people, it's aseparate thing on the list.
(06:27):
The next thing on the list is afunctional home, a good
functional home in a good area,a good neighborhood.
I would say that's somethingthat I'm not going to spare an
expense on, as in like.
This is what we save for.
We save so that we can have themoney to pay for a functional,
(06:48):
nice home.
Here's the kicker, in myopinion the home that
facilitates a functional,family-centered environment.
That's what I prioritize.
This is me personally.
I'm just sharing my own stuff,right?
This is what I have on my listA functional home for family
that enables family-centeredrelationships for daily life,
(07:11):
daily life, family-centeredrelationships.
I would say that's somethingthat I have on my list.
That would not spare an expense.
This is what we make money for.
This is what we save for.
This is what I'm going toinvest.
The most valuable tradingcommodity, right, physical
trading commodity that we use tobuy stuff, that's what I'm
(07:34):
going to invest in material-wise, is that A functional home that
enables family-centeredrelationships and fun activity,
fun times.
Right, where, in my opinion,there's too big of a house that
would facilitate that andthere's too little of a house
(07:55):
that would facilitate that.
I think there's a middle groundwhere it's like what is the
purpose of getting this house?
Okay, the litmus test, thefilter, the reason why we're
getting this house is for afamily-centered relationships,
functional home that's going toenable and forge good
relationships with the family.
Imagine having a huge housewhere there's a West wing and a
(08:16):
East wing and a third story likewhatever in a basement I'm like
man.
That just creates maybe moreseparation.
Or, as an example, like this ismy opinion again television, tv
in a kid's room.
That only is going to createisolation and separation.
Where, if there's like a centerfamily room that everybody
comes together, we have one kiddoing homework or spouses
(08:40):
reading, reading a book overhere, this one's over here
coloring or doing crafts,whatever, it's all we're all
together, and then there's afamily unit area for dinner
right, so it's just my opinion.
So that's what I put on thatlist, as in, what do you not
save, like what do you not sparean expense on?
You're saving for money tospend on.
What is it you spend on Afunctional home?
(09:02):
The next thing I would say onthat list is quality food
Getting, when we can, when it'sreasonable, quality sources of
food.
If it's organic sources of food.
If it's organic, qualitysources right, like farm-raised,
non-cage-raised chickens andeggs, grass-fed beef, just
(09:24):
quality food, right, likeorganic.
I think that's going to enablea longer and facilitate longer
healthier lifestyle forlongevity, versus eating leading
not great, right, not lowquality food and just be like.
I'll F it.
Like just say, let's save moneyand eat crappy, right, like
ramen noodles or something I'mnot, I don't know if that's, I
(09:46):
don't know if I can do that, butif it's a brand specifically,
but just like microwavablenoodles, I'll say that Like
eating that consistently,probably not great, but I'm not
gonna save money on food forhome cooking and stuff like that
.
Same thing with eating out inrestaurants.
I wouldn't put that on a list.
Occasionally, of course yougotta live, it's fun.
(10:07):
That would be an experiencethat I would put on that list,
right, it's like an experiencewith family is going or a spouse
right Relations that I wouldput on that list, right, it's
like an experience with familyis going or a spouse right
Relationship going to a nicedinner restaurant and having
that experience.
Put that on the experiencecategory.
And then the last one I have onmy list is and this was brought
to me recently by a patienttalking to them and I was like
man, this is.
That was a guy I'm putting onmy list immediately and it's so
(10:27):
much so that I want to make apodcast about it.
Um, this particular person wassaying what do you not save
money on?
What do you not spare anexpense?
What do you spend your money?
We save for this your spouse'srelationship, the relationship
with your spouse.
So something I've heard in thepast from people that I like and
(10:48):
enjoy listening to that areexperienced and wise individuals
.
They suggested that the numberone recognized factor for
happiness is what yourrelationship looks like with
your spouse.
Your spousal relationship isthe number one indicator.
If somebody feels like they'rehappy or not, like on a scale of
zero to 10, how happy are you?
Like I'm actually kind of likenot happy, I'm miserable, kind
(11:09):
of all the time the number onerecognizable factor and
contributor to that is therelationship with their spouse.
So imagine somebody has, like agreat relationship with their
spouse.
They're going to be moreconsistently on a happy scale.
That's just what I've heard andI'm like, oh, I'm going to take
that.
That's interesting, all right.
So, with that being said, howcan you enhance and enable and
(11:30):
facilitate a great relationshipwith your spouse?
Well, maybe consulting withprofessionals that do this stuff
, that work with spouses thathave gotten divorced, and look
back and reflect and say hereare the things that usually lead
to divorce or lead to a shittyrelationship with a spouse.
So maybe we should avoid thesethings and maybe implement these
(11:51):
things instead.
That will enable a great,flourishing relationship and a
good, happy relationship withyour spouse and a high quality
relationship, a deep, meaningfulrelationship with your spouse
where it's energy giving andlife giving and you feel like
they're your safe person, that'syour safe space.
So, with that being said, I'mlike man the way to do that.
(12:13):
Then what are you going to savemoney for and spend your money
on?
That's most important thecouple's therapy, mental health,
right.
What's your spouse?
That would be the number onething recognized for happiness.
I'm like that's a great point.
I love what that like thispatient said.
I'm like I'm going to put thaton my list.
That makes sense.
So what things do you spendyour money on?
(12:34):
Spousal relationship probably,mental health, couples therapy
Not because it's bad there'salways stuff to work on.
But imagine going once a month.
Here's the question I ask myteam.
Imagine going once a month.
A patient comes to see us forsports physio and they get
manual therapy, they gettreatment, they get the tune-ups
(12:56):
, corrective exercises to makesure all the joints and
everything are moving well.
Imagine if this patient comesto see you or me once a week for
52 weeks in a row, for anentire year.
Do you think that person wouldbe moving and feeling better
than if they weren't seeing youonce a week?
Oh my gosh, they'd be movinggreat better than if they
weren't seeing you once a week.
(13:17):
Oh my gosh, they'd be movinggreat right.
Like they'd be feeling amazing,like if they're training and
working out and stuff like that,like that's what the pros have.
They have these guys and girlslike myself travel with them and
work on them every other dayManual therapy, corrective
exercises, tune-ups just makesure their body and their joints
are moving well and soft tissueis feeling good, right.
So imagine if a patient, ahuman, a natural, just a normal
(13:39):
everyday person that exercisesand has a family, or exercises
and just has a career if theywere to come see me once a week
for a whole year, what wouldthat look like at the end of
that year on December 31st?
Probably a lot better moving.
They'd feel better, like theywouldn't have much pain at all.
I would imagine I'm just goingoff of what experiences we've
had as long as I'm doing crazystuff like jumping out of
(13:59):
airplanes or something like that, but they'd be moving a lot
better.
Okay, let's correlate that witha couple's therapy.
Imagine if a married couple wasto see a professional therapist
on relationships every otherlet's say every, that's
reasonable every other week,right, cause sometimes during a
week it's not enough.
(14:19):
Things happen to even talkabout like as like problems or
issues like yeah, we're good,you know, let's say what every
other week.
Even more manageable, let's sayonce a month.
That's 12 visits over a year.
And let's say each visit is$200, let's say for a therapist,
right, this is a reasonableprice, that's $2,400.
(14:43):
Would you trade $2,400 to havean amazing relationship with
your spouse where you'reconnected, you're fulfilled,
you're deep, you feel safe withthat person, you trust them,
you're just like man.
We're just in a great spotright now.
We're communicating well, wefeel good about each other,
we're just in a great spot,we're just in sync, good
(15:04):
resonance.
That really doesn't happen byaccident.
We can be more purposeful andintentional.
But let's say somebody were toinvest that money and see a
professional once a month, wouldthey be in a better
relationship spot with theirspouse if they didn't see them?
Of course they would.
So, with that being said, I'mgoing to put in my list.
So imagine now let's combinethese things.
(15:26):
All right, just for like.
What do you spend your money on?
What's most important then foryou that you're investing the
only commodity for trading rightnow, for exchanging of goods
and services.
What are you going to spendyour money on?
What are you saving?
What do you save for and whatdo you not spare expenses on?
This is what we save for.
Imagine somebody has a greatrelationship with their spouse
(15:48):
and they feel great about it.
They're just instant man.
We're just in a great spot,right?
We're communicating, we'reresidents.
They have a home that isfunctional and nice, not like
over the top with anything crazymaterial stuff.
It really doesn't bring muchvalue unless it just it enables
the relationship with yourfamily and it's functional and
it works well.
Right, like a faucet and likeyour dishwasher, like stuff like
that, like it's like it workswell.
(16:09):
So imagine a great relationshipwith your spouse, with a home
that is family-centered, thatenables family relationships,
right?
Occasionally you go on funexperiences with your family or
people that matter the most withyou and then you sprinkle in
your own life energy, hobbiesthat give you life, energy the
(16:30):
most, sprinkle those in a coupleof times a month and you're
eating good food.
I mean, in my opinion, I'm likeam I missing anything?
I just don't know if there'sanything else I'd put in that
list.
I think that's just maybe theother one I would add on.
There would be physical health.
(16:50):
I don't spare expenses withphysical health.
Food would be on.
There would be physical health.
I don't spare expenses withphysical health.
Food would be on that kind ofcategory.
But I would maybe say fitness.
So paying for a personaltrainer, an accountability coach
for personal physical health, Ithink that's most.
I wouldn't spare an expense onthat either.
If somebody is does well withcoaching and accountability and
(17:17):
checking in and just like, oncea week, get a personal training
session and then you work out onyour own a couple of days a
week and then you go back to thepersonal trainer.
It's like a check-in, right,because you know they're going
to ask you hey, did you work out, is this what we talked about?
And you work out with them.
It's just a great.
It keeps you on the path.
I wouldn't spare an expense onthat either.
But anyway, other than that,like, am I missing anything?
I'm open to suggestions, butwhat is it you spend your money
(17:41):
on that you don't spare anexpense?
This is what we save for.
We're saving money so that wecan spend it on this.
I think this list is prettycomprehensive and pretty full,
encompassing Experiences withpeople that matter the most,
soul-fulfilling activities likehobbies, A functional home that
(18:01):
enables a relationship-centeredfamily daily life, quality food,
shopping and the relationshipwith your spouse.
I'm open to suggestions, but Ijust think it's really important
.
I think this is interesting toreflect on.
The next question from there islet's reflect on our own lives,
(18:22):
the time, money and effort weput in with the things that we
do all the time.
Would that reflect analogous tothis?
Would would that reflect thatwe're doing this or are we
spending our money on otherthings that maybe wouldn't be
the most important things tospend your money on?
(18:43):
And just interesting to reflecton?
All right, I just don't thinkmoney is money's important, like
I said, but is it worth sparingyour health and wellness and
relationships and mental healthand enjoyment of life just to
acquire more money?
Where the question I've heardbefore on a similar topic is do
(19:04):
you think if a magician, awizard, let's say a wizard was
to approach Warren Buffett.
Who's worth what?
Like $200 billion or something.
This is super wealthy, $100billion, all right.
And he's in his 80s and hewould say Warren, I'm a wizard
(19:24):
and I can grant any wish, andwhat I'm going to do is I'm
going to send you back to whenyou were 30 years old, healthy,
youthful, all the joint painthat you have, all the systemic
illness that you have.
You're going to be immediatelyback to your healthy 30-year-old
body and mental clarity, butI'm going to take all your
(19:45):
wealth.
Do you think he would say yes orbe like no, I want to stay
where I am at 85 years old, notin a healthy physical state Like
I was when I was 30, not thathe's not healthy, but I'm saying
like 30 years old, comparativeand I want to keep all my money.
I'm very confident that hewould probably say take
everything, I want to be 30again.
If that's the case, then thatmeans that his physical health
(20:08):
is more valuable than all of hiswealth, all the money he has.
It's worth more than a hundredbillion dollars, all right.
If that's the case, then are weactually prioritizing, as if
our health and our current stateat a youthful status is our top
priority.
What is it that we're spendingour time and money on then?
Is it actually in a line withthese things?
(20:30):
I think it's just reallyinteresting, so I'm always
trying to reflect on that.
I just thought it wasinteresting.
I, when to bring it up, it's inthis podcast.
Very similar question would beall right, I'll give you a
hundred billion dollars rightnow.
But here's the kicker You'renot going to wake up tomorrow.
Of course, I don't thinkanybody would say yes to that.
How about this one?
I'll give you a hundred billiondollars, but in 20 years you're
(20:51):
going to die.
So you have 20 more years tolive.
Well, I guess it's been whatage?
Let's say someone's 30 yearsold.
All right, I'll give you ahundred billion dollars.
It's usually the grind inthirties.
Usually it's the grind time.
You're building and you'regrinding young families
financially, uh, working to getmore independent, like more,
more free right, grinding,hustling.
You're 30, 30 years old.
(21:13):
I'll give you $100 billion, butyou're going to die at 50.
I don't think anybody would sayyes to that.
I don't know, I wouldn't.
It's just interesting to thinkabout then.
All right, let's reflect on ourcurrent actions and choices and
prioritizations in align withwhat we're talking about right
now.
What, maybe, is the mostimportant thing?
Those are just reflections fortoday that I thought were cool
(21:35):
and interesting that I wanted tobring up.
This is my own and some of myown personal stuff, but uh, I
just think it's interesting.
I try to reflect on that prettyconsistently and like what is
it that we're saving for?
Why are we saving?
It's important to save.
Totally need rainy days andsafety nets just for the sake of
saving, because so we have ahuge nest egg.
(21:55):
Right, that's what we no, no,no, can't spend.
We need to save.
Nope, we can't get organic.
We have to save money.
Nope, we can't go on this tripbecause we have to save.
There's a time to save.
I totally understand for asafety net, right Of, like you
know, six months worth ofexpenses so that you have a
safety net because rainy dayshappen or unforeseen things, but
just for the sake of saving,because you need more money when
(22:18):
you maybe have a safety netalready.
I'm like man, this is what wespend, this is what we save for.
To spend on this or feelingguilty for other.
Like a home, updating it withsome stuff, getting new
appliances, like is this goingto help improve our quality of
life?
And the litmus test filter forwhat is the quality of life?
(22:38):
Then?
These things, maybe afamily-centered relationship
with my family and kids.
Is this going to help improvethat quality of life?
Maybe having a functionaldishwasher that works well,
whereas one right now doesn't?
Yeah, because I don't have todo dishes all the time, I can
spend more time with my kidsright.
Or maybe like a functional yardor a backyard or something that
(23:01):
we can play in and do funthings.
I would spend money on that.
I think that's important versusjust saving.
Nope, can't do that because yougot to save.
Nope, can't go on trips becausewe got to save.
Nope, don't buy organic, we gotto save.
I'm not going to therapy with myspouse because we need to save
money.
We're prioritizing that instead.
I'm just saying a person wouldbe prioritizing saving money
(23:21):
over the number one indicatorfor happiness.
Let's just reflect on that.
That's what I'm doing and I'mjust sharing what I think is
interesting and cool, becauseit's insights that I've heard
from people wiser and moreexperienced than me.
That's why I'm bringing it up,but I'm open to ideas, right,
like, if you have any questions,thoughts, comments, questions,
concerns or conflicting opinions.
Please share Like.
Send me a DM.
(23:42):
I'm always open to hearing coolideas and thoughts, so please
reach out.
I'll catch y'all next time.
If you're a driven, active person who wants to reach
and pursue a higher qualitylife with some ambition, then
guess what this podcast is foryou.
This is the Driven AthletePodcast.
I heard something interestingrecently from wise individuals
that I like to listen to and getsome content from, and
different perspective reframeson things.
(00:21):
And this was a question waslike what do you spend your
money on?
Like, what is what is it thatyou save for?
Like, what is it that you don'tspare an expense?
We're like we save money forthis, right, what are those
things?
And we're not going to be cheapwith it.
Like we're this is what we savefor, right, what are those
things?
From what I've heard in my ownreflections on some stuff, I
(00:43):
came up with some things.
Another way of asking is likeokay, money is important, right,
so it is what it is right, weneed money for the world to go
around.
It's just a matter of like,what is somebody willing to do
to make more money?
And that way where the moralethics kind of come in, and that
would be, I mean, if it's likebad stuff, greed, right, greed,
unfortunately, is an insatiablething that comes with money, but
(01:03):
we need money.
Money is not bad inherently.
I think it's just like thewillingness to do things and the
love for money.
All right, so if money isimportant, what is it you spend
your money on?
What is it you save for?
Another question would be likeall right, then, if that's a
very important thing for yourlife, what is it you're actually
investing in?
What is it that you're actuallypouring your investments into
(01:24):
that you would then, by default,declare as the most important
thing that you're finding veryimportant, right?
So, thoughts with that, what isit that you spend your money on
?
In my opinion, things that I'vegathered.
Here's what I was going toshare.
I think top not in anyparticular order, I would say
what is it you spend your moneyon?
One of the most importantthings would be experiences with
(01:48):
people that you love the mostor, that matter, the most right,
experiences being like funtrips, camping trips, going on
fun family excursions right?
I'm thinking like in my headfamily.
Right, that's gonna be the mostimportant people in my life
that I'm going to invest my timeand invest money in, to do fun
things and experience thingstogether, and that forges and
(02:10):
builds bonds of relationships.
And I know very commonly formyself and also people I've
asked in the past or just randomconversations with people.
Some of the first memories theythink about when they were kids
is fun trips with their family,their parents, their dad, their
mom, like whatever like acamping trip.
I remember this.
One time we did this and it waskind of off the cuff or it was
(02:32):
not really planned and thingswere off schedule, right, but
that ended up being the most funthing.
Another person I've talkedrecently.
They were like I remember thiscamping trip we went on when we
were young and one of the mostbest memories and earliest
memories they have that hadreally good um experience with
with their family was like acamping trip.
That was kind of raw, like itwas roughing it, like it wasn't
(02:54):
glamping by any means they had.
It was just like a tent.
They had no bathroom so theyjust had to do their thing and
then in nature and they had topack and they had to fish for
their own food.
But this person reflected andwas saying that was one of the
really fun, enjoyable time thatthey can remember, a good, great
memory.
And I was like all right, well,I'm going to put one of the
(03:15):
most important things that wespend our money on and that
we're saving for this, it wouldbe family experiences.
If that's camping, hiking trips, excursions, a cruise, theme
parks, like all together forthat purpose, together it's
going to forge and create morebonds with the people you
experience it with, right?
So I was like all right, I'mgoing to put that on my list
(03:37):
Experiences with the people thatmatter the most.
The next thing that I have onmy list would be and this is
more personal, so likeindividual based but soul
fulfilling activities.
So have hobbies that you thinkare really enjoyable, hobbies,
things that you enjoy doing mostin life, that give you life
energy.
Like what are the things thatyou find the most enjoyable for
(03:59):
you?
What gives you life energy?
I was first brought up to thiswhen I was in grad school.
There was like this wellnessthing that we were going through
and one of the questionnairesthat was coming in was like what
are the most fun things you'dlike to do the most in life?
Top three things.
And I wrote on my list and forme personally, sharing this and
I would right now like this ispersonal hobbies.
(04:19):
Right, this is outside of familyexperiences, but I would say
surfing outside of familyexperiences.
But I would say surfing find alot of it.
I just really enjoy it gives melife energy, like when I'm out
there doing my thing and in theocean, uncontrolled.
It's athletic, it creates a lotof physical activity and it's
(04:41):
challenging, but it's fulfilling.
It just gives me life energy.
I just really enjoy that.
I always feel on a super highafterwards.
Just gives me life energy.
I just really enjoy that.
I always feel on a super highafterwards Like man, I feel good
, right, I feel like it's me,I'm back in myself.
So surfing will be on that list.
I enjoy playing golf.
When I play well, right, andright now I'm averaging probably
like one round a year, justwith the family life and stuff
going on.
We're on the grind right now.
We got young kids and running apractice and all these things
(05:04):
moving parts.
So there'll be a time we'll getback to playing golf again, but
right now I have to focus onother stuff.
But I would say golf is on thelist.
I enjoy playing golf again,kind of maybe being outdoors, um
, a nature, uncontrolledenvironments.
It's challenging, it's aphysical requirements, um, it's
not like me watching TV, right,it's like a physical activity
(05:25):
and it's outside of nature, um,and even if I, if I play well, I
enjoy it more and with peoplethat I like hanging out with,
right, so that those threethings combined that makes it
really fun and enjoyable.
It gives me life energy.
I look forward to doing, I lovedoing it, um.
Another one would be exercising.
Like fitness, I always feelaccomplished, I feel good.
(05:46):
It gives me life energy,especially afterwards knowing
that I did something productivethat's helpful for my life and
longevity and health andwellness.
So I would say exercise is partof my list too.
I've gone through, I mean Iwould even I would suggest to
people, and including myself,that I've done.
But I'm only going to most ofthose three.
But to do five, what's your topfive things that you enjoy
(06:07):
doing most in life that givesyou life energy.
I would put that as my number.
The second thing in this list,which is soul-fulfilling
activities, hobbies that youenjoy, that for you personally,
your own things, and if youinclude the people you enjoy
doing that with, I don't know ifthat would count as, like the
experiences with people, it's aseparate thing on the list.
(06:27):
The next thing on the list is afunctional home, a good
functional home in a good area,a good neighborhood.
I would say that's somethingthat I'm not going to spare an
expense on, as in like.
This is what we save for.
We save so that we can have themoney to pay for a functional,
(06:48):
nice home.
Here's the kicker, in myopinion the home that
facilitates a functional,family-centered environment.
That's what I prioritize.
This is me personally.
I'm just sharing my own stuff,right?
This is what I have on my listA functional home for family
that enables family-centeredrelationships for daily life,
(07:11):
daily life, family-centeredrelationships.
I would say that's somethingthat I have on my list.
That would not spare an expense.
This is what we make money for.
This is what we save for.
This is what I'm going toinvest.
The most valuable tradingcommodity, right, physical
trading commodity that we use tobuy stuff, that's what I'm
(07:34):
going to invest in material-wise, is that A functional home that
enables family-centeredrelationships and fun activity,
fun times.
Right, where, in my opinion,there's too big of a house that
would facilitate that andthere's too little of a house
(07:55):
that would facilitate that.
I think there's a middle groundwhere it's like what is the
purpose of getting this house?
Okay, the litmus test, thefilter, the reason why we're
getting this house is for afamily-centered relationships,
functional home that's going toenable and forge good
relationships with the family.
Imagine having a huge housewhere there's a West wing and a
(08:16):
East wing and a third story likewhatever in a basement I'm like
man.
That just creates maybe moreseparation.
Or, as an example, like this ismy opinion again television, tv
in a kid's room.
That only is going to createisolation and separation.
Where, if there's like a centerfamily room that everybody
comes together, we have one kiddoing homework or spouses
(08:40):
reading, reading a book overhere, this one's over here
coloring or doing crafts,whatever, it's all we're all
together, and then there's afamily unit area for dinner
right, so it's just my opinion.
So that's what I put on thatlist, as in, what do you not
save, like what do you not sparean expense on?
You're saving for money tospend on.
What is it you spend on Afunctional home?
(09:02):
The next thing I would say onthat list is quality food
Getting, when we can, when it'sreasonable, quality sources of
food.
If it's organic sources of food.
If it's organic, qualitysources right, like farm-raised,
non-cage-raised chickens andeggs, grass-fed beef, just
(09:24):
quality food, right, likeorganic.
I think that's going to enablea longer and facilitate longer
healthier lifestyle forlongevity, versus eating leading
not great, right, not lowquality food and just be like.
I'll F it.
Like just say, let's save moneyand eat crappy, right, like
ramen noodles or something I'mnot, I don't know if that's, I
(09:46):
don't know if I can do that, butif it's a brand specifically,
but just like microwavablenoodles, I'll say that Like
eating that consistently,probably not great, but I'm not
gonna save money on food forhome cooking and stuff like that
.
Same thing with eating out inrestaurants.
I wouldn't put that on a list.
Occasionally, of course yougotta live, it's fun.
(10:07):
That would be an experiencethat I would put on that list,
right, it's like an experiencewith family is going or a spouse
right Relations that I wouldput on that list, right, it's
like an experience with familyis going or a spouse right
Relationship going to a nicedinner restaurant and having
that experience.
Put that on the experiencecategory.
And then the last one I have onmy list is and this was brought
to me recently by a patienttalking to them and I was like
man, this is.
That was a guy I'm putting onmy list immediately and it's so
(10:27):
much so that I want to make apodcast about it.
Um, this particular person wassaying what do you not save
money on?
What do you not spare anexpense?
What do you spend your money?
We save for this your spouse'srelationship, the relationship
with your spouse.
So something I've heard in thepast from people that I like and
(10:48):
enjoy listening to that areexperienced and wise individuals
.
They suggested that the numberone recognized factor for
happiness is what yourrelationship looks like with
your spouse.
Your spousal relationship isthe number one indicator.
If somebody feels like they'rehappy or not, like on a scale of
zero to 10, how happy are you?
Like I'm actually kind of likenot happy, I'm miserable, kind
(11:09):
of all the time the number onerecognizable factor and
contributor to that is therelationship with their spouse.
So imagine somebody has, like agreat relationship with their
spouse.
They're going to be moreconsistently on a happy scale.
That's just what I've heard andI'm like, oh, I'm going to take
that.
That's interesting, all right.
So, with that being said, howcan you enhance and enable and
(11:30):
facilitate a great relationshipwith your spouse?
Well, maybe consulting withprofessionals that do this stuff
, that work with spouses thathave gotten divorced, and look
back and reflect and say hereare the things that usually lead
to divorce or lead to a shittyrelationship with a spouse.
So maybe we should avoid thesethings and maybe implement these
(11:51):
things instead.
That will enable a great,flourishing relationship and a
good, happy relationship withyour spouse and a high quality
relationship, a deep, meaningfulrelationship with your spouse
where it's energy giving andlife giving and you feel like
they're your safe person, that'syour safe space.
So, with that being said, I'mlike man the way to do that.
(12:13):
Then what are you going to savemoney for and spend your money
on?
That's most important thecouple's therapy, mental health,
right.
What's your spouse?
That would be the number onething recognized for happiness.
I'm like that's a great point.
I love what that like thispatient said.
I'm like I'm going to put thaton my list.
That makes sense.
So what things do you spendyour money on?
(12:34):
Spousal relationship probably,mental health, couples therapy
Not because it's bad there'salways stuff to work on.
But imagine going once a month.
Here's the question I ask myteam.
Imagine going once a month.
A patient comes to see us forsports physio and they get
manual therapy, they gettreatment, they get the tune-ups
(12:56):
, corrective exercises to makesure all the joints and
everything are moving well.
Imagine if this patient comesto see you or me once a week for
52 weeks in a row, for anentire year.
Do you think that person wouldbe moving and feeling better
than if they weren't seeing youonce a week?
Oh my gosh, they'd be movinggreat better than if they
weren't seeing you once a week.
(13:17):
Oh my gosh, they'd be movinggreat right.
Like they'd be feeling amazing,like if they're training and
working out and stuff like that,like that's what the pros have.
They have these guys and girlslike myself travel with them and
work on them every other dayManual therapy, corrective
exercises, tune-ups just makesure their body and their joints
are moving well and soft tissueis feeling good, right.
So imagine if a patient, ahuman, a natural, just a normal
(13:39):
everyday person that exercisesand has a family, or exercises
and just has a career if theywere to come see me once a week
for a whole year, what wouldthat look like at the end of
that year on December 31st?
Probably a lot better moving.
They'd feel better, like theywouldn't have much pain at all.
I would imagine I'm just goingoff of what experiences we've
had as long as I'm doing crazystuff like jumping out of
(13:59):
airplanes or something like that, but they'd be moving a lot
better.
Okay, let's correlate that witha couple's therapy.
Imagine if a married couple wasto see a professional therapist
on relationships every otherlet's say every, that's
reasonable every other week,right, cause sometimes during a
week it's not enough.
(14:19):
Things happen to even talkabout like as like problems or
issues like yeah, we're good,you know, let's say what every
other week.
Even more manageable, let's sayonce a month.
That's 12 visits over a year.
And let's say each visit is$200, let's say for a therapist,
right, this is a reasonableprice, that's $2,400.
(14:43):
Would you trade $2,400 to havean amazing relationship with
your spouse where you'reconnected, you're fulfilled,
you're deep, you feel safe withthat person, you trust them,
you're just like man.
We're just in a great spotright now.
We're communicating well, wefeel good about each other,
we're just in a great spot,we're just in sync, good
(15:04):
resonance.
That really doesn't happen byaccident.
We can be more purposeful andintentional.
But let's say somebody were toinvest that money and see a
professional once a month, wouldthey be in a better
relationship spot with theirspouse if they didn't see them?
Of course they would.
So, with that being said, I'mgoing to put in my list.
So imagine now let's combinethese things.
(15:26):
All right, just for like.
What do you spend your money on?
What's most important then foryou that you're investing the
only commodity for trading rightnow, for exchanging of goods
and services.
What are you going to spendyour money on?
What are you saving?
What do you save for and whatdo you not spare expenses on?
This is what we save for.
Imagine somebody has a greatrelationship with their spouse
(15:48):
and they feel great about it.
They're just instant man.
We're just in a great spot,right?
We're communicating, we'reresidents.
They have a home that isfunctional and nice, not like
over the top with anything crazymaterial stuff.
It really doesn't bring muchvalue unless it just it enables
the relationship with yourfamily and it's functional and
it works well.
Right, like a faucet and likeyour dishwasher, like stuff like
that, like it's like it workswell.
(16:09):
So imagine a great relationshipwith your spouse, with a home
that is family-centered, thatenables family relationships,
right?
Occasionally you go on funexperiences with your family or
people that matter the most withyou and then you sprinkle in
your own life energy, hobbiesthat give you life, energy the
(16:30):
most, sprinkle those in a coupleof times a month and you're
eating good food.
I mean, in my opinion, I'm likeam I missing anything?
I just don't know if there'sanything else I'd put in that
list.
I think that's just maybe theother one I would add on.
There would be physical health.
(16:50):
I don't spare expenses withphysical health.
Food would be on.
There would be physical health.
I don't spare expenses withphysical health.
Food would be on that kind ofcategory.
But I would maybe say fitness.
So paying for a personaltrainer, an accountability coach
for personal physical health, Ithink that's most.
I wouldn't spare an expense onthat either.
If somebody is does well withcoaching and accountability and
(17:17):
checking in and just like, oncea week, get a personal training
session and then you work out onyour own a couple of days a
week and then you go back to thepersonal trainer.
It's like a check-in, right,because you know they're going
to ask you hey, did you work out, is this what we talked about?
And you work out with them.
It's just a great.
It keeps you on the path.
I wouldn't spare an expense onthat either.
But anyway, other than that,like, am I missing anything?
I'm open to suggestions, butwhat is it you spend your money
(17:41):
on that you don't spare anexpense?
This is what we save for.
We're saving money so that wecan spend it on this.
I think this list is prettycomprehensive and pretty full,
encompassing Experiences withpeople that matter the most,
soul-fulfilling activities likehobbies, A functional home that
(18:01):
enables a relationship-centeredfamily daily life, quality food,
shopping and the relationshipwith your spouse.
I'm open to suggestions, but Ijust think it's really important
.
I think this is interesting toreflect on.
The next question from there islet's reflect on our own lives,
(18:22):
the time, money and effort weput in with the things that we
do all the time.
Would that reflect analogous tothis?
Would would that reflect thatwe're doing this or are we
spending our money on otherthings that maybe wouldn't be
the most important things tospend your money on?
(18:43):
And just interesting to reflecton?
All right, I just don't thinkmoney is money's important, like
I said, but is it worth sparingyour health and wellness and
relationships and mental healthand enjoyment of life just to
acquire more money?
Where the question I've heardbefore on a similar topic is do
(19:04):
you think if a magician, awizard, let's say a wizard was
to approach Warren Buffett.
Who's worth what?
Like $200 billion or something.
This is super wealthy, $100billion, all right.
And he's in his 80s and hewould say Warren, I'm a wizard
(19:24):
and I can grant any wish, andwhat I'm going to do is I'm
going to send you back to whenyou were 30 years old, healthy,
youthful, all the joint painthat you have, all the systemic
illness that you have.
You're going to be immediatelyback to your healthy 30-year-old
body and mental clarity, butI'm going to take all your
(19:45):
wealth.
Do you think he would say yes orbe like no, I want to stay
where I am at 85 years old, notin a healthy physical state Like
I was when I was 30, not thathe's not healthy, but I'm saying
like 30 years old, comparativeand I want to keep all my money.
I'm very confident that hewould probably say take
everything, I want to be 30again.
If that's the case, then thatmeans that his physical health
(20:08):
is more valuable than all of hiswealth, all the money he has.
It's worth more than a hundredbillion dollars, all right.
If that's the case, then are weactually prioritizing, as if
our health and our current stateat a youthful status is our top
priority.
What is it that we're spendingour time and money on then?
Is it actually in a line withthese things?
(20:30):
I think it's just reallyinteresting, so I'm always
trying to reflect on that.
I just thought it wasinteresting.
I, when to bring it up, it's inthis podcast.
Very similar question would beall right, I'll give you a
hundred billion dollars rightnow.
But here's the kicker You'renot going to wake up tomorrow.
Of course, I don't thinkanybody would say yes to that.
How about this one?
I'll give you a hundred billiondollars, but in 20 years you're
(20:51):
going to die.
So you have 20 more years tolive.
Well, I guess it's been whatage?
Let's say someone's 30 yearsold.
All right, I'll give you ahundred billion dollars.
It's usually the grind inthirties.
Usually it's the grind time.
You're building and you'regrinding young families
financially, uh, working to getmore independent, like more,
more free right, grinding,hustling.
You're 30, 30 years old.
(21:13):
I'll give you $100 billion, butyou're going to die at 50.
I don't think anybody would sayyes to that.
I don't know, I wouldn't.
It's just interesting to thinkabout then.
All right, let's reflect on ourcurrent actions and choices and
prioritizations in align withwhat we're talking about right
now.
What, maybe, is the mostimportant thing?
Those are just reflections fortoday that I thought were cool
(21:35):
and interesting that I wanted tobring up.
This is my own and some of myown personal stuff, but uh, I
just think it's interesting.
I try to reflect on that prettyconsistently and like what is
it that we're saving for?
Why are we saving?
It's important to save.
Totally need rainy days andsafety nets just for the sake of
saving, because so we have ahuge nest egg.
(21:55):
Right, that's what we no, no,no, can't spend.
We need to save.
Nope, we can't get organic.
We have to save money.
Nope, we can't go on this tripbecause we have to save.
There's a time to save.
I totally understand for asafety net, right Of, like you
know, six months worth ofexpenses so that you have a
safety net because rainy dayshappen or unforeseen things, but
just for the sake of saving,because you need more money when
(22:18):
you maybe have a safety netalready.
I'm like man, this is what wespend, this is what we save for.
To spend on this or feelingguilty for other.
Like a home, updating it withsome stuff, getting new
appliances, like is this goingto help improve our quality of
life?
And the litmus test filter forwhat is the quality of life?
(22:38):
Then?
These things, maybe afamily-centered relationship
with my family and kids.
Is this going to help improvethat quality of life?
Maybe having a functionaldishwasher that works well,
whereas one right now doesn't?
Yeah, because I don't have todo dishes all the time, I can
spend more time with my kidsright.
Or maybe like a functional yardor a backyard or something that
(23:01):
we can play in and do funthings.
I would spend money on that.
I think that's important versusjust saving.
Nope, can't do that because yougot to save.
Nope, can't go on trips becausewe got to save.
Nope, don't buy organic, we gotto save.
I'm not going to therapy with myspouse because we need to save
money.
We're prioritizing that instead.
I'm just saying a person wouldbe prioritizing saving money
(23:21):
over the number one indicatorfor happiness.
Let's just reflect on that.
That's what I'm doing and I'mjust sharing what I think is
interesting and cool, becauseit's insights that I've heard
from people wiser and moreexperienced than me.
That's why I'm bringing it up,but I'm open to ideas, right,
like, if you have any questions,thoughts, comments, questions,
concerns or conflicting opinions.
Please share Like.
Send me a DM.
(23:42):
I'm always open to hearing coolideas and thoughts, so please
reach out.
I'll catch y'all next time.
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