Why More Money Doesn't Always Mean More Freedom

We’ve talked a lot about the relationship between time, health, and money — and for most people, accumulating money takes time.

But here’s a reality that often gets overlooked:

In the pursuit of more money, you're often giving up something far more valuable —
Your free time and your health.

Health will always be more valuable than money.

And to get the most positive life experiences at any age, you must balance your life, and this requires you to exchange an abundant resource in order to get more of a scarce one.

Remember the famous Confucius quote of, “A healthy man wants a thousand things, a sick man only wants one".”

The Tradeoff You Might Not Be Thinking About

When you work additional years just to build more savings — probably more than you actually need — yes, you are gaining more money.

But at the same time, you’re losing more free time and your health is gradually declining.

More money doesn’t equal more experience points.

Every extra day you spend working is a day you give up the ability to use your time freely — and it’s a day closer to the reality that your health won’t be what it once was.

Example: If you delay retirement by five years to save more, your health doesn’t stand still during that time.

It declines by five years too.

That’s five fewer years when you could have been healthier, more energetic, and able to experience life more fully.

And here’s the real kicker: Those five years of extra savings often don't even begin to make up for the value of the experiences you lost.

This isn’t about abandoning careful planning or rushing into retirement overnight. It’s simply a reminder that as you plan, time and health deserve just as much attention as dollars and cents.

Start Thinking About Wealth Differently

Instead of thinking about your net worth as a dollar amount, I want you to think about it as a date.

The "peak utility" of your money — when it’s the most valuable to you — isn’t when you have the most dollars stacked up. Rather, it’s when your health, time, and money all intersect in a way that lets you enjoy life the most.

Let’s break it down:

• A dollar in the hands of a 30-year-old — who is active, adventurous, and healthy — can use that dollar to fulfill meaningful experiences and memories.

• That same dollar in the hands of someone in their 80s might not buy the same level of enjoyment, simply because of physical limitations.

IMPORTANT: This isn’t to say you can't enjoy your money well into your 80s and 90s.

You absolutely can — and you should.

It’s just that how you experience it will naturally evolve over time. And may look different than how you once enjoyed it in your thirties and fourties.

The point is, as you approach retirement with time and health still in your favor, it's worth considering — what if you began viewing these gifts through a different lens?"

Could you begin enjoying some of those meaningful experiences now — instead of putting them off for “someday”?

In short: Money has diminishing utility as we age.

You either get less enjoyment out of the same dollar, or you need to spend more dollars to achieve the same level of joy.

Bill Perkins: Die with Zero

The Takeaway

Saving and building wealth are critical — but at some point, the goal should shift.

Not toward more money, but toward more life and more experiences.

Your best wealth is measured in experiences, health, and time — not just dollars.

Knowing that, go and spend it wisely.