This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Pain builds wealth, but too much pain destroys life
One philosophy he conveys is that your savings rate should be painful. I concur 90% – but only to a degree.
There should always be an expiration date on extreme saving. Similar to Die With Zero, you can’t discount your whole life without also discounting the quality of your life.
Yes – for a time, you should absolutely live cheaply, frugally, and aggressively. In the early days, you should squeeze every dollar, find every angle, and build the muscle of sacrifice. But to what end? While you’re young, you should also find ways to still live.
Your savings rate should hurt – but only for a time.
That’s the kind of short-term pain worth enduring. But you can’t stay in that phase forever. Because when the sacrifice never ends, you start losing more than you gain.
Find ways to live and experience life fully at every age.
Be Willing to Sacrifice for a While
A lot of people aren’t willing to endure discomfort for wealth. A perfect example: do you really need a brand-new car as your first car? No.
Do you really need to live on your own right away? Maybe. But if not, could you stick it out with a roommate (or two or three) for a while? And if you can’t, could you at least live somewhere cheap enough that you meet both goals – independence and wealth-building?
Do you really need a new phone every 1–2 years? No.
If you aren’t willing to sacrifice something in the process of building wealth, I can almost guarantee you won’t get it. Even many social media and OnlyFans influencers stick to disciplined posting and content-creation schedules.
A lot of the luxuries (subscriptions, clothes, access, technology, etc.) we think or feel we need in the process of building wealth are unnecessary.
Even some of the financial goals you might have are probably ludicrous based on your current actions today. If your goal is to pay off debt, become a multi-millionaire, or build substantial savings, ask yourself: Do my daily actions align with that? If not, stop fooling yourself. Either change your goals or shift your actions.
Financial Samurai is right: you should be willing to sacrifice for a while if you desire to transform your financial situation and future.
I lived with roommates. I drove my car into the ground. I wore the same clothes over and over. I asked for discounts. I kept my tech for years without upgrades. I cut superfluous subscriptions. I didn’t spend much, and many of these habits I continue today. Why? Because I want to stay focused on investing.
And that takes tunnel vision. If you don’t learn to say no – to yourself, to others, and to opportunities to spend – you’ll find endless ways to disperse your money.
When Quality and Intentionality Matter
Take food. Quality matters, and it starts when you’re young. Eating ramen noodles and processed junk might sound like the ultimate frugal hack, but it’s bad for your body and your mind.
If there’s one thing you should never skimp on, it’s health. Don’t cut corners on veggies, whole foods, and nutrition. Instead, cut the unnecessary “cheap thrills” and redirect that money into the foods that actually keep you alive and thriving.
And then there are lifestyle choices disguised as “savings.” I know a couple who moved in together to save money on rent. She saved almost $3,000 and he saved a few thousand as well – which sounds great in theory. But here’s the problem: couples shouldn’t move in together just for money savings. You need to first establish where you’re going together relationally, what your goals are, if you’re truly ready to live together, and what that next step signifies.
Because here’s the risk: the problem with moving in with a partner is you become used to the new financial status quo, which can insidiously create unspoken levels of entanglement and codependency. That’s not financial freedom. That’s a trap disguised as savings.
Don’t Just Save – Make Sure You’re Still Living
I was chatting with a woman the other day who got fired, and she felt neutral about it. But she’s 25 and has the whole world as her oyster. I was thrilled for her because I knew this would be another stepping stone for where she’s headed next.
Should she be saving aggressively right now? Hell fucking yeah. But the truth is, she also needs to find a way to live, so she doesn’t wake up one day and ask herself: Where did the time go, and what do I have to show for it outside of money?
People say money is everything, and in many ways, it can be. But it’s still the people and experiences that make it matter and put it to good use.
Save aggressively, but don’t completely forget about your current self in the process.
So yes – let your savings rate hurt. But only long enough to build discipline and momentum. Past that, saving shouldn’t feel like pain. It should feel like alignment. Because money is supposed to buy you more life, not less.
For some people, once they reach a certain amount of capital, they can essentially ride it out (with no more contributions) based on their financial goals and time horizon. But building that initial round of capital? That takes discipline – unless you stumble into a large stash of money.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.