What’s the point of money?

By Huw Jones

MoneyThe only useful thing you can do with money is spend it. That’s right, spend it.

I’ll say it again, spend it!

But how?

Well before we look at how, lets clarify what we mean by ‘spending’.

Typically we ‘spend’ money when we exchange it for goods and services. But, lets consider a much broader definition of spending. One that includes those goods and services but also extends to the use of money.  Money can be used by its owner.

It’s also important that we clarify which money we are talking about here. This is the money that is surplus income. The money that’s left over after all your bills, debts and essential expenditure have been paid.

So let’s look at the three uses for this surplus:

  1. You can spend it on having fun today;
  2. You can invest it;
  3. You can give it away.

So why wouldn’t you spend this surplus income today?

The answer is so you can spend it in the future. Remember, its only useful feature is that it can be spent. So rather than thinking about it as ‘investing’ or ‘saving’ why not think about it as ‘deferred spending’?

Saving or investing is simply not spending today so that you can spend it at some point in the future.

Getting the balance right is important, money is not our most valuable resource, time is. Money can enable you to spend your time well. Saving some now is also important. You won’t always have a job and a salary, so saving and investing is a way you can reach financial independence.

We can help you to understand the balance of what can be spent today and what needs to be saved, so that it can be spent well in the future. Looking at what you would like your future to look like means we can put a plan in place to get you there, whilst enjoying the journey along the way.

There is no point hoarding it for the sake of it. Why not accumulate it for a purpose? Make that purpose so you can spend it in the future. Spend it on a great retirement full of great experiences. After all, you can’t take it with you!