Puisa Kotha Hunibo? Spend that money

Most of what I write in this column has been about saving money, managing money and planning money. By now, you probably have a fair idea that I am a little obsessed with making every rupee count. So today, let’s change things up a little and talk about spending that money! After all, money well spent is also a great investment. Don’t you think we are so conditioned to look for the cheapest option that sometimes we forget that paying a little more can actually give us much better value in the long run? Few things I personally believe are worth spending money on.

1. Sleep of course! We spend roughly a third of our lives sleeping. So yes, buy that good mattress. There is very little glamour in spending money on something you spend most of your time sleeping on, but a good night’s sleep affects almost everything else. Your energy, mood, concentration, productivity and how you turn up the next day. Sleep is maintenance. Sleep is recovery. And your mattress plays a major role in both. So if you’ve been putting off buying that better mattress, maybe this is your sign.

2. What you eat: If there is one thing I would happily spend more on, it is food that actually nourishes me. What you eat eventually becomes part of you. Quite literally. Good food fuels your body, your brain, your energy and your ability to function. This doesn’t mean eating expensive food or ordering fancy salads every day. It’s simply choosing better ingredients, and understanding that your body is the one asset you will carry for your entire life. We are a lucky bunch. We are surrounded by fresh vegetables, local produce, and great ingredients!

3. Your body: Spend money on keeping your body healthy and fit. A gym membership. A good pair of shoes that support your feet and posture. A sport or activity you genuinely enjoy. And a regular health check-up so you know what is happening inside your body instead of discovering it a little too late. If you haven’t had a proper health check-up or blood test in a long time, let this be your reminder. The goal isn’t simply to live longer. It is to increase the span of our healthy years.

4. Learning a skill: A course. A certification. A workshop. A book. Learning a skill that makes you better at what you do or opens a new door. Skills compound. The more you learn, the more useful you become to yourself and to others. And unlike many things you buy, nobody can take away what you have learned.

5. The tools that help you do your everyday work: Sometimes spending more on something you use every single day makes perfect sense. A good laptop. A comfortable chair. A reliable phone. Whatever your work requires. Eg: If you have a desk job and spend eight to ten hours sitting, a good chair can make a world of difference. Those few thousand rupees you save on a cheap chair may not feel like a saving when your back starts complaining or your posture starts taking a hit. If something saves you time, reduces frustration or helps you do better work every day, it is worth looking at as an investment rather than just an expense.

6. Experiences and people: This one’s for the soul. 🙂 I think some money should simply be spent on living. A trip. A concert. A weekend away. A meal with people you love. Something you have wanted to experience for a while.

Money is a tool. Save it. Grow it. But when you spend it, spend it on things that make your life healthier, richer, better or more meaningful. Now go spend that money !

The original published column can be found at: Spend that money