If you need a refresh on the parable of “The Ants and the Grasshopper”, here it is: The ants spent all summer working and storing food for the winter, while the grasshopper played. Then winter came and the grasshopper asked the ants for some food and the ants told the grasshopper to shove it. Pretty harsh!

I think the lesson is meant to be that you shouldn’t spend all your time having fun and spending all your money, you should be working hard and saving! BUT, I think some people swing too far in the other direction. If you’re spending your 20s, 30s, and 40s, working and investing hoping to have fun one day, you might find that you’re missing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

I never did the backpacking around the world staying in hostels thing in my 20s. I was too busy working. I tried it a bit when I was in my mid-30s but I think I was already too old. I felt weird as a 36 year old sleeping in a dorm full of 18-23 year olds. I KNOW. Some of you will say you’re never too old, and sure that’s true. But sometimes in life there are experiences that only exist for certain windows. If you want to go skydiving, go now. You probably won’t be able to in your 70s.

So while I talk a lot about saving and investing on this page, it’s important to remember that the goal is not to die with the most zeroes in your bank account. The goal is to use money as a tool to maximize your life’s happiness. Spending every penny and being broke your whole life isn’t a good way to be happy. But saving every penny and missing out on life isn’t either.

As always, reminding you to build wealth by following the two PFC rules: 1.) Live below your means and 2.) Invest early and often.

-Jeremy