Ramit Sethi Claps Back At Living Cheaply: 'I Don't Find It Inspiring To Idolize People Who Spend As Little Money As Possible'

Spending less money makes it easier to invest and build long-term wealth. While it's good to be responsible with your money, it's possible to take savings a little too far. Ramit Sethi, author of "I Will Teach You To Be Rich," recently threw cold water on the idea of relentlessly saving money and viewing that as a good thing.

"I don't find it inspiring to idolize people who spend as little money as possible," he stated in an X post.

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While he doesn't advocate for a reckless YOLO mentality when it comes to money management, he also doesn't believe we should be celebrating the 92-year-old who died with millions of dollars. Sethi is one of the few financial experts to dive deep into the nuance of cheap vs. frugal living. Here's what you can learn from his X post.

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Spend Money Extravagantly On What You Love

People shouldn't be afraid to spend money when it's on things that matter. Sethi views these people as inspirations, but it's not going to do much good if you have thousands of dollars in credit card debt. He reaches a middle ground that can help people look for better role models and set better financial goals.

"I'm inspired by the people who spend their money extravagantly on the things they love while cutting costs mercilessly on the things they don't. If someone buys a $2,000 handmade blanket made by an artisan they've followed for 12 years, amazing."

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The handmade blanket example is valuable because it's a high-end purchase with thought. Making impulsive purchases can put you deeper into debt and result in you having a bunch of things that you don't really need. If you say no to many expenses, the few things you say yes to hold more value. 

Turn Off The Survival Mindset

Although a budget is a good resource to keep your spending under control, it can become problematic if you only view life with a survival mindset. Sethi believes in creating a rich life instead of one that revolves around penny-pinching.

"I'm not inspired by building a life around how little you can spend. What a tragedy to live a smaller life than you have to," he stated. 

Budgeting and investing give you more options. When you have more money, you can go on more trips, spend on things that you enjoy, and have more financial security. Ruthlessly cutting out waste allows you to optimize every dollar you spend to maximize your personal satisfaction. 

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Don't Idolize Anyone

Sethi's X post garnered plenty of support, as people agreed about building wealth that you could use from time to time. However, one X user shared a valuable insight that is deeper than money.

"I don't find it inspiring or wise to idolize anyone. Money and greed pursuits are the distraction that so many become obsessed with even as it derails their ability to achieve actual happiness."

To be clear, you can make a lot of money and be happy at the same time. However, some people pursue and save far more money than necessary. In some of those cases, the greedy and reckless pursuit of excessive money can hurt relationships and pull people further away from happiness.

It's also impossible to know anything about a public figure who you idolize. People only show the parts of them that they want to be seen. People who are viewed as idols very carefully craft their images and only show you their best. It's better to consider the type of person you want to become and actively walk on that path.

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