Balancing wealth enjoyment and growth is a challenge many face, but experts have valuable insights to share. This article presents practical strategies for managing your finances effectively, combining both present enjoyment and future growth. From treating money as a business partner to automating your financial decisions, these expert-backed tips will help you strike the right balance in your financial journey.
- Treat Money as a Business Partner
- Automate Growth, Spend with Permission
- Balance Deliberate Spending with Future Investment
- Set a Joy Budget Tied to Milestones
- Align Spending with Values, Schedule Money Dates
- Allocate Funds with Purpose
- Set and Update Financial Goals Regularly
- Manage Personal Capital Like a Portfolio
- Separate Growth Money from Life Money
- Automate Both Enjoyment and Growth Funds
Treat Money as a Business Partner
It’s a delicate balance — enjoying what you’ve earned without letting it slip through your fingers. One thing I’ve learned is to treat money like a business partner rather than a prize. When we started gaining traction, I made a conscious choice: every euro that came in had a job — either fueling growth, covering essentials, or funding very intentional “luxuries.” I don’t splurge to impress; I invest in moments that actually energize me. One tip I’d give is to set a “play fund” — a fixed amount each year solely for enjoyment, no guilt attached. It keeps your lifestyle grounded while still allowing you to taste the upside.
I remember booking a weekend in the Alps after closing our first multi-market venture deal — it wasn’t lavish, but it felt earned. That feeling is the key. The moment spending becomes routine and loses that earned excitement, it’s time to reassess.
Niclas Schlopsna
Managing Consultant and CEO, spectup
Automate Growth, Spend with Permission
Striking a balance between enjoying your wealth and growing it isn’t about choosing between now and later — it’s about being intentional with both. I’ve always believed that money should work just as hard as you do. But what’s the point of building wealth if you’re too afraid to enjoy any of it?
One mindset that’s served me well is treating financial growth and lifestyle enjoyment as complementary forces, not competing ones. I build my financial strategy around what I call “conscious allocation.” That means every dollar has a job — some are assigned to compound and grow, others are assigned to experiences that bring joy now. Both are equally valuable in the long run.
One tip I’d share? Automate your growth, then spend with permission. I consistently invest a fixed percentage of income into diversified growth vehicles before anything hits my lifestyle accounts. That way, the act of spending what’s left doesn’t come with guilt or uncertainty — it’s already been accounted for. Enjoying a trip, a splurge dinner, or even time off feels better when you know your future self is still being looked after.
In my own journey, I’ve found that lifestyle upgrades are more meaningful when they follow impact milestones — not just income milestones. That creates a healthy dynamic: you’re not just spending because you can, you’re spending because it aligns with your values, your wins, and the life you’re consciously designing.
The audience reading Financial Tech Times likely understands that financial literacy is about freedom, not restriction. Wealth, at its best, gives you the freedom to say “yes” to the things that matter. But that “yes” becomes far more powerful when it’s backed by a system that ensures you’ll be able to say yes tomorrow, too.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t to die with the biggest number in your portfolio. It’s to create a life where the money you’ve earned enables memories, peace of mind, and choices — today and in the future. That balance isn’t a 50/50 split — it’s about finding your right ratio and adjusting as your life evolves.
John Mac
Serial Entrepreneur, UNIBATT
Balance Deliberate Spending with Future Investment
This is one of those things that becomes more real as you get older (or more tired): if you don’t stop to enjoy it, what’s the point of growing it? But if you only enjoy it, you might not have it later when you need it most.
Here’s how I’ve learned to balance the two:
Treat your wealth like a garden, not a vault.
Spend deliberately — on things that feed you emotionally, creatively, or relationally. And at the same time, plant seeds that grow while you sleep (investments, skill-building, passive income).
I’ll splurge on a trip that gives me stories, connections, and new perspectives — but I’ll also invest in assets (even small ones) that work in the background. One fills the soul, the other builds the future. I need both.
The sweet spot is intentional indulgence: spending in a way that still reflects who you want to become, not just what you want right now.
Okan Uckun
Tattoo Artist / Founder, MONOLITH STUDIO
Set a Joy Budget Tied to Milestones
One mindset shift helped me most — separating fulfillment from spending. I enjoy my wealth by investing in experiences with my family, not just things. At the same time, I automate growth through diversified assets and reinvestment into Edumentors. I treat personal spending like a dividend from discipline, not a reward for risk. If I had to give one tip: set a monthly “joy budget” that’s guilt-free, but tie it to consistent financial milestones. It keeps you grounded and motivated.
Tornike Asatiani
CEO, Edumentors
Align Spending with Values, Schedule Money Dates
I’m still learning how to strike a balance between enjoying wealth and growing it, but one mindset shift has made a huge impact: I treat money as a tool, not a scorecard.
I used to fall into extremes, either saving obsessively out of fear or splurging impulsively after a stressful month. Neither felt right. Then I started budgeting around values, not just numbers. I asked myself: what purchases genuinely make me feel fulfilled, and which ones feel hollow afterward? Now, I actively set aside a monthly “joy fund” to spend on things that align with my values: experiences with people I love, wellness tools that support my health, and travel that opens my perspective. I don’t feel guilty spending that money because it’s planned for. At the same time, I automate transfers into investments and savings the same way I’d pay a bill. It removes the temptation to skip saving “just this month,” and I still feel free to enjoy life.
One tip I’d share is to schedule regular “money dates” with yourself. Once a month, I’ll grab a coffee, sit down with my bank app and investment dashboard, and check in. I review spending patterns, make adjustments, and set goals for the month ahead. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being present. When you’re actively engaged with your finances, balancing living well now and building security for your future is easier. Wealth isn’t just about accumulation, but alignment. When you align your spending with what you truly value, and your savings with where you want to go, you feel more in control and content. That’s the sweet spot I try to stay in.
Rita Zhang
Marketing Coordinator, Achievable
Allocate Funds with Purpose
For me, the key to balancing enjoyment and wealth growth has always come down to being intentional about allocation with purpose.
I separate money into three categories: growth, stability, and joy, each with a distinct role. Growth is for reinvestment and compound returns. Stability is for security and legacy. And joy is for living life in the present, without guilt.
What’s helped the most is putting systems around this.
I don’t wait until there’s a surplus to treat myself; I pre-commit a percentage of income to experiences or generosity, just like I pre-commit to reinvesting in the business. And that keeps me grounded.
Because the truth is, money doesn’t create freedom unless it’s used with intention. The goal isn’t just to grow it endlessly; it’s to align it with the kind of life you actually want to live.
Jeff Mains
Founder and CEO, Champion Leadership Group
Set and Update Financial Goals Regularly
It helps to simply set goals for yourself here. Everyone should have some kind of financial goal (or multiple goals) giving them something to work toward. As those goals are met, new ones should be set. They can vary so much from person to person, but regardless, they should always be there so that you have something to strive toward, whether that’s with investing, saving, getting out of debt, or something else.
Seamus Nally
CEO, TurboTenant
Manage Personal Capital Like a Portfolio
For me, balance comes down to being intentional. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of growing businesses and building value, but I also think it’s important to actually live the life you’re working so hard to afford. One way I strike that balance is by being clear about what matters most. I’ll happily invest in experiences because they recharge me and give me the perspective I need to stay sharp professionally. At the same time, I approach wealth-building the same way I do strategic partnerships or M&A: with a clear goal, strong fundamentals, and an eye for long-term value.
One tip I’d offer is to think of your personal capital the same way you’d manage a portfolio company. Understand where it performs best, where it needs attention, and don’t be afraid to allocate toward growth, whether that’s investments, learning something new, or backing someone you believe in. The biggest risk isn’t spending; it’s drifting without a plan. I’ve seen too many people hit financial goals only to realize they never really figured out what success looks like for them. Enjoyment and growth aren’t opposites; when you’re intentional, they feed into each other.
Neil Fried
Senior Vice President, EcoATMB2B
Separate Growth Money from Life Money
In this business, you work hard for every dollar. Climbing roofs in the heat, dealing with insurance adjusters, managing crews — it’s not passive income. So yes, when the business started to really take off, I made sure to enjoy a bit of it. But the key is this: I never touch what I can reinvest. I separate money into two lanes — growth money and life money. It’s as simple as that.
Growth money goes right back into the business. Better tools, more marketing, paying good people, and keeping materials stocked so we’re never waiting on supply. That’s what keeps the engine running. I treat it like it’s not even mine — it belongs to the company. It works 24/7, even when I’m not.
Life money? That’s for time with my family, taking a break once in a while, or doing something that reminds me why I’m working so hard in the first place. But even there, I stay grounded. I don’t need to show off — I’d rather own my time than own stuff. I’d rather take my kids fishing on a weekday than flaunt a new truck on social media.
One tip: Pay yourself like an employee, not like a king. If your lifestyle depends on the business never slowing down, you’ll always be stressed. But if you live below your means and let the business breathe, you’ll have room to grow — and enjoy the wins along the way.
I’ve seen guys in this industry squander it all when the money starts coming in. Then one slow season hits and they’re scrambling. I never want to be in that position. Discipline now means freedom later. That’s the balance.
Ahmad Faiz
Owner, Achilles Roofing and Exteriors
Automate Both Enjoyment and Growth Funds
I view wealth as more than just numbers in an account; it’s about enabling both future security and a rich life today. Striking the balance between enjoying my wealth and continuing to grow it is about intentional financial design and mindful allocation.
My approach involves ensuring a portion of my earnings is always reinvested into growth, whether it’s strategic real estate investments, my business, or a diversified personal portfolio. Simultaneously, I consciously allocate funds for enriching experiences, travel, and quality time. This deliberate “spending” on life’s joys prevents burnout and ensures the present is valued, not just deferred. It’s about being proactive with both financial discipline and personal fulfillment.
My top tip for others is to automate your “enjoyment” just as diligently as you automate your “growth.” Set up recurring, guilt-free transfers to separate accounts: one for long-term investments and another specifically for experiences, travel, or hobbies. This ensures you’re consistently funding both your future security and your present joy, removing the dilemma from spending on life’s enriching moments.
Kim Lee
Licensed Realtor, Kim Lee – Vancouver Realtor
