Die With Zero: Why Living Now Matters More Than Saving for “Someday”

This book is one of those that I wish someone had given me 40 years ago. It would have changed the way that I approached life and made for a richer experience. This is why you need to read or listen to it.

Imagine a life where “someday” becomes today, where instead of saving every extra dollar, you focus on making each day richer in experiences. *Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life* by Bill Perkins challenges readers to rethink their entire approach to money, time, and happiness. With his philosophy of “dying with zero,” Perkins suggests that we should aim to spend our wealth and energy on living fully rather than hoarding it for an uncertain future. Here’s how Perkins structures his powerful argument, chapter by chapter.

Chapter 1: Optimize your life

Perkins begins by urging readers to focus on life’s quality, not just its length. He proposes that true wealth lies in experiences, not savings. Optimizing life means deliberately planning for memorable experiences that make life richer and more fulfilling. Instead of aiming to die with money in the bank, Perkins encourages a focus on maximizing happiness while we’re still here.

Chapter 2: Invest in experiences

In this chapter, Perkins delves into the core idea of “investing in experiences.” He believes spending on travel, family time, and other adventures brings greater joy than material goods. Experiences, he argues, create lasting memories that can pay you back for years, a concept he calls the “memory dividend.” These memories enrich life long after the money is gone, making them priceless investments.

Chapter 3: Why die with zero?

Perkins tackles the question on everyone’s mind: Why aim to die with zero? Here, he explains that unused money represents missed opportunities. Rather than leaving behind a large inheritance, he argues that it’s better to live fully and avoid regrets. Perkins points out that if we die with unused wealth, we’ve essentially saved for a future we’ll never see instead of using our money to enhance our lives today.

You can purchase this book here. (It is also available as an Audiobook.)

Chapter 4: Know your peak

This chapter challenges readers to identify the “peak” of their lives when they’re at their healthiest and most active. Perkins advises tailoring spending to this peak period to enjoy life’s most vibrant experiences when we’re best able to do so. By understanding that some experiences belong to specific life stages, we can make the most of them before it’s too late.

Chapter 5: The Time Bucket List

In this chapter, Perkins introduces the concept of “time bucketing,” which involves dividing life into different stages or “buckets” and planning experiences for each one. For example, adventurous travel might belong in your younger years, while quieter pursuits might suit later stages. Perkins believes time-bucketing helps people match the right experiences with the right time of life, making each period as meaningful as possible.

Chapter 6: The value of time

In this thought-provoking chapter, Perkins explains why time matters more than money. He emphasizes that time is a finite resource we can never reclaim, so we should treat it with more value than money. He encourages readers to spend their time wisely, prioritizing meaningful experiences over the endless pursuit of wealth.

Chapter 7: Balance your life

Perkins explores the balance between saving, spending, and working. He argues that a life hoarded in the bank often leads to missed opportunities. This chapter offers practical advice on balancing money management with living fully, ensuring we enjoy a fulfilling life without financial stress or regret.

You can purchase this book here. (It is also available as an Audiobook.)

Chapter 8: Start early

In this chapter, Perkins emphasizes the benefits of beginning the journey of “investing in experiences” early. He points out that the earlier we build memories, the longer we can enjoy the “memory dividend” they pay. Waiting until retirement to start living, he argues, means missing out on decades of potential happiness.

Chapter 9: The final chapter

In his closing remarks, Perkins ties together his main themes, encouraging readers to apply his advice and live richly in the present. He reiterates his philosophy of using resources to enhance the here and now, ensuring we leave no wealth unspent when our time runs out. It’s a reminder that life is too short to postpone joy.

With each chapter, Perkins presents a wake-up call to those who feel stuck in the habit of saving without purpose. His book serves as both a guide and a challenge, reminding readers that life’s richness lies in memories, experiences, and shared moments—not in an untouched bank account. *Die With Zero* calls us to act, to embrace time-bucketing, memory dividends, and intentional giving, and to aim not for a hefty inheritance but a life well-lived. In Perkins’ words, we should leave this world not with wealth but with a lifetime of memories that have truly been spent.

My final thoughts

This book left me filled with thoughts and conflicts. Looking back over the last 40 years, I agree that we should spend more money on experiences that enrich our lives. I remember my sister telling me once that there would be plenty of time to travel after I retired. Unfortunately, after paying for 5 of my daughters' weddings (still one more to go) and putting several kids through college and nursing school, I am at the age where I should retire. However, I am still busy providing security for my family and my wife's future. But we could have spent less money on eating out and more time in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, diving with bull sharks (one of our favorite vacation outings).

But I don't know If I am comfortable not leaving anything to my children. The Bible talks about a godly man leaving an inheritance to his children's children (grandchildren). I do realize that there are other kinds of inheritance than just money. I have eight children and 22 grandchildren (currently). That means that I can probably only leave them enough money to buy one steak dinner (if the price of steaks doesn't continue to increase). I have to focus on leaving them with memories, a collection of my thoughts, some personal poems and writings, and memories of how I tried to love and guide them. So, suppose you will spend all your money on experiences in this life. In that case, you have to navigate how to pay for your late-life expenses, die without being a burden to your family, and make sure that you leave something of a more lasting legacy to your progeny. It is not an easy task, so good luck with that!

You can purchase this book here. (It is also available as an Audiobook.)