“The business of life is the acquisition of memories.” - Bill Perkins

Our first book in this series is Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life.  We first listened to this book during a long drive back from Dubuque, Iowa - the book was purchased later.  As we crossed the Mississippi River after saying goodbye to our youngest and “leaving her” (as she describes it) at school, we started the Die With Zero audiobook. This book isn't for everyone and we have some mixed feelings about it.  At times the author limits (or loses) his audience because many folks strive to make ends meet economically and are not in a financial position to simply adjust financial plans.  Also, some folks are just naturally risk-adverse… which is more than fine. Lastly, spending more than you make or living outside your means is simply not good advice. But the author does make some sound arguments about doing what you can, when you can, and being intentional about time, health, and money. We don’t plan to die with zero… but the book allowed for us to rethink our habits and not miss out on experiences that we can make work now. The sooner you invest in your memory dividends the longer they will pay you back.

There are books about money.

There are books about time.

There are books about travel.

And then there is Die With Zero by Bill Perkins - a book about money that, at its heart, is really about living intentionally.

Perkins challenges one of the most deeply ingrained ideas in our culture: that the goal of life is to work hard, accumulate as much as possible, save it for the future, and eventually enjoy the rewards.

His question is simple:

What if we do everything right, but wait too long for eventually to come?

The central message of Die With Zero isn't really about spending every penny or being financially irresponsible. It's about making sure that money serves a purpose while we still have the time, health, energy and opportunity to use it. Perkins argues that experiences can provide what he calls “memory dividends” - the enjoyment we receive not only when an experience happens, but every time we remember it afterward.

And that idea immediately made us think about travel.

Travel is an investment in memories

Think about your favourite trip.

Maybe it was standing beside a glacier in Alaska.

Maybe it was watching the sun rise over the Mediterranean.

Maybe it was a campfire in one of our incredible Provincial or National Parks.

Maybe it was sitting around a table with friends somewhere completely unfamiliar, laughing about something that would never have happened at home.

The trip ended. The money was spent. The suitcase eventually went back into the attic. But the experience stayed.

Years later, you can still tell the story. You can still see the photographs (slides, photo albums, social media or perhaps a treasure book). You can still remember the people you were with, the places you visited and the feeling of being somewhere new.

That is the memory dividend.

This is where we believe Die With Zero becomes particularly powerful for travellers.

We often think of travel as something we will do later. After the mortgage.  After the kids finish school. After retirement. After work slows down. After everything else is taken care of.

But tomorrow becomes the things that we put off today and tomorrow is far from a guarantee. Our health changes. Our priorities change. Our friends and family change.

And, perhaps most importantly, time changes us. Over time our three pillars change - health, time, and finances.  In our 20’s we have so much health and time but limited funds. As we age and we enter our middle decades, finances grow, health remains solid but time wanes.  Until finally in retirement and our twilight years, finances and time are available but health has diminished (hopefully not… but it happens).  Living intentionally balances these three pillars as best you can.  

That doesn't mean we should abandon financial planning or spend recklessly. Quite the opposite. I believe Perkins' argument is about being intentional with both money and time - using the resources we have accumulated to create a life that actually reflects what matters to us.  To create memory dividends.

Because at World Tree Destinations, we love to experience our planet but ultimately, the things that make travel special are the stories you take with you and share afterward.

Our World Tree Destinations takeaway

We don't interpret Die With Zero as a reason to spend without thinking - that is foolhardy.

We see it as a reminder to live intentionally. Save wisely. Plan carefully. Look after the future.

But don't forget to live in the present while you're building for the future. Because eventually, many entries on the spreadsheet won't matter.

But the memories and the people you shared those experiences with always will.

Die With Zero reaffirms all of us to start making memory dividends.