My 20-10 Money Rule

There are two types of people I keep meeting.

Person A: Lives fully in the present. YOLO. Every pay-check evaporates. 💨 Their logic? "Who knows what'll happen tomorrow?" Fast forward: they're 60 with the same income habits they had at 30… but now with 25–30 years of life left and no savings. That isn't "living free." That's walking into retirement with the lights off and hoping the room isn't full of knives. ⚠️

Person B: Saves everything. Invests everything. Optimizes every penny. Lives like a monk while their bank account lives like a king. 👑 By 65, they have money. But their knees are finished, their energy is gone, and the trips they dreamed of now require more medication than excitement. ✈️➡️💊

The Truth: Both Are Wrong

One destroys their future. The other sacrifices their present. And both come from the same fear — fear of not having enough. 😬

The Rule That Saved Me From Both Extremes: 20–10

This is how I've kept my own life in check:

20% → Investing. Non-negotiable. Protects the future me — the guy who still wants freedom at 55. 📈💼

10% → Fun. Also non-negotiable. Travel. Shopping. Experiences. Keeps the current me inspired and alive. ✈️🛍️🎉

The Rest → Expenses. And here's the line most people avoid: If my expenses don't fit? It's not a budgeting problem — it's an income problem. 💡

That single realisation changed everything. Life is long and short. Both realities can hit you at the same time. ⏳

The goal isn't to become the YOLO spender… or the joyless accumulator. It's balance with intention. ⚖️

— Nav