Dexter is a fractional CPO at scaling startups and founder of Money Abroad, a popular newsletter about financial wealth strategies for expats. He also has 20k+ followers on Linkedin.
Guest Author: Dexter Zhuang
In 2019, I quit my cushy tech job in San Francisco and traveled the world for a year.
Was this a smart financial decision?
Depends on who you ask.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ป๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐.
I spent $35k+ while earning a low 5-figure income as a part-time career coach.
Even accounting for higher cost of living in SF and tax bracket, I forwent $100k+ in potential savings and investment.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐๐.
I experienced tremendous personal growth.
I created fond memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.
I even pivoted my life trajectory, moving to Singapore and growing my tech career internationally.
๐๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น.
Numbers are important, but donโt let them define your choices.
Donโt use money to cut back on things you love just because theyโre โexpensive.โ
Use money to actualize your vision for how you want to live your life.
If you want to drop a couple stacks on a once-in-a-lifetime Eurotrip, I support you. Go for it.
Yes, run the numbers. Sure, cut back on things you donโt care about.
But donโt be afraid to spend on what you love.
After all, whatโs the point of building wealth if you donโt even know how to spend it?
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