[UK-AL]

It's good advice, but it can be misinterpreted. You either spend 3 hours cutting coupons every few days or you can spend three hours learning new tech or gaining a qualification or going to meetups. Spending some money on books/taxi's etc to do so.

The best payoff is spending the money. However there is a "poverty" mentality where people would be scared of spending that money. You need to avoid that.

On the other hand you could buy a gimmicky fancy tv or keep your decent old one. Obviously just keep your old one.

Just optimise for the best expected payoff. For that you require a mix of saving, and spending.

[superdog683]

i think its a good point too much time spent saving money is wasted time. my rule of thumb is can i save more that i get paid at work?? so if you get paid $100/hr. you can clip coupons 3 hours and save 20 bucks or stay at work 3 hours and make $300 i am a dyi person but if i can pay someone to do the job less than my pay i just work extra hours and hire that person.

[shoo]

I think a good distinction is hinted at in your last line "optimise for the best expected payoff". This form of spending is perhaps better termed investment.