Are you spending or investing your resources?

Over the weekend, I saw a mother and her son back-to-school shopping at Walmart. I asked the boy if he realized his mother was not just spending on him, but investing in him. He gave me a blank stare. Too much for an 11-year-old, I realized, so I told him to look it up when he got home.

While driving home, the thought hit me: not just the boy, but all of us need a reminder about the difference between spending and investing.

• Spending: Using resources with no expectation of growth or return.
• Investing: Using resources with intentional purpose, expecting growth, improvement or impact.

Both involve using resources, but only investing carries an expectation of return. This applies to money, time, energy, attention—anything of value. Using your resources wisely isn’t about avoiding spending. It’s about distinguishing between spending and investing so that you don’t do one thinking you’re doing the other.

So, next time you reach for your resources, pause and ask yourself: Am I spending it, or am I investing it? Here are three questions to consider:

1. Will this add value beyond today?
2. Will it grow or improve something important in my life?
3. Will I be glad I did this a year from now?

Whether you spend or invest your resources, knowing the difference matters because that awareness helps you make intentional choices. That way, you use what you have to advance the goals that truly matter to you. Your future self will thank you.

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