I needed this book in my 20's- Die With Zero by Bill Perkins

Do not be put off by the title of this book! In this video, I'm sharing my thoughts on the eye-opening book "Die With Zero" and why I think that I needed it so much earlier in my life.
"Die With Zero" by Bill Perkins challenges conventional wisdom about money and retirement planning, urging readers to rethink their approach to wealth and life experiences. The book advocates for spending money on meaningful experiences throughout life rather than hoarding wealth for a distant retirement.
In my review, I discuss the key insights and lessons from "Die With Zero" that resonated with me personally. From reframing the concept of retirement to prioritizing life experiences over material possessions, this book offers valuable perspectives on living a fulfilling and purposeful life at any age.
Whether you're a young adult just starting your financial journey or someone looking to redefine their relationship with money and happiness, "Die With Zero" provides thought-provoking ideas and actionable strategies for making the most of your resources and time.
I am Richard and I am married to Jackie and we are earlyretirementwanderlust. We live in the UK and retired from teaching at the age of 51 in the summer of 2022. Our plans for early requirement include relocating to the Yorkshire Dales, developing our forever home and travelling the UK, Europe and eventually the world in our VW campervan Nelson.
Please subscribe and like our videos if you like what you see.
Check out our blog earlyretirementwanderlust.com
Resources discussed in this video can be found here: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/earlyre...
Please be aware that by using this link, we may receive a small affiliate fee from Amazon to help support the channel. The price you pay to Amazon remains the same as the price if you were to search it directly from the Amazon store.
Many thanks,
Richard & Jackie
Timeline
00:00 Introduction to Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
01:28 Overview of Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
04:32 Re-evaluate Priorities
05:06 Create a bucket list
06:14 Allocate resources strategically
06:57 Practice money-time equivalence
07:43 Embrace Frugality
08:24 Invest in experiences
08:53 Plan Ahead
09:31 Seize the moment
10:29 Share experiences
11:40 Practice gratitude
12:12 Final conclusions on Die With Zero

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

An interesting perspective on life and one thing for sure is retirement life is not guaranteed as health cannot be taken for granted. That curve ball hit me and I learned from that experience, one little quotation I have seen and totally agree with it “we have two lives, the second one begins when we realise we only have one” which I found very thought provoking.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Wow that's a belter of a quote- I love it- and so true! Guess that pretty much sums up the process that Jackie and I have been through. We just need to keep on dodging them balls... Thanks for the comment (and the quote!). Have a good one, R

[@ianwall9152]

Great summary. Why die the richest person in the grave yard. I love the concept of the memory dividend. The key is about balancing your time and money.whilst working you are time poor and retirement enables you to become time rich.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Ian- it really is a fine balance between money and time and only now do I feel that I am really getting to grips with it...and by no means perfectly. I like how Perkins relates everything to different phases in life and I am finding that really useful. Have a good day, R

[@se3059]

Great review/summary and nicely put together video. Similar age to yourself and likewise wish I read books like this in my 20's Your YT channel is really coming on strong with a library of great, well thought through content. I like the fact that they are bitesized (succinct - generally sub-20mins), packed with info, nicely edited with some lovely personal pics and delivered in a very relaxed/friendly/humble style.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for the lovely feedback- it's always nice to hear. We think that we are getting a bit more relaxed on camera, but it is never easy for two inherently shy people. Glad that you like the stuff we put out, it is stuff that we are interested in and only hope that it is of some use to other people. Have a good one, R.

[@se3059]

don't lose the hesitancy/shyness; it's what makes the channel and you as a couple so genuine/relatable/useful/engaging! Rather than advertising yourselves as "polished experts", you're sharing your journey, ideas and findings.....what's not to love about that!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

❤️🙏 we will try not to.

[@BulldogDramaDebate]

Just read the book, not because of your recommendation but glad to see your review. Been following your channel for a while now

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hope you found some of the content in the book of use - as I said - I wish I had read it a few years earlier in life! Thanks for watching our vlogs. R

[@dominic8218]

Excellent summary Richard. Love how you relate the key points to your own life. Spot on! 👌🏻

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you Dominic. It was a great video to prep and I enjoyed the process. Have a good one. R

[@motorroamingaround]

Great video. It’s absolutely fundamental that you plan well before retiring and get the correct balance between saving & spending but most importantly live life to the full.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you ☺️ we definitely want to be able to live our lives to the max while we have our health

[@Nutmegcottage63]

Another great book review Richard. I am currently reading Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman, which has many parallels to the book you have reviewed. I like the bucket list idea linked to your energy level and health at the time. Also, how you build in journal time to plan but also count your blessings. Often, the simplest things bring the greatest pleasures and don't cost a lot of money to enjoy. Have a great week. 👍

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

I love 4000 weeks and this may be a prompt to go back and revisit it. I caught Oliver on a podcast last week that was spot on. He is such a balanced thinker and I love his work. O'm off to see if I still have 4000 weeks on the kindle😂 Have a good one. R

[@stevemaish8]

Thank you for this. I am really starting to feel how important this approach is as I approach retirement (I'm 57) and have just bought a camper van to start broadening my horizons. It cost me a lot of my savings but I am increasingly aware of the need for "memory dividends" and your summary is excellent. Thanks again 🙂

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Steve- we bough our Campervan years before we read the book, and like you it was a significant (and scary) investment. For us, it really did change the trajectory of our lives and made us realise what we were missing.It is such a big wide world out there that we knew nothing about! It is such a practical illustration of memory dividends. Perkins is such a great thinker to galvanise this concept and we are now finding dividends in all aspects of our lives now beyond just our campervan adventures. Enjoy the journey to retirement! R

[@nevertoolate8589]

Good summary. Loved that book too, and 4,000 weeks which is quite a bit more philosophical. Tough question tho is when one half of a couple wants more experiences and is on board with the die with 0 plan; and the other half finds total fullfilment in their work, with no desire for experiences, travel etc. Very difficult to find common grounds.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

That really is a tough question! I'm definitely going to stay out of this one🤔 Glad that you like Oliver's book- it's one that I love and keep going back to time and time again. It was of real use when work was getting super tough. He has done some really good appearances on podcasts that I thoroughly recommend if you are into his thinking. Thanks for the comment. Have a good one and best of luck with those tough questions. R

[@lorraineglobe6892]

I’m in that very situation - I’m younger than my partner and retiring first. My philosophy is to accept the differences and embrace solo travel - to enjoy my bucket list & have adventures whilst still having plenty of quality time with my partner. Luckily we have plenty of shared interests - we both love cycling and spend our shared holidays doing that. I have so many places that I’d like to travel in, so I’m joining in with group cycling and walking adventures in different parts of the world!

[@louisesymonds9963]

I’m in the throes of accepting the same situation as Lorraine. Being younger than my partner, I’ll be doing some solo travels in a campervan and enjoying time together when we can. Richard and Jackie, you are in a wonderful position of both ‘being on the same page’! Go for it! X

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Yes we are definitely feeling very lucky reading your comments! We have loved sharing our experiences together although there are some things coming up that we will get to have time doing our own things - Richard wants to walk the Dales way and I am looking forward to spending time with my mum.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

A really good family friend of ours has loved going on group cycle tours all over the world on her own for the last 40 years. She is now in her 70's and still getting out there! I hope you have a great time exploring 🥾 🚴‍♀️

[@TimBailey-io7tl]

Excellent review. I'm on my second read. My favourite quote, which the author borrowed from Downton Abbey, is "the business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end that's all there is."

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Top quote Tim! Yep, it's a book that keeps drawing me in and I always seem to get more out of each reading. Perkins speaks really well on podcasts and always releases a few more nuggets of information! Glad that you enjoyed the vid. Have a good one. R

[@sharonlong8177]

Great video & very relatable! I’m definitely too invested in work and forever trying to pull back. I work in end of life care and everyone’s circumstances always trump my own! But so desperate to make changes! Thank you for the reminder ❤

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Sharon- it's a constant battle isn't it? I think the key is that it's ok to occasionally lose track of where we are going, as long as we are aware of the fact we are doing it. It's such an admirable profession you work in- I know that the people that I met as part of my dad's and brother's care teams have left a lasting impression on me. Thank you for everything that you and your colleagues do. Keep up the good work...but please care for yourself as well as others. Have a good one. R

[@Bob-yh7ir]

Love the book. It and talking to other early retirees made up our minds to make more memory dividends now. So pulling the plug on work and going to spend down some of the money we have been saving all our lives. Have been keenly aware of the "just one more year" trap when it comes to work and a paycheck. So I have set an absolute line in the sand that I will not cross. When that date arrives, it's bye bye workforce. :)

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

So true! We have really enjoyed the time that we have freed up for both travel creating memories and also with our family. Being able to go on a trip to the USA with my mum who is 79 in an RV for 5 weeks touring 5 states was a priceless experience for both her and us. Hope your plans go well for your retirement - the book was an inspiration to us in our plans.

[@susanharkema2888]

Wonderful summary (and I just love all the personal photos!). We made two big changes based on reading this book: Savoring our money and our experiences more. 1. We started to see our budget not as a limit but a spending GOAL, which makes us enjoy our money so much more. 2. I got us a subscription to the app Day One where I do a MUCH better job of "dropping a pin" and capturing all the exciting experiences and photos. 3. I created an excel sheet where I am documenting the highlights from each week (idea came from reading the book 4,000 Weeks). Each Monday, I document the previous weeks out of 1,900+ weeks I hope that we have left.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Susan- I didn't think that I would be able to give the context without the photos. I love your mindset shift of how you see all things finance- I might pinch that one and use it myself😉 Likewise I really like the spreadsheet hack- I bet it gives a really nice read. I do scan back over my daily journal entries which brings a similar feeling. Jackie has kept track of our nights away in the van on a spreadsheet- we are 696 nights in😂 Thanks for the comment. Have a good one, R

[@rostaylor7723]

Glad you’ve reviewed this book - I discovered it recently and like you wish I’d read it when I was younger! Love these book reviews - they’re very insightful and it’s helpful to see whether there’s a book I might find of use.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this lovely comment. We are really pleased that you are liking what we do. As you can tell, I love a good read. Have a good one, R.

[@deborahgriggs891]

Great review. I'll definitely take a look at this book. It was the money-time-health triangle that prompted me to retire early this year. Like you say, there are no guarantees. Life is for living

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Deborah- it's sometimes not the easiest thing to read, or accept, but there is no avoiding our finitude! It even feels a bit wrong typing it...but it's a great fuel to just get out there each day and have a great day. We are just loving capitalising on our current health and the time we now have in early retirement together and we are really grateful for that. Thanks for the comment, R

[@kezzfromoz5461]

I love this book also and you summary is so well thought out, presented and spot one. Well done with the channel and your early retirement life. Best wishes from oz

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi Kezz- hello from the UK😀 Glad that you are enjoying the content. Thanks for the comment. 👍 R

[@ITbod]

Thanks Richard, enjoyed the review.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

You are quite welcome👍 Thanks for the comment, R

[@jeanettesmart9990]

Great review and reflection. Prior to retirement from my Senior Nurse post I looked at lots of literature on was I ready to retire? It was an eye opener and a great way to pave the forward travel in my life. I have been retired now 11 years and loving valuing each day.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this Jeanette- it's amazing what comfort these books bring us when we are making life changing decisions. I really do wish I had read it earlier in life, as I think it would have helped me clarify my thoughts and decision making at that time. However, saying that, I have no regrets and like you I am just loving every single day. Glad to hear that this feeling doesn't fade! Have a good one, R

[@davidhall8745]

Thanks Richard and one for the list. We have changed our lives dramatically over the past year really based on the concept of experience and connections. Thanks for the review

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Glad you enjoyed the review David. This one concept is the main crux of the book for us and is the one thing that we find ourselves constantly referring back to when we are making our plans for the future. Have a good one. R

[@clareboylan6741]

Great review with some really good points. Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Clare- glad that you enjoyed it. Have a good one, R.

[@user-no3os1rc5w]

Thank you Richard, we are going to have a read.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hope you enjoy.👍 R

[@user-cg2gd1lm2c]

Definately going on my book list thank you😊

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

I'm glad that I'm not the only one with a book list...the trouble is it's getting rather long...which is actually a good thing. Thanks for the comment. R

[@christopherschenk9108]

Thank you Richard. Excellent video. I agree with all those sentiments, having lost my Dad when he was 59 (I overtook him three years' ago). You have to live life to the full. I said to myself aged 30yrs: 'I don't want to get to 65, look back and think: if only'. I have always liked Hunter S Thompson's quote: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”. Thanks again, Chris

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Wow- what another great quote Chris- I'm defiantly going to use this one...it's sums up exactly what we are all talking about. It is really strange how such a painful loss often causes an improvement in ourselves. We firmly believe in growth out of trauma. Thanks for the comment. Have a good one, R

[@Billyboy571]

Incredible review Richard, stopped me in my tracks as a hard working 53yr old with similar life events,time to reassess and all the best🙏

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Glad that it helped, but sorry for what you are going through. Life can be really cruel sometimes. Good luck with the reassessing. We have never regretted the decision we came to, as it was right for us. Whatever you decide will also be the right decision for you. Thanks for the comment. R

[@OpaAndi]

So funny watching your video today while vacationing on AMI and dining on R&R in the next days. I enjoy watching your thoughtful content and will read the recommended book for sure. Life is good! Andreas

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hey Andreas- what a small world! We love AMI and have such fond memories of our time there when the kids were little. We are just planning a family adventure there later in the year with the now grown up kids, partners and extended family to revisit all of those happy places. Give our regards to the R&R, we cannot wait to get back there after 7 years away, get on the pier, start fishing and have a cold beer❤️ Thanks for the comment. Have a great...and sunny weekend. R

[@jasonthomas5925]

Great vid as always 😀🇬🇧👍

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Jason, I hope that it was of some use? Have a good one, R

[@wsparks335]

Thanks Richard. Another great book, and this one I have already read and enjoyed. It reminded me about the specific book that motivated me to get our finances into a better state around 8 or 9 years ago, and has allowed my husband and me to semi-retire earlier than we had expected. The book is The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape, it has a strong Australian focus, which was great for me, but there are still some really useful strategies that could apply in other economies. It may be interest to some of your viewers.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Oooh thanks for this- not a book I have come across before but I will certainly add it to the list. TBH Die with Zero was the first "financial" focused book that really gripped me. I really do wish however I could have read it earlier in my life... Thanks for the comment. Have a great one, R

[@DanKeeley]

You say we, but you also said Jackie isn't into your "mumbo jumbo" so did she really read this one? A rare thing for a finance book to appeal to both partners!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

No I haven’t read it all but feel like I have the amount Richard has talked about it over the years and we have adopted the principles together. My reading tastes are very different 🤣

[@dianamcnaught3173]

I liked this book alot and made me realise there's certain opportunities in your life you don't get back and it's these you should invest in.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks Diana- It took me a while to get beyond the title- but it is a book that I keep revisiting to keep me on it. Thanks for the comment. Have a good one. R

[@FrugalMrB]

Thanks for the recommendation Richard, I'll look at reading it. If I don't like it, I'll look to you for a refund! 😉🤣

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Cheers Mr B- you're from Yo'kshire so you must know that their will be no refunds from here😂😂😂 Hope the counting went well yesterday👍 R

[@kempos81]

I would feel a duty to help my kids get on the housing ladder, given boomers have swallowed up all the property wealth and benefitted from gold plated public sector pensions

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for this. It's always good to see how others feel. Fortunately our grown up kids are both financially independent with professional careers. We have discussed our approach as a family and they both made it clear that they valued the time and experiences with us that they get now, rather than an investment when we are gone. Our son owns his own house and our daughter is in the process of buying her house.

[@kempos81]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust to be clear I’m not having a pop at you - fair play to you and I want to do pretty much the same. But I’m 42 and have 3 kids who are 12,10 and 8. We both work public sector. I don’t see how they’ll ever afford a house without our help. So die with zero for me means after helping them on the ladder