Top 5 Best Ways to Spend Money (That Actually Make You Happier)Top 5 Best Ways to Spend Money (That Actually Make You Happier)
Livin the DREAM with Matt Scoletti
Matt Scoletti shares five meaningful ways to spend money, focusing on time, experiences, health, peace of mind, and the freedom to say no. The episode shifts the idea of money away from status and towards long-term happiness and real-life options.
9:40•28 Jul 2026
Five Ways Money Actually Makes Life Better, Not Just Bigger
Episode Overview
- Money can be used to buy back time by outsourcing tasks like cleaning or landscaping, freeing space for family and meaningful activities.
- Spending on experiences and travel often brings more lasting happiness than buying material possessions.
- Charitable giving allows people to use their money to create positive impact and meaningful memories for others.
- Health does not have to be expensive, but money can help enhance it through better food, coaching, and recovery support.
- Having enough financial security can bring peace of mind and the freedom to say no to people or work that drain energy.
“Money is not about stuff. It’s about options.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol, build a stronger body and mind, and then rethink what money is actually for? Matt Scoletti, a former alcoholic turned health coach and ultra-endurance athlete, brings that same energy and honesty to this money-focused episode. Here, Matt breaks down his “top five things money can buy that actually matter”, and it’s refreshingly different from the usual talk about flashy cars and status.
As he puts it bluntly, “Money is not about stuff. It’s about options.” From there, he walks through how cash can create freedom rather than clutter. First up is time.
Matt shares real-life examples of friends who pay for house cleaning or landscaping so they can reclaim hours for hikes, trips, and family time instead of spending every Saturday “fumbling around out there every Saturday for four hours.” Next comes experiences and travel, which he calls one of the greatest ways to learn, especially when immersing yourself in new cultures.
He ties this into charitable giving too, talking about using money to create memories for others or support causes that actually matter. Health gets its own spotlight, with Matt pointing out that you don’t need loads of cash to eat well, but that money can help “level up” things like coaching, better food quality, or recovery tools. He even references LeBron James spending big on his body as an extreme example of investing in health.
Rounding things off, Matt talks about the peace of mind that comes from having “enough”, and the underrated power of having the ability to say no to draining clients, jobs, or commitments. If you’re in recovery or reshaping your life, this episode gives you a fresh way to think about money as a tool for freedom, wellbeing, and better choices. How might your spending change if the goal was long-term happiness instead of quick hits of pleasure?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.