Why I Can’t Stand the Word ‘Investing’ Anymore

Some words sound harmless, but quietly pile pressure on you. ‘Investing’ is one of those. These days it’s a magic label to justify almost anything. “Invest in yourself.” “Invest in good shoes.” “Invest in a course, a subscription, a product that will ‘improve your life’.” What they really mean is: “Spend money, even if you don’t really have it, because that makes you a responsible person who wants to ‘grow’.”

I find that toxic. It turns a simple purchase into a moral duty. It implies that not investing means you’re lazy, careless or stuck in place; that if you don’t ‘grow’, it’s your own fault. It ignores the fact that not everyone has the same financial breathing room or life circumstances.

I see it everywhere in my own life. People say things like: “You should just invest in a good mattress, you’ll sleep better.” Or: “Invest in a coach, you’ll move forward.” But the truth is: sometimes I can’t move forward. Sometimes I don’t want to move forward. Sometimes I just want peace – not stuff, not another subscription, not an overpriced online training promising a ‘better version of me’.

Companies, coaches and influencers know exactly how to use this word. It sounds so much smarter than ‘buying things’. It makes spending feel like saving. And if you don’t buy it? Well, then you’re the problem. “Treat yourself!” As if treating yourself must always cost money.

For me, a real investment is often free: time, space, silence, nature. Walking with Fannar. A day without demands. Sleep when I’m tired. Talking with Mart. Not buying anything new. That’s wealth.

So no: I don’t use the word anymore. If I can’t truly spare it, I don’t spend it. If it doesn’t bring real peace, I don’t call it an investment. I just call it what it is: an expense. Sometimes necessary, sometimes pointless. And sometimes, buying nothing at all is the wisest choice I can make.

Maybe we should drop the word ‘investing’ altogether and learn to say: enough really is enough.