Putting Die With Zero Into Practice with Brad Barrett

Putting Die With Zero Into Practice with Brad Barrett

Author: Chris Hutchins July 15, 2026 Duration: 1:13:32
#287: Chris and Brad Barrett revisit "Die With Zero" and confront how much harder Bill Perkins' ideas are to live than to agree with. They dig into when frugality flips from superpower to liability, the maximizer's struggle to let go, optimizing for the perfect Tuesday over the once-a-year trip, and giving money to your kids while it still matters. Brad is the co-host of the ChooseFI podcast and co-author of Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/die-with-zero-revisited-brad-barrett/. Partner Deals Gelt: ⁠Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Fabric: ⁠Affordable term life insurance for you and your family Thrive Market: ⁠30% off your first order of organic groceries + a free $60 gift Bilt Rewards: ⁠Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent MasterClass: ⁠Learn from the world's best with 15% off For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: ⁠chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Brad Barrett: Website | X Book: Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence Podcast: The ChooseFI Podcast Newsletter: The ChooseFI Newsletter The Tuesday Project Books & Articles Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life The Tail End by Tim Urban The Skill of Spending | Mr. Money Mustache Tools The Big Ass Calendar Copilot Money ATH Podcast Ep #68: Hosting Cocktail Parties, Building Relationships, Museum Strategies and Friends Newsletters with Nick Gray Ep #189: Beyond the 4% Rule: Smarter Strategies for Financial Independence with Karsten Jeske Ep #282: Saving Money and Optimizing is My Kryptonite Ep #285: Why Net Fulfillment Beats Net Worth with Bill Perkins Best Cards Page Newsletter AMA: Submit Questions Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (02:14) Revisiting "Die With Zero" Four Years Later (06:50) Is Intentional Frugality a Superpower? (08:48) Where Chris Still Struggles to Spend (15:04) The Psychology of Spending (19:53) Maximizer vs. Satisficer: What Are You Optimizing For? (23:35) Matching Your Effort to the Season of Life You're In (25:04) How to Let Go When You Want to Do Everything (31:50) Optimizing for Lasting Happiness (37:23) Don't Run Away From What Lights You Up (38:43) What Are You Actually Chasing More Money For? (44:01) What Are You Really Saving For? (45:46) Giving Money to Kids (and Causes) While It Still Matters (50:40) Hedging Retirement Risk by Moving, Not Working Longer (53:00) Fear Wasting Your Life More Than Running Out of Money (57:52) Chris's Vision for a Family Summer Camp (01:02:36) Building a Time-Bucket List of One-Off Dreams (01:03:44) The Case for Doing "Nothing" on a Trip (01:04:23) Chris's Three Main Takeaways (01:06:23) Lowering the Barrier to Real-Life Connection (01:09:55) Defining Net Fulfillment For Yourself Connect with Chris ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ | ⁠Membership⁠⁠ | ⁠X⁠⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like there's a smarter, more efficient way to navigate your finances, your travels, and your daily routines? That's the core question driving All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life. Hosted by Chris Hutchins, this podcast is built on a simple, powerful idea: maximizing value doesn't mean sacrificing enjoyment. Instead, it's about the strategic choices that free up resources-both money and time-for what truly matters. Chris approaches life as a series of systems to be optimized, drawing from his own experience saving millions through meticulous analysis. The conversations here are practical and wide-ranging, moving seamlessly from credit card points strategies and investment philosophies to the less tangible hacks for personal fulfillment. You'll hear from a diverse roster of experts and icons, including Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez, and Gary Vaynerchuk, who all bring their unique perspectives on building wealth and designing a compelling life. Each episode feels like a focused workshop, offering actionable advice you can use immediately, whether it's planning a luxury vacation for a fraction of the cost or rethinking your approach to career and leisure. This isn't just about frugality; it's about unlocking freedom and excitement through smarter decisions. Tune in for a consistently insightful blend of tactical moves and deeper conversations that challenge the conventional trade-offs between spending, saving, and living well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Podcast Episodes
Deep Dive on World of Hyatt: Points, Perks and Status [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:36
#294: Chris breaks down everything he's learned going all in on World of Hyatt. He covers the brands and footprint, earning points with Hyatt credit cards and transfers, what points are really worth, every status tier an…
How to Make Your Home Healthier at Any Budget with Dom Francks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:51
#293: Learn to make your home healthier by focusing on the environmental factors that actually matter. Chris and Dom break down how to improve air and water quality, ventilation, mold prevention, lighting, and EMF exposu…
What Happens to Your Points and Miles When You Die? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:38
#292: What happens to your points and miles when you die—and how can you make sure they don’t disappear? Chris breaks down how major banks, airlines, and hotel programs handle rewards after death, strategies to protect o…
The Science of Lasting Happiness with Arthur Brooks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:29
#291: Behavioral social scientist Arthur Brooks joins Chris to reveal why success and happiness follow different rules as we age. They dig into fluid vs. crystallized intelligence, success addiction and dopamine, the rev…
The New Rules of Points & Miles in 2026 with Brian M [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:57
#290: Chris and Brian break down the biggest trends reshaping points and miles. They discuss new ways to earn transferable points without a credit card, the award search tools worth using right now, a six-month check-in…
How We Booked a $20,000 Vacation With Points [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:37
Chris and Amy booked a last-minute week in Bora Bora that would have cost over $20,000, almost entirely on points. They break down how it came together, why they chose Bora Bora over Fiji, the Marriott award search quirk…
Where to Keep Your Cash for the Highest Return [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:18
#288: Chris breaks down exactly where to park your cash to earn the most, whether you have $10,000 or a few million. From high-yield savings accounts and Treasury ETFs to brokerage bonuses and cash management accounts, h…
Are Credit Card Points Still Worth It? and More Listener Q&A [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:00
#286: With credit card fees climbing, credits getting harder to use, and points constantly devaluing, it's fair to ask whether earning points and miles is even worth it anymore. In this AMA, Chris breaks down why the fee…
Why Net Fulfillment Beats Net Worth with Bill Perkins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:14
#285: Bill Perkins joins Chris to unpack what dying with zero really means in practice. They discuss why net fulfillment matters at every stage of life, which experiences are worth prioritizing now, how to bank memory di…
20+ Credit Card Benefits You’re Probably Not Using [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:14
#284: Chris breaks down the credit card benefits that save real money but rarely get attention, from getting a cracked iPhone repaired for free to purchase protections, travel coverage, and a deep bench of lesser-known p…