Earning vs. Saving: Are You a Specialist or a Well-Rounded Warrior?

The "save more vs. earn more" debate is one of the most common discussions I have with young professionals. While your others’ advice might sound motivational, it misses a crucial point I’ve observed after years of wealth planning: financial success isn’t binary—it’s an orchestrated dance between both saving and earning.

Most people are specialists when it comes to money.

I have two friends, both native Beijingers, so neither has to pay rent. Their salaries are roughly the same, but after three years, their savings are worlds apart.

Friend A earns less than RMB 10,000 per month, with a small year-end bonus, making her annual income around RMB 120,000–130,000. Still, she managed to save RMB 300,000 in three years.

Friend B, on the other hand, earns RMB 150,000 a year. After three years, her savings? Zero.

Friend A doesn’t have many hobbies, doesn’t shop for clothes or figurines, and rarely eats out on weekends—clearly strong in the saving department.

Friend B loves shopping and goes out with friends every weekend. She lives paycheck to paycheck. Between the two, A obviously has superior saving skills.

Then there’s Friend C, now earning RMB 500,000 a year. He is considering upgrading to a rental that costs RMB 8–9k per month. C spends a lot, but because his income has steadily increased, he still manage to save around RMB 100,000 annually. C is clearly strong in earning more money.

There is also the legendary all-rounder!

Friend D also earns RMB 500,000 annually but lives very frugally—spending half as much as C on rent and daily expenses. This kind of all-around warrior earns more and saves more!

So, when it comes to money—are you a specialist or a well-rounded fighter?

Do you have any clever earning or saving tips to share with fellow Tigers?

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# Earning vs. Saving: Are You a Specialist or a Well-Rounded Warrior?

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  • MHh
    ·2025-05-26
    TOP
    I prefer to be a well-rounded fighter. It is important to be able to earn well but not being able to save well will cause all the accumulated wealth to leak away. Of course, simply saving the money is not enough as it will be eroded by inflation. From the savings, it should be invested to generate more income. For me, my earnings come from my day job and my investment. I strive to be as good as I can be in my job to get better performance bonus and promotion. On the other hand, I ensure my wealth doesn’t leak away by ensuing that I do not overindulge in unnecessary pleasures. I try to minimise my lifestyle inflation by not taking taxi/grab unnecessarily and not indulging in regular restaurants. It is important to not be a miser too. I still splurge on my wants like travelling and paying for new experiences and food! Life is not just planning for the rainy days or retirement. Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed too!
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  • icycrystal
    ·2025-05-27
    TOP
    @Aqa @rL @GoodLife99 @Universe宇宙 @HelenJanet @Shyon @koolgal @SPACE ROCKET @nomadic_m @Barcode

    如果可以选择的话,我想赚更多的钱,这样我就可以存更多的钱[Grin][Grin][Grin]我学会了保存我的第一件事[USD][USD][USD]所以当我有时确实花了更多钱时,至少我知道我已经留出了一些[USD][USD][USD]是的,不要去想,这样就不会有把它们拿出来的诱惑...自我控制,自律...我需要更多[Sly][Sly][Sly]

    “存更多钱还是赚更多钱”的辩论是我与年轻专业人士最常见的讨论之一。

    那么,说到钱,你是专家还是全面发展的战士?

    你有什么聪明的赚钱或储蓄技巧可以和老虎们分享吗?

    留下你的评论赢老虎币~

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    • icycrystalReplying toShyon
      [赞][赞][赞]
      2025-05-27
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    • Shyon
      谢谢哟
      2025-05-27
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  • Success88
    ·2025-05-27
    TOP
    我想我既考虑赚钱又考虑存钱。我从主要工作中赚取部分费用。将我的大部分余额储蓄并投资于股票、ETF、国库券、定期存款。我通过做其他兼职来赚取额外的现金,比如grab和其他工作。我喜欢现在就尽可能多地储蓄、投资和赚钱,以便早日退休。 @Tiger_comments @koolgal @HelenJanet @MHh @SPOT_ON
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    • Success88
      大哥恭喜你
      2025-05-27
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    • SPOT_ON
      不错!我也是45岁提前退休的。过着没有匆忙和压力的生活。
      2025-05-27
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  • 1PC
    ·2025-05-26
    TOP
    I think 🤔 I used to be A and now aiming towards D 😅. ..A-D.... @JC888 @Jes86188 @Shyon @koolgal @Barcode @Shernice軒嬣 2000 @yourcelesttyy @Aqa
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    • Shyon
      Thanks for sharing
      2025-05-27
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  • moliya
    ·2025-06-07
    這很有趣,給出了關於儲蓄的見解,但我想知道朋友A怎麼能在三年內存下30萬,因爲他平均一年存了90++k。我想知道他在第三年的開支是多少,我們有基本需求,如住宿的屋頂,食物,衣服,化妝品,如牙膏沐浴露,衛生紙,上班旅行,通訊需求...他是如何做到這一切的....可能很節儉
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  • Tiger_comments
    ·2025-06-04
    Thanks for your comments or posts in hot topics!
    Your coins have been sent through the topic! Check notification in community and find the coins
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  • DiAngel
    ·2025-05-27
    I m a well-rounded warrior. When it is time to save, I will save. When it is time to enjoy life to the fullest, I will just do it. Be it travelling or dining, you only live once. Hence don’t regret it.
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  • Shyon
    ·2025-05-27
    To me, financial success isn’t about choosing between saving more or earning more. It’s about finding the right balance. Focusing only on one side can hold you back. Saving aggressively without growing income limits progress, while earning more without discipline leads to lifestyle creep. Both saving & earning need to work together.

    I try to be a well-rounded warrior. I actively look for ways to grow my income through upskilling, investing, or side projects, while keeping expenses in check. I track spending, avoid unnecessary subscriptions, & think twice before upgrading my lifestyle. Simple habits like cooking at home or setting automatic savings transfers help me stay consistent.

    One tip I’d share is to treat savings like a fixed monthly bill & automate it. Whether my income is higher or lower, that habit stays. At the same time, I focus on boosting income potential. Over time, this balanced strategy really adds up & that’s where true wealth begins.

    @Tiger_comments @TigerStars

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  • j islandfund
    ·2025-05-27
    I think money is phobic of me. so I'm trying to immerse it in my life in as large chunks as possible before it runs off again. one day we will become closer but still it's very skittish around me. ⭐🐯
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  • 北极篂
    ·2025-05-27
    如果硬要给自己贴个标签,我更愿意说自己是“全面发展的战士”。不是因为我多厉害,而是一路走来发现,光靠省是存不到梦想的,光靠赚又容易陷入“越赚越穷”的陷阱。


    我以前是典型的“省钱型选手”,比如每月预算写得比财务报表还仔细,能省一块是一块。但慢慢我发现,这种方式虽然安全,但它的上限太低。所以我开始琢磨怎么增加收入。第一步是把兴趣变现,比如我喜欢写作,就开始接一些品牌稿;后来又学了点基本投资,把定期存款的钱慢慢转进指数基金,每年目标5-7%的回报。


    我觉得聪明的储蓄技巧不是“极致节俭”,而是“有规划的省”。例如我把年终奖一分为三:一份投资,一份应急金,一份奖励自己,这样既稳又不会觉得活得苦哈哈。赚钱也一样,别等有空才找副业,有热情就从一小时一小时做起,时间自己会挤出来。


    所以,别只做“专家”,试着多练几条财务肌肉,说不定你也能成为财务上的“六边形战士”。
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  • Aqa
    ·2025-05-26
    Well-rounded fighter — strong in earning power and good in disciplined saving is clearly the best! Always remember to horne our job skills and investment knowledge to generate fortune. Lead a healthy lifestyle that do not cost much money to be a better person and achieve longevity. Let’s follow Warren Buffett’s advice.
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  • Cadi Poon
    ·2025-05-26
    雖然你別人的建議聽起來可能很激勵人,但它忽略了我在多年財富規劃後觀察到的一個關鍵點:財務成功不是二元的——它是儲蓄和收入之間精心策劃的舞蹈。
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  • TimothyX
    ·2025-05-26
    “存更多還是賺更多”的辯論是我與年輕專業人士最常見的討論之一。雖然你別人的建議聽起來可能很激勵人,但它忽略了我在多年財富規劃後觀察到的一個關鍵點:財務成功不是二元的——它是儲蓄和收入之間精心策劃的舞蹈。
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  • highhand
    ·2025-05-26
    I earn and save together... the trick is to maintain same lifestyle even when your earnings increase. don't do lifestyle inflation...
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  • ECLC
    ·2025-05-27
    More of well-rounded warrior; mindful to 'save as you earn'.
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  • BTS
    ·2025-05-31
    Earn。。。Save。。。Spend。。。
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  • TheStrategist
    ·2025-05-26
    Friend D is me
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