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Reader,

I'm coming to you today with a heart full of perspective after spending Saturday babysitting my nephew, Orion. He’s just turned one a month ago and spending the day watching him explore the world, every giggle, every wobbly step, every triumphant cry, gave me a sudden, sharp glimpse into the future of family planning and all that’s involved. It makes you realize, very quickly, what truly matters.

It’s easy to get caught up in the "what" of financial success, the bigger house, the fancier car (someday), but Orion’s boundless joy reminded me that the real win is the happiness and fulfillment we get from our lives, not just the profit we accumulate.

This leads perfectly into the question we need to ask ourselves:

Are we spending our money on things that actually bring us lasting joy?

The distinction here is vital.

Many of the things we pursue are purely temporary.

That new car smell, the rush of the impulse buy, the thrill of unwrapping a new piece of technology, it's a financial sugar rush. It gives you a quick spike of dopamine, but it fades, leaving you exactly where you were, often with more clutter and a new sense of emptiness.

Lasting joy, on the other hand, comes from things that integrate into the fabric of your life: building systems that give you back time (like our systems at the clinic), nurturing deep relationships, creating memories that you revisit, or investing in health that compounds daily. We need to stop investing in fleeting material boosts and start investing in our lasting quality of life.

The Core Problem: The Hamster Wheel of Spending

We work incredibly hard.

We earn a high income (hopefully)

But many of us are still stuck on a financial hamster wheel. We buy something new, a gadget, the new Iphone 17, a piece of furniture, a new set of Lulu joggers, and that initial thrill fades within a week.

Why?

Because we haven't aligned our spending with our deepest values. We are conditioned to think "more stuff equals more happy," but the science proves otherwise.

The Solution: The Happiness Budget

The Happiness Budget is a framework for Intentional Spending, aligning every dollar with your core values and the scientific drivers of well-being.

1. Invest in Time (The Ultimate Luxury): For high-income professionals like us, the most effective use of money is to buy back your most scarce resource: time.

• The Trade-Off (Money vs. Sanity): Let's get specific. If your hourly rate as a clinician (after overhead) is $120, and you spend 4 hours cleaning your house, that time costs you $480 in potential earnings or free time. Hiring a cleaner for $200 allows you to save those 4 hours. You're effectively spending $200 to buy $480 worth of time, or more importantly, 4 hours of pure freedom. The immediate happiness return and reduced stress often far outweigh the simple long-term investment return, making it a high-ROT (Return on Time) expense.
• The Guilt Factor: Many healthcare pros feel guilty spending money on convenience. You need to reframe this expense as a necessary investment in your professional sustainability. By reducing home admin, you reduce burnout, which allows you to be a better practitioner and earn a higher income when you are working.
• High-ROT Examples: Hiring a virtual receptionist (like Gingerdesk!), paying for meal prep services, or using premium software that saves you hours of manual work.

2. Prioritize Experiences & Connection: Research consistently shows that money spent on experiences (a weekend trip, a concert, a family adventure) provides more enduring satisfaction than material goods. These moments build identity, foster social connection, and create memories that don't depreciate.

• The "Mixed Goods" Hack: Not all material goods are bad! The key is to purchase items that facilitate a positive experience. Buying a quality tent (material good) leads to years of camping adventures (experience). Investing in a comfortable, ergonomic chair and dual monitors (material good) leads to a pain-free charting experience, reducing physical stress, and freeing up mental energy for your family. This is smart spending.

3. Define Your "Enough" and Stop the Comparison Game: Material possessions encourage social comparison, often leading to financial unhappiness (the "keeping up with the Joneses" trap). When you define your "enough", the number that allows you to live comfortably, pursue your passions, and feel secure, you can step off the comparison hamster wheel.

• Actionable Tool: The Anti-Budget: Allocate a small, specific, guilt-free fund in your budget purely for happiness purchases (e.g., $100/month). Once that money is spent, it's gone, no guilt attached. This allows you to indulge intentionally without derailing your core financial plan.

The Ultimate Dream: Win a $1 Million Home!

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Now, I'm going to interrupt the behavioral finance lesson for a moment with something incredibly exciting and timely.

The one material goal everyone seems to share is homeownership. And right now, Wealthsimple has launched their 2025

$1 Million Home Giveaway!

Yes, you heard that right. They are giving away a $1 million home. This is the ultimate dream, the financial security, the stability, and the freedom a home provides.

Here’s how you can enter (and why you should do it now):

The giveaway opened on October 3, 2025, and the deadline to register and start earning entries is October 30, 2025.

1. ​Start Here (5,000 Entries): Whether you're new or existing, complete the Homeownership Survey within the Wealthsimple app.
2. ​Refer Friends (5,000 Entries): Refer a brand-new client who signs up and funds their account with at least $1.
3. ​Fund Your Account (1 Entry for Every $1): For every dollar of net deposits or transfers (like moving your RRSP/TFSA), you receive one entry. This is the fastest way to stack up entries.

This is a fantastic opportunity to take the first step towards homeownership, or just build up your investment accounts, while giving yourself a chance at a life-changing prize.

​Log into Wealthsimple and enter the Home Giveaway today!​

Webinar Spotlight: Stop Trading Time for Dollars & Build Wealth! (With Ginger Desk)​

I'm thrilled to announce I'm teaming up with the amazing folks at Ginger Desk for a brand new webinar designed specifically for you!

As healthcare professionals, we're taught to care for our patients, but rarely how to care for our financial future. If you're tired of feeling like you're stuck trading time for dollars, this session is your roadmap to breaking free.

We'll be diving into actionable strategies to help you:

• Master Your Money Mindset: Move beyond the daily grind and build a wealth-generating structure.
• Create Your Ideal Income: Design an income stream that supports the lifestyle you truly desire.
• Focus on Your Passion: Learn how to set up your finances so your money works for you, freeing you up to focus on serving your patients (or reclaiming your time!).

This is crucial education for anyone ready to go from busy clinician to financially empowered business owner.

Mark Your Calendars!

• What: Take Control: Financial Savvy for Healthcare Professionals
• When: Tuesday, October 14th
• Time: 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST

​Register for the Webinar Here​

My time with Orion this weekend reinforced the ultimate goal: using financial discipline as a tool for deeper fulfillment. Whether you are aiming for a seven-figure portfolio or just striving to use your money to buy back your precious time, the strategy remains the same: Be intentional.

Don't just chase the next dollar; chase the life you want to live.
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​Teaser: Next week I'll be dropping details of the brand new and updated Beginner -Adulting 101 Course.

Stay tuned

Yours Truly,
Robin Valadares

​@financiallyfulfilledpro and Certified Financial Counsellor CFC™

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