Financial Advice From A Dying Woman Puts Everything Into Perspective

Holly Butcher was a 27-year old Australian who suffered from Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects the bone and surrounding soft tissue. Before she passed away on January 4, Holly asked her family to share a post on her Facebook page. Her final status has since gone viral with over 91,000 reactions and 61,000 shares.

In the moving Facebook post, Holly offers some compelling advice on personal finance, especially when it comes to disposable income. It’s something a lot of us could learn from.

If you’re anything like the average Australian, you probably worry about money in-between paychecks – but have you ever taken the time to properly assess what you’re spending it on? According to Holly, the key to happier spending is to direct part of your disposable income towards others and non-material purchases. As Holly explains:

It is a weird thing having money to spend at the end.. when you’re dying. It’s not a time you go out and buy material things that you usually would, like a new dress. It makes you think how silly it is that we think it is worth spending so much money on new clothes and ‘things’ in our lives.

Buy your friend something kind instead of another dress, beauty product or jewellery for that next wedding. 1. No-one cares if you wear the same thing twice 2. It feels good. Take them out for a meal, or better yet, cook them a meal. Shout their coffee. Give/ buy them a plant, a massage or a candle and tell them you love them when you give it to them.

Holly also recommends that we use our money on experiences:

…Don’t miss out on experiences because you spent all your money on material shit. Put in the effort to do that day trip to the beach you keep putting off. Dip your feet in the water and dig your toes in the sand. Wet your face with salt water.

Get amongst nature.

What we like about this advice is that it’s attainable regardless of income level – shouting a co-worker to a coffee, cooking a meal for your mates or spending time in nature (instead of a shopping centre) is something nearly everyone is capable of. Unless you’re a misanthrope, there really is no downside.

You can read Holly’s final status in its entirety here.