Every business owner has heard the phrase: “You’ve got to spend money to make money.”

It sounds empowering, even logical. But here’s the trap: not all spending is investing.

• Some expenses drive growth.

• Others just drain resources.

• And many start out as “temporary” but become permanent habits.

What separates thriving businesses from struggling ones isn’t how much they spend—it’s how intentionally they spend.

So the real question becomes: is that expense actually helping you grow, or is it just making you feel busy and successful?