You should try to maximise your 'utility'. That is, maximise the pleasure you'll get from spending/having the prize money. The prize money aren't worth anything in themselves. Only the things you can do with the money are important.

Trying to maximise your dollar winnings is wrong since utility per dollar usually decreases the more you win.

So if the money is life-changing, you should probably try to limit your variance a bit and not push small edges. The trouble is that you'll then be at a disadvantage against the people at the table to who the money isn't life-changing.