[lemondrops]

I live on ~30% of my income, which I would consider a modest "upper entry level developer" in my country. I don't feel like I sacrifice anything, though it is true that I'm lucky to share an already cheap apartment with my SO. (But we also only have heating in two of our rooms, and not even a sink in the bathroom - we brush our teeth in the kitchen. I guess this would already be inacceptable for many...) I don't own a car because I can bike or walk everywhere. I only use prepaid cards for my mobile phone, no data plan, because I always found the idea of paying for mobile internet ridiculous when there is wifi all around us. (Plus, I don't like how being online all the times makes me check my phone so often.) I don't need a new shiny phone every two years and will use my Fairphone 2 until it dies on me. I do eat out 3-4 times a week for lunch at work, but when at home I cook 99% of the time. Sometimes I eat out with friends, go to the cinema etc. I buy clothes maybe once or twice a year but avoid expensive brands like the plague, except for things like running shoes or other "long term equipment".

When it comes to my hobbies, I don't sacrifice anything, but I naturally like to do things that are inexpensive or for free like excercising and spending time outdoors, reading, watching movies... My most expensive hobby is probably indoor rock-climbing, which I don't do that often sadly, and the subscription to the martial arts club that I train at weekly. I just spent almost 500€ to attend PyCon this year, and nearly three times that much for my yearly holiday.

For me it's not even a concious act of saving, I just naturally live this way and don't need much. I don't like owning too many things, they feel like a burden. The money keeps accumulating (I saved 30K€ the last two years, living as described above), and I honestly don't know what to do with it or how to use it wisely in regards of the future... Real estate seems like a good investment, but comes with its own problems.