[opportune]

Regarding living below your means. For a lot of people their default mode if they don’t stop themselves is to spend almost as quickly as the money comes in. For people raised in a culture (be it family or larger) of saving and living below your means, who then get good jobs, I think the problem can easily become reversed where you are so attuned to the time-value of money and frugality that you become a bit miserly.

I was spending about 10-15% of my gross income for a few years until I realized I was denying myself a lot by not spending closer to like 20%. Yes I am happy that it allowed me to grow my investments quickly. but after a certain point it feels like you are just optimizing for a high score in your 60s. If you are financially driven you may always be thinking that $1 now could become $10 (in real terms) in a few decades. But I imagine when I’m 60 I’d gladly trade 20% of my worth to be able to experience things as a young adult.

[roland35]

Exactly this. Saving is very important, but also spend money on things that are meaningful to you now.

[red-iron-pine]

You could get hit by a bus tomorrow. I know people who died of cancer at 34.

Plan for the future, but it may never come. Or we might hit Japanese "stagflation" and returns are flat.

Make smart choices, but don't forget to live.