[herbst]

If freedom is your actual target, you might see that differently.

Many of my own life choices have been to minimize monthly costs in order to invest time and money to build more freedom for myself (i.e. own things that make money). I never had savings back then, but I had just enough for my 'simple' life. Instead of saving money I invested time.

It sure depends where you are. But I am sure most young people in tech , before family, before children, could easily afford working a day less when they optimize something else.