we save fully and responsibly for retirement. On track to retire on 70% of late career income. But that said, we have and continued to enjoy our life- vacations, food, travel etc. I find saddest those well-off who defer everything to live in retirement and save far beyond what is financially prudent.

I think life deserves a bit of carpe diem. Even for the best situations, your quality of life and health will be better in your 40s than your 60s. Actuarially speaking, a decent number will be dead or ill by that time. By all means be responsible and plan prudently for retirement but don't expect to defer all your enjoyment of life to the last couple decades of life!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't add in utilities, life and car insurance, etc. DH blows $24,000 a year on his Am Ex.

On what??!

Food, alcohol, technology, stuff for hobbies. Nothing spectacular.

OK I checked this month's bill, it's $2300. High for us because we had a birthday in the family.

Over $700 of this is food related - a cooking class, groceries, lunches and dinners out. $200 is monthly parking at work, $125 is a monthly chiropractic bill. Birthday presents are on this bill. All to say, we could certainly cut 90% of this out in retirement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't add in utilities, life and car insurance, etc. DH blows $24,000 a year on his Am Ex.

On what??!

I don't think this is bad. Only $2k/month. We generally spend about $6k/month on our 2 credit cards.

But what are you spending it on in retirement is the question. The credit card is just a medium unless you're paying off debt.

Same stuff we are spending it on now - food, restaurants, clothes, gifts, etc.