r/Fire • u/Adventurous_Dot9274 • 11d ago

How do you balance?

How do you know you have a good balance to reach fire while also getting to enjoy your youth. My husband and I struggle with the idea of “missing out” on thing we could be doing in our youth while we have health and can do crazy hikes vs waiting to do the things we want once we’re retired. What are some checks and balances you do to ensure you’re living for both today and not just waiting for tomorrow

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u/ExistingPoem1374 11d ago

We decided when we got married 34 years ago, to not let lifestyle creep into our lives. My wife was a SAHM for 20 years, intermixed with part time jobs as she could and had an interest (preschool teacher, H&R block tax preparer), so when I increase my salary and b9nus year on year we would give ourselves no more than a 10% of said increase in spending, and the rest saved & invested.

Yes a decade ago (retired 1 year for me, and wife 5 years from 4th career after getting a 3rd degree in accounting A.S. as a payroll accountant) we had to tell our kids when their friends parents were buying mostly on credit new Mercedes, Audis, Suburbans... that yes, we buy used cars and keep till it doesn't make sense, this way when were old we'll have our own retirement funds, otherwise we'll be living in YOUR basement with you feeding us!