<prompt> Human: Since I started working at 22, I have been living a lifestyle that a person on minimum wage can afford, or close to it. Ill probably end this year having spent around 15k. I have been making 60k a year since 2014. Im now 26, with a net worth of 150k. 34k in cash mostly in high yield savings, 114k in investments 401k, IRA, brokerage, and a paid off car worth 2k. No debts. I live alone in a small one bedroom apartment, drive a beater, rarely go out to eat, and generally spend very little. I am comfortable with my lifestyle. But sometimes I think life is passing me by and I have little to show for it. I feel guilty spending money when I remind myself about how much I dislike my job. What do?Assistant: You are certainty in a better financial place then a lot of your peers, good job!What are your goals? Buy a house, New car, Travel, Retire early? Go back to school? Change jobs? Fund hobbies? Start your own business? x200B;I think the answer to your question depends on what your goals in life are, both short and long term. You are certainty in the position to spend some money on meeting your goals. You need to live a little too!Human: Ill probably change careers eventually. Still trying to figure out my path in life. Early retirement would be nice. Ive been planning for FIRE since I discovered it four years ago. Still have a long way to go though, and I am at a point where I think I should start living my life a little more.  <response>: If youre planning for fire you should know this is part of the game. Youre not making money just to get by today, youre doing it to support decades of future you. And FIRE at 60k salary isnt ever going to be luxurious by normal standards.Still, you dont have to live in destitution. Its just a question of being brutally honest with yourself about what your time and money are really worth to you, over your WHOLE lifespan, and not just the default spend it if you got it. I make 100k and having a nice car and eating out arent worth it to me. But I do let myself splurge a little at the grocery store, and buy stuff to support hobbies.You probably know this, but check out mrmoneymustache. Lots of advice for FIRE, including how to balance experience vs saving.One important frugal realization is that money spent does not directly correlate to life lived. Theres nothing wrong with extreme frugality, unless it prevents you from doing what you want to be doing. Are you ashamed to have dates over to your apartment? Do you avoid trying new hobbies because of cost? Do you not go places on vacation time due to cost?Use your money to live the life you want to live, but be a stone cold realist about how that plays out. Life is long. 