Anyone else feel guilty spending money ?

[Mrs.softtouvh]

I’ve noticed something about myself since getting serious about early retirement, I have a really hard time actually spending money without feeling guilty. It’s like my brain is so wired for saving, tracking, and optimizing that even when I can afford something, I hesitate or second guess whether it’s worth it. For example, I’ll cut corners on little pleasures, or I’ll put off buying something I’ve wanted for months, all because I don’t want to see my net worth graph dip. The irony is, I know the whole point of this journey is freedom and being able to enjoy life without stressing over every purchase but when I do spend, I catch myself running mental calculations about how many more weeks of work that money represents.

 

[erik_larssen12]

I retired at 42 and still track every dollar in Excel. What helped me was setting a fund with a monthly spend target. That way I get the joy without the guilt. I know how it feels, I used to feel bad buying anything non-essential.

 

[b0rscht]

I’ve noticed something about myself since getting serious about early retirement, I have a really hard time actually spending money without feeling guilty. It’s like my brain is so wired for saving, tracking, and optimizing that even when I can afford something, I hesitate or second guess whether it’s worth it. For example, I’ll cut corners on little pleasures, or I’ll put off buying something I’ve wanted for months, all because I don’t want to see my net worth graph dip. The irony is, I know the whole point of this journey is freedom and being able to enjoy life without stressing over every purchase but when I do spend, I catch myself running mental calculations about how many more weeks of work that money represents.

I believe it's a behavioral shift, not a math problem. Start small. Buy the good coffee. Get the better wine. Don't cheap out on the nice hotel for a weekend.
You have to retrain your brain that spending on yourself is not an emergency, it's the reward for all that painful saving you already did