Hey everyone,
I’m 28 and recently took a 30% pay cut. I now make $78K/year, or about $4,800/month after tax. My spending looks like this:
Monthly Net Income ~$4,800
Monthly Expenses ~$2,500
Rent : $1600
Food : $700
Miscellaneous : $200
Total Savings ~$180,000
- HYSA $30,000
- Treasury Bonds $50,000
- Brokerage $67,000
- Checking $2,000
- Retirement $24,300
- Gold $4,500
I don’t have any debt and live well within my means. But I do splurge on things I love—mainly good food, desserts, and hobbies like travel and music. I know I could technically save more, but spending on joy feels worth it, especially after a tough year.
Still, part of me wonders if I’m being too relaxed about my finances given the income drop. Should I feel guilty and curb my temptations?