u/firegirlygoo

I am 28 years old and doing very well for myself financially. Now despite me doing well, I significantly prefer to live a more regular modest lifestyle. I do not want to live in an expensive high end area surrounded by wealth, I much prefer living in a regular middle class suburb or out in the country. I live with room mates and shop at Walmart and the farmers market for groceries. My clothes are thrifted or from Old Navy. I do not like to eat out at expensive places, I much prefer to cook simple healthy meals at home. I don’t drink, smoke or use any kinds of drugs. I prefer to just be at home with my dogs to cook, clean, laundry or work on my house. Sometimes I’ll go out, but maybe only once a month. This lifestyle makes me extremely content.

I did not always have a simple lifestyle I have lived a high end fast paced lifestyle in an expensive area before and it sent my stress level to the absolute max. It just did not make me happy and I had to move away. Constantly feeling like I have to keep up with appearances, social expectations, social judgments. I seriously do not understand the extreme desire to consume and upgrade your lifestyle. I am happy with what I have.

I am sure many people here relate to this. Has anyone else lived both lifestyles before and prefer a more simple one?

Ran a bunch of number and determine where I want to be in the next 5-10 years and realized that I NEED to be saving 20% in my 401k (maxing it out).

I am going through a divorce, so my financial situation has changed significantly. I’m a little stressed about where this puts me, though I can technically afford it. I have an emergency fund, but I am a home owner and have pets so I am always afraid of unexpected costs.

I’ve trimmed my budget downs a lot and with maxing my 401k it puts me at $2000 per month leftover to pay for groceries, household items, self care, wants or needs that come up. This is just for me. I have a boyfriend but we don’t live together.

Am I overthinking this?