> I can't just give up my automotive expenses, for example, without major and negative impacts to my well being. Sure, if something you're spending money on cu

> I can't just give up my automotive expenses, for example, without major and negative impacts to my well being. Sure, if something you're spending money on currently does increase your happiness, then don't cut it out! But even within the categories of essentials you listed, different peoples' spending levels vary drastically. To your point, my wife and I drive a 12-year-old Hyundai Elantra that I bought in good condition for $4k on Craigslist. When I add up depreciation, gas, repairs and insurance, it costs us about $220/mo all-in. A new mid-market SUV, under the same analysis, might cost $600/mo. Now, I would probably enjoy a newer, nicer bigger car some, but I certainly wouldn't enjoy it $400/mo more, especially when I compare it to the other things I could spend that money on that I care about more, like buying a nice new deep-learning rig (4 months of smaller-car savings), or a cool extra $750k in retirement ($400/mo for 40 years compounding at 6%). The point is, decide what's most important to you, and spend your money on that. For some people it will be buying a new car every 4 years, but I'm willing to bet that if we really thought hard about our priorities for most people it wouldn't be.