As with most things in life, I think finding a balance between the two is most enjoyable. If you only focus on the long term and plan, unless you have a continu

As with most things in life, I think finding a balance between the two is most enjoyable. If you only focus on the long term and plan, unless you have a continuous set of long term plans set to culminate and actually do, you'll have gaps in your living experience. You'll always be saving and investing for that one golden day that you may never see for some reason or another. Meanwhile as you point out, if you focus on living in the moment only, you'll live on cheap small rewards in life. I think a lot of good long term strategy with allotments for little impulse to pepper life is the best mix, at least for me, so that's how I live. Every now and then I'll splurge and do something unplanned a little extravagant but that's because I already budgeted for that sort of stuff -- my little fun pocket change time and money. Meanwhile I have nice set long term goals that improve my overall life experience as I get older. Some may never happen and that's fine because I'm not living my life wailing for that special time.