I grew up with a terrible anxiety about money. To combat it, I’ve spent my career living a lifestyle as if I made half the income that I do. As a result the job

I grew up with a terrible anxiety about money. To combat it, I’ve spent my career living a lifestyle as if I made half the income that I do. As a result the job pool that would allow me to maintain my family’s current standard of living is considerably larger. It also means I feel less dependent on keeping my job and have years of runway savings. The consequence is that unlike most of my peers, we only have one car, it’s not fancy, vacations are in-province, and we don’t spend on things teenaged me craved like a gaming PC or a Lego hobby. The kids want for nothing, though. I’m very thankful to have a partner who is deeply aligned on this philosophy. I think there’s no “right” answer. I can hear people saying to should enjoy things while young. But I’d pay almost anything not to feel that anxiety ever again.