I have a fundamental philosophy about spending money -- identify the few things that really, genuinely, make your life better and spend on those. For everything

I have a fundamental philosophy about spending money -- identify the few things that really, genuinely, make your life better and spend on those. For everything else, be a total cheapskate. So, for example, I drive a cheap used car because a nice expensive car doesn't actually make my life better, but I won't think twice about buying an expensive tool that I'll use every day, or going out for a lavish meal every so often, etc. There is nothing I want to do but I can't because of a lack of funds. I make six figures, and I'm not in SV or NY, so that can provide a very comfortable standard of living. I actually spend about 25% of that and put the rest into charitable donations, savings, investments, etc.