Personal Finance (Not Investing) • Feels impossible to take the foot off the pedal of saving, but saving at the boglehead pace is stressful.

My sense is there's a fair amount of undiagnosed and possibly subclinical anxiety. It's probably fine if people can't think of anything else to spend on that would bring more happiness, but that's not the case for the OP.

Sometimes I think spending so much time on Bogleheads, and reading so many “what-if” doom scenarios, is affecting my general optimism

I would agree with this. Sometimes on Bogleheads the only future is one of down markets, poor health, out living your savings, etc. and it all happens with no chance of anything good, like good health, average or above average markets, etc.

I realize that a lot of younger people visit this site which is wonderful. I tend to post when I see people being too negative or conservative in my opinion, so that the younger people understand that life isn't always bad or hard. As I get older and provide advise to my adult children I try to convey to them that yes there will be rainy days that you did not expect, I've had several in my life, but there are also sunny days where things do go well and I too have had those. Most people have more sunny days than rainy days if they are honest with themselves. So when I hear statements like "You can never save too much" or "You shouldn't spend money just for enjoyment" I have to chime in to help provide some balance.

Some lyrics from Dire Straits that always hit home with me "There should be laughter after pain There should be sunshine after rain These things have always been the same So why worry now." Plan but don't worry.

Enjoy your time on this earth, because that's one thing that you can not save for a later time.

Statistics: Posted by JoeNJ28 — Mon Mar 04, 2024 5:44 pm — Replies 76 — Views 9858