Feels so behind but happy doing the things I'm doing now
I'm reposting it here as I felt eaten alive at the personal finance sub. Feels like I need to get insights from people who have the same priorities as me. Unlike the personal finance - don't get me wrong, I still save money, but the amount of misery I felt compared to the happiness I've been feeling now can't compare. I just have different priorities now. Also, I mentioned here I broke 6 figures just a couple of months ago. Before that, when I started traveling, I was making just a bit more than half of my current salary.
Throwaway because my main account have too much information about me.
I'm 32F, single and I am torn between living my life and saving up for the future. However, background about me why I feel this way. I am an immigrant that moved in the US 14 years ago. Same as every immigrant story, we moved here with my family with barely anything. By 18, I got a job for an early morning job at a warehouse. For context, I was 18, female, 90lbs but somebody gave me a chance and didn't blow it. Work started at 2am. Then, go to school in the afternoon. Took me 7 years to get my university degree. It was exhausting 7 years of working the same job, going to school (although i took a year break from exhaustion but was doing tutoring with my full-time job still - there were times retail at the mall. I even squeezed in internships. My job that time was full time and can say that I made more than any typical teenager that time that just have a job for fun money. I was working to help pay for rent, utilities, groceries for my family. I could barely save money and spend money for myself. We are 5. All those times, I never traveled. Yes, I hung out with friends, partied a little. Never able to buy a reliable Toyota car until after i was done with school.
For the career I chose, you get advantage if you have the professional license. While working full time, I had to take 2 more years of schooling, and one and half year of studying for the professional license. Again, all those times, never traveled.
After I finally got those done, I am making comfortable money. I even broke into 6 figures few months ago. But even before that, I've been traveling. I loved it. I love doing solo travel. I've been doing a lot of outdoor activities as well. First time in my life also that I signed up for a gym. I am in a way better position. I have never been this happy and fulfilled in my life. I've traveled to more places in one year than the last 10 years of my life. I also started to take care of myself more. I even got facials and massage (not often maybe 2x a year). Before my schedule would have been work and study. Now yes I work, but I have time to read for pleasure, go run, workout, go for hikes, cook, bake etc.
I thank my past self for deferring all of this gratification. I was just saving myself for better and greater things. Even my family is in a better position now, and do not need a lot of help from me. It was time to take care of myself.
But looking at my peers, they have houses and when I look at forums for my age, net worth and savings, are so far from what I have. Part of me is saying I should slow down, take a break and save. I know layoffs are everywhere, but my job is somewhat stable, but I know layoff can come to me. But i like traveling, and i'm a budget traveler too, I even stay at hostels.
Before I made 6 figures, I got into some debt and now paying them off. I have 10k CC all on 0% (I honestly had some personal/emotional issues that led me to travel more often, incur more expenses -broke up and kept the apartment to myself). I have 55k assets - savings, 401k, HYSA, HSA. my net worth is 45k. No other debt.
I have more travel plans this year. But with my age, I should probably be saving for a house. Ramping up my retirement. But I want to keep traveling and do the things I've never done. I don't know what I'm looking for here. But am I being reasonable? Anyone been on this position too? What did you do? How did you approach this?
Posted Mar 11, 2023, 1:51 AM UTC