From a spender to a saver

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by MissMischief

Me - a spender in my youth and well into middle age. I just didn't think about money except in terms of stuff I wanted. Hard to say what changed that mindset. Maybe just getting older does it. Old age looms, and you realize being old and broke will not be good. You get really sick of workplace b***t, and start looking at how to get free of it.

If people would just understand the bolded when young, many more could be financially independent or semi-independent by the time they reach age 50--right about the time a lot of people start losing good paying employment.

[adlnc07]

I was definitely a spender, well into my 40's. I'm 53 now and have definitely changed into a saver. I'm maxing out my 401K every year, own my home & car outright, and have no debt. It feels really great to be planning for the future, particularly my retirement from corporate life in ~12 years.

[jghorton]

I've gone the opposite direction.

As a child, a major household concern was whether we would have enough to pay the rent on time and buy food. Throughout my adult life, my childhood influenced my attitudes toward spending and 'having enough' - often caused me to be more frugal and concerned about spending than was really necessary.

As we headed toward retirement, it became clear that our planning and savings were more than sufficient to retire comfortably. In retirement, we spend whatever we want, whenever we want - traveling and doing whatever we want with plenty left to give.

[Tay K]

The transition for me was slow and hard (2 years) but I did it by myself.