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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   1413 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 18, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Just seems like my desire to put away money for 35 years from now versus making memories with family and friends now has started to decline.

I think to answer this question would require significantly more information regarding what the concrete choices you are thinking about are.

My life is set up in such a way that there is very little that I would spend significantly more money on were I spending freely or if I came into a windfall. Like Hercule Poirot, I have enough money for both my needs and my caprices. I don't particularly want anything I can't afford, the odd luxury goods that I theoretically could purchase vaguely disgust me as too extravagant anyway. I have trouble identifying a marginal "live for today" spend I would make if I valued today higher than 30 years from now. If anything I could imagine putting in less time on earning money, but I like my work and wouldn't reduce it given the option.

So like, what are we talking about here? Flying out to visit family more? Going on a vacation? Buying a boat? I don't think the decision is meaningful in the abstract, only in concrete details.

fair - the immediate concrete decision is how much to spend on finishing our basement (ie adding extra fun features) and how much to go on extra nice vacations the next few years (think ski trips with lessons to teach our kids).

Just staring at high 6 figure retirement account balances and wondering if I should be rethinking my allocation of present to future a bit more (early 30s, for reference)

tagging other repliers for visibility: @birb_cromble, @TowardsPanna, @Mihow, @stolen_brawnze

You're in very good shape. Sounds like you should focus a bit more on the present.

You sound like you're doing well. If you needed permission to finish the basement and go on vacations with your family, consider it granted.

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