I try not to. Just sat with the financial advisor, and he’s saying we should spend it, the goal is not to have us hoard, but to use what we’ve earned while we are here to enjoy it. I had a dear friend lose his wife at 42. They never had a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labors. The day she passed, I told my husband we are living NOW. Traveling NOW, etc.

Guilty or cautious driven by hardship? Jr DF #1 was homeless for a few years while he worked out some addiction issues. He came back home after an injury that nearly killed him. While he was home, he always had a bag of food from our pantry with him. It stayed at his side even while home surrounded with food. It was driven by the years of near starvation and likely having to eat from dumpsters. Caution driven by hardship. Mrs DF grew up one of 12 kids. She had to compete like a seagull for everything. Now though it's completely unnecessary, she hoards her special things. Keeps them put away. She's not psychotic. It's a reflex.

We are the product of our experiences and adapt accordingly. When I was young, conservation and ecological propaganda was drilled into my brain by the schools I attended. To this day, I can't leave the fridge open nor a light on in a vacant room. Not to mention doors and windows closed to prevent lost heat/cooling. It's not an obsession. It's a reflex. Can't waste food either.

Buy more guns, you'll feel better.

Somewhat. Not guilty per se but definitely hesitancy.

I don't think I'm going to live a long life. My wife, however, is probably going to live past 100.

We're single income. So, basically, the way I look at it, every dollar we make / have is a dollar she will need to survive after I'm gone. We're not rich but she could probably squeak by if necessary. But I'd like to provide her some financial headroom and perhaps an ability to have some little indulgences occasionally.

Anticipating that I won't have a long life, I allow myself little luxuries now and again - like music CDs and a decent stereo system. And I buy quality over quantity - for both her and me. All-clad, Shun, Technivorm, Vitamix - such as that. But generally tend to be frugal when possible.

Take the solo vacation you mentioned. Plan sufficiently, but don't obsess on details.

This will add real value to your life.

Live a little, man

We worked so hard for so long to build a nice savings and pay off all debts including the mortgage. Once that was done it was a very hard habit to break. Suddenly we're able to stack that much more cash and it's really addictive. I actually found Dave Ramsey's advice useful. You can do three things with money, you can save it, spend it, and be generous. You should be doing all three. I've found being generous to others has helped us feel less guilty about being generous to ourselves. Start with things like having a nice dinner out and if the service is good leave the server a great tip. We started making monthly donations to a local dog rescue. Make taking care of yourself a priority.

I told my three sons I'm going to spend their inheritance
I used to do nothing but save. I'm 63 retired, have modest savings.
Four bedroom house to myself, I'm finally fixing it up the way I want it.Don't travel
or dine out. I'll buy some of the guns I've always wanted, buy that 68-72 Chevy
pickup I like. When I croak the stuff can be sold off. Might as well enjoy some simple pleasures.

Mom was the hardest working person I have known ,
She took four vacations in her 86 years.

When she died she had accumulated a two and a half story house full of antiques.

Not a hoarder by any means but a collector, it was her reward.

She got enjoyment from her stuff, but ,
She also made sure her kids were taken care of, first and foremost.

I've been debt free (minus house/car) for five years. I earn enough to pay all my bills, put 12% of my paycheck in 401k and still have a little something leftover at the end of every month. Over the last six months I've been spending more than I earn, new struts, tile backsplash for the kitchen, tires, painting, under cabinet lighting, expensive fancy switches and plugs for my kitchen, security cameras, and upgraded exterior lighting. None of that spending has been frivolous yet it pains me to see my savings account drop. Mind you I still have over 6 months of living expenses in my savings account, but I still feel like there could be some kind of emergency or once in a lifetime opportunity that requires it. I don't know how to explain it, but it certainly causes anxiety every single time I transfer from savings to checking. On the opposite transfer from checking to savings I feel great.

I am at a point in my life I can spend a little financially if I want, just can't do it emotionally for some reason and I don't know why.

Self-employed most of my adult life. Wife was always the money manager. Sometimes cash was in short supply and sometimes we were unable to draw our own paychecks so we could pay the help. As a result we became very conservative in our spending. We raised two great kids who became very successful in their own right and don't need an inheritance. We pretty much buy those things we would like to have but we don't go crazy, either. I'm 82 now, wife is 76 and we are both in reasonably good health. We recently told the kids that they were welcome to whatever was left when we were gone but if there was more than $2.00 it was bad planning on our part. If anyone is entitled to enjoy your money, it's you. Spend what you want, you've earned it!

Never great at saving money. Went into CC debt several times buying what I wanted but not needed. Getting ready for retirement soon and all I can say is thank God for my pension(s). One of the reasons I got into my line of work was the pension. Have decent savings, 2 pensions and SS will be taken early so at this point I buy what I want when I want, within reason, but yes feel a little guilty. Part of that is worrying about my wife after I'm gone. As far as she is concerned she thinks we have a money tree in the back yard , but thats a story for another day.

I was just talking to my wife about this yesterday. My work is seasonal so I save up “winter money” but winter comes and I rarely touch that account. This week I bought an amplifier and some gun parts and I feel guilty about it. I didn’t touch the winter money and in fact I’ve got more than enough in the checking account to cover all winter so I probably will never have to touch the winter money but I still feel weird about it.

I was rather poor not even 10 years ago so that probably has something to do with it.

I'm debt-free, have some savings, and we live within our means. I still feel guilty sometimes spending money, especially when it's on something I don't really need...but I still spend it !

Not a guilty feeling but I have found it very difficult to move from the saver mentality to drawing down savings in retirement. Four years in and I still haven't touched any of the retirement accounts. Retiring right into Covid and our current economic environment hasn't helped.

You're fifty and, I'm assuming, still not retired. Do you have enough saved for retirement? And saving for retirement is expense that you should be spending now.

Beyond that, I don't mind spending money for value that I receive or use in one form or another. What I hate is spending money for something that I don't get value from or it doesn't get used.

As for moving to a better place, if you don't see the need, put what you would spend for a better place into your savings. Same as for a new truck.

In the end, the money you earn will get spent anyways, if not by you, by somebody else after you die. You might as well get some enjoyment out it like a vacation to refresh your whole psyche.

No, money has very little value to me in the form of cash or ones and zeros in a bank computer. I prefer trading currency for investments that are more guaranteed to increase in value.

I have a very hard time spending money on myself. I have zero problem being generous with others or splurging on my wife, but I'll fret over spending $100 on myself if its just something I want and don't need. (I've been lusting after a milwaulkee exended reach cordless ratchett for years, but just can't bring buyself to buy one). For some reason I always feel like I'm putting my finacial future in jeapordy.

I have found that its easier (but not much) for me to spend cash than to swipe a card, so I try to build up some walking around money (<$1000) so I can jump on a deal if it comes along.

For the few big ticket items I've purchased (boat / fun car), my wife had to convince me to spend the money even though I'd had the money set aside for them.

My wife & I are 75 years old & we've busted our asses all our lives. We have some savings, some investments, and except for the electric bill & phone bill, we're debt free. The credit card bill for whatever we buy online gets paid off every month.

We don't waste money, but we don't buy cheap stuff, and if we want something, we buy it. And we don't feel one bit guilty about it.

Live once, die forever.
Gotta' do what you can to enjoy the 1st.