@spartana - I think the root of my current frustration, if you can call it that, is that I thought having an extra 2K mo just for discretionary was pretty good.
Now that I'm essentially there, it is and it isn't.
I haven't put my life on hold as far as travel or other things that matter to me, because I am already out of time and my accumulation phase is over - sort of.
I'm 70 but Mr. R. is only 58, so while I'm im-patiently:) waiting for him to finally retire in three years, I don't have a crystal ball and worry about how my energy and health will be by then.
So I/we chose to live now and travel now but I also saved between 50% to 75%, which is one reason it took me so long to reach my end game - Jan 2020.
I agree with you that travel doesn't have to be expensive. I am quite creative in finding ways to finance my travels. My favorite ways incl things like medical tourism for treatments or elective surgery that my rather excellent health insurance still will not cover or picking up meds that are sky high in the US for a friend, purchasing luxury items or electronics to sell for a profit, even sold my travel pics, travel articles for $350 that was an unexpected bonus.
Years ago, I paid my apartment rent a time or two with alcohol thanks to my military ID and a taxi driver I knew who acted as distributor.
Last summer I took a two-month bucket list trip to Europe. The flight covered via points/bonus, saved about 2-3K in medical expenses while there and brought back about six bras that would have cost me 4 times as much in the US and had some jewelry work done that cost me half of what it would be in the US.
Staying partially with friends further brought down the cost - so yeah, I can dream up a thing or two.
My GF picked up a trunkful of "designer" clothing from Spain while on vacation, then gave a big red carpet:) fashion show party at her home. Complete with Models (friends) and lots of Sangrias of course. An enterprising young seamstress in a little village in Spain and a clever, but poor lady with lots of fashionable friends in Germany - stuff like this is what makes the world go round:).
I laughed when I saw the first article about how meds mfg other than in the US were dangerous. How stupid do they think the American public is. As if places like Germany and Canada don't have their own FDA. Sheesh. Glad to see our governor actually proposed a bill to buy drugs for Floridians - imported from Canada.
That's what I like about this forum, people are smart and take advantage of every opportunity to get what they want out of life.
Sorry, I digressed.
Bottom line, I have $2K in discretionary funds coming in each month. I am totally thrilled with that because in all truth that is more than enough for me and probably even for us. It gives us leeway and the occasional luxury.
The trouble is, I'm whining and stomping my feet because the OP and the posts in this thread made me realize I might also "need"?:) a dedicated $10K-$15K discretionary fun account.
Damn, I thought I was done.
Upon reflection, I'm still waffling between saving $500 for this new goal ugh ugh ugh or sticking with the plan of $1K and blowing the rest.
Right now "blow it" is winning - we'll see how I feel about that in a few months, maybe my creative financial shenanigans will save the day.
Spartana, I've always been impressed with how you FIRED, how you think and operate and how Spartan you are:). We are all wired differently and while I've had to live on $10K one year I absolutely positively hated it, but I am perfectly fine living on $40K a year. $80-$85K for the both of us - works for us.
... and no, I'm not giving up on travel, we recently returned from a week trip to Canada, Niagara Falls, NY - the Falls were a spectacular once in a lifetime experience and yes, of course, we found ways to mitigate the cost.
We happen to live in tourist Mecca, just 30 minutes away from the best white sand beaches in the country, the Int'l Airport, not to mention all the entertainment/sports/exhibits/museums/art scene/music/restaurants and endless outdoor activities that we are surrounded by.
So where do I want to travel next?:) - I want to see the leaves change, walk in the woods, breathe in pine scents (no swamp, no palm tree, no heat, no alligators) pick apples by the bucket full to bring home and stay in a cabin overlooking a lake in mountain country (one tires of the endless flatness of Florida) ...
My apologies for hijacking this thread - I'll shut up now.
Peace out.