By my very-generous savings rate formula, we are now at a 45% savings rate. More excitingly, I know what we need to do to get to 50% - max my Roth IRA, which is a goal for 2016.
The generous formula:
(cash savings + all retirement contributions + mortgage principle)/
(take home income + pre tax retirement contributions)
I discovered this site in (I think) early 2012, when I was wondering if it was crazy to throw all my money at my remaining ~$65,000 in student loans. I had an hour+ commute to work (although thankfully on public transit), two cars, no assets, too many clothes, and put only 5% into my retirement account at work. I felt trapped and unhappy.
Now we are saving 45% every month! The student loans were paid off a year ago, and our retirement accounts have already recovered from years of low contributions. I got a new job and bought a house 3 miles away, purged my wardrobe, sold a car and bike to work. By 40 (in 9 years) we should have the freedom for one of us to leave work if we want, and by 45 we can both probably retire outright. No matter what we are looking at a lot of flexibility and freedom. Even though this is a decade away, I don't feel trapped at all anymore. I feel empowered.
Most importantly my relationship with money has changed in a way I didn't anticipate. I used to obsess and obsess and obsess about paying off my student loans. Now that they are done and I've settled into a debt-free life (besides the low-rate mortgage), I just don't think about money the same way anymore. We save a lot, we give to charity, we spend a little more than we should but on the whole I just see it as a tool. Our spending is now more aligned with our values, which means I don't bat an eye at spending $300 on a well-made item that I need, but get angsty over $10 plastic crap (which I mostly don't buy at all anymore).
I don't think this site can take credit for ALL of these changes, but it certainly helped me get to this place. Thanks, everyone.
