Not even sure where to post this and I can't really tell my friends or coworkers, but OMG I have so much money now! I started reading MMM in November 2018 and now not 6 months later there's so much money in the bank at the end of the month. Just by looking for ways to save instead of just helplessly giving up my pay I've saved hundreds a month. Changed car insurance (saving 100), health insruance (500), started shopping at Aldi (500), no eating out and very limited ordering food in (200), and just in general not buying stuff just . . . because . . . I don't even know why I used to buy stuff, but there were boxes from Amazon coming every single day. I have like 2K more each month with no change in standard of living or quality of life--better really. Changed cell phone plan (50), cancelled stuff I was paying for and didn't even notice, cancelled dog's health insurance (75). I actually looked at my calbe bill and noticed stuff we were being charged for that we didn't even have, like HD, and extra cable box. I started turning off lights when we weren't using them, like at night and during the day--yes we would leave random lights on since I just figured it wasn't making much of a difference. Started turning down the heat so I wasn't opening bedroom windows to let out heat I was paying for (19% savings over same month last year).
All the extra in going into my 401K up to the max then into a Roth and I'm so happy and excited now and looking forward to FI. Instead of being depressed when I looked at our bills, I'm so happy with none of the stress I used to feel about our future. I'm turning 48 and thought I'd be bummed about it, but now I can't wait to turn 50 and get to put more into my 401K! Looking forward to biking this spring, maybe to the train into NYC, and saving a few more bucks a day. Thank you MMM and all of you on these boards. Inspired!