TLDR: 24F, making ~$400k/year pre-tax. Current apartment $4k/month, considering $8k/month. After maxing retirement accounts ($60k a year) and taxes ($160k a year), take-home is ~$15k/month. Would savings drop from ~$90k/year to ~$42k/year taxable. Still investing aggressively but curious if the lifestyle upgrade is worth the slower FI pace.
I’m 24F making about $400k a year before taxes. After about $160k in taxes, I take home around $240k.
Net worth so far is around $200k in retirement accounts and $400k in taxable brokerage. No debt.
I put $60k a year into my 401k, IRA, and HSA. My current apartment is $4k a month, and the new one would be $8k a month. Other expenses are about $3,500 a month.
I like to keep a social but balanced lifestyle. I go out to eat or grab drinks with friends a few times a week. I take a couple vacations a year, skiing in the winter and beach trips in the summer. I also do small weekend getaways and occasional events. Overall, my spending is social but not over the top.
Savings comparison: • Current apartment: ~$90k/year taxable → total savings rate ~38% • New apartment: ~$42k/year taxable → total savings rate ~26%
The new apartment is in a gorgeous, walkable neighborhood that’s been my dream for the past few years. It’s in a luxury building with tons of natural light and amenities, close to friends and going out spots. I want to keep spending time with friends, so location and lifestyle matter. It would be a huge quality of life upgrade.
Even with the higher rent, I’d still be saving six figures annually and investing aggressively, just at a slightly slower pace toward FI. I’ve been trying to balance aggressive savings with enjoying my 20s.
I worry about whether this is lifestyle creep creeping in slowly. Is it worth trading years of faster FI for comfort, location, and social convenience?
For those who’ve been in a similar situation early in your FI journey, would you see this as a reasonable lifestyle upgrade that still keeps you on track, or would you keep housing lower to maximize savings?
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