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When You're Crushing It Financially But Feel Guilty About Buying A Watch

MarketDash Editorial Team
13 days ago
A 30-year-old earning $520,000 annually with over $1 million saved is struggling with a classic high-earner problem: knowing when it's okay to actually spend money. Reddit had some practical advice about hitting savings targets first and buying used luxury items.

Here's a problem most people would happily trade for: You make $520,000 a year, you've built a net worth above $1 million by age 30, and you diligently save a huge chunk of your income. But now you want to buy something nice for yourself and you can't shake the guilt.

That's the situation one 30-year-old found himself in recently. He's been eyeing expensive watches but can't figure out how to establish reasonable spending limits.

"I got back into the watch game this year," he said.

So he turned to Reddit for advice, and the community delivered some surprisingly thoughtful suggestions.

Hit Your Savings Target First

The most popular advice? Create a clear savings target and hit it every year. Once you've done that, spend whatever's left without the guilt.

One Redditor pointed out that the 30-year-old already maxes out his retirement accounts, which makes those contribution limits a natural benchmark.

"Hit your savings targets and spend the rest guilt-free," the commenter said.

Another user agreed that this straightforward framework works for most people trying to set budgets.

"All you have to do is hit your savings goal and then just go live your life," the commenter added.

The beauty of this approach is its simplicity. The 30-year-old is already crushing his savings goals and is well ahead of his peers. He owns a house and is actively paying down the mortgage. Setting clear targets gives him permission to enjoy his success without second-guessing every purchase.

Buy Lightly Used

The young professional is specifically interested in expensive watches, and while he can clearly afford them, he worries the purchase might feel "wasteful" since he already owns one. He's built an emergency fund covering a full year of expenses, but sometimes the mental block isn't about the money itself.

One Redditor reframed the dilemma as an opportunity to be strategic about luxury purchases.

"Buy lightly used, skip the depreciation," the commenter suggested. "That way, if you change your mind, you can resell at little loss."

Another user reinforced this point: "If you'll wear it, go for it. The good thing about nice watches is that you can always flip them if you don't find yourself wearing them."

This advice addresses both the financial and psychological concerns. Buying pre-owned luxury items lets you enjoy them while preserving most of your capital if you decide to sell later.

Addressing The Opportunity Cost

The 30-year-old revealed something interesting in the comments: the "opportunity cost 'feels bad,' even if the math seems reasonable." He's thinking about how that $10,000 watch could become much more if invested in an index fund over decades.

It's a fair point, especially from someone who has built a seven-figure portfolio through disciplined saving. He's witnessed the power of compounding firsthand, so he understands exactly what he's giving up by making the purchase.

But one commenter offered a different perspective on this mental hurdle.

"This is a psychological thing where you've continually thought towards savings maximization," the user explained. "It is only semi-related to how much money you actually have. The key is putting in the effort towards understanding your emotions."

In other words, when you've trained yourself to prioritize savings above everything else, it's hard to flip the switch and give yourself permission to spend. The anxiety isn't really about the money anymore. It's about breaking a deeply ingrained habit, even when you've more than earned the right to enjoy some of what you've built.

Back to News

When You're Crushing It Financially But Feel Guilty About Buying A Watch

MarketDash Editorial Team
13 days ago
A 30-year-old earning $520,000 annually with over $1 million saved is struggling with a classic high-earner problem: knowing when it's okay to actually spend money. Reddit had some practical advice about hitting savings targets first and buying used luxury items.

Here's a problem most people would happily trade for: You make $520,000 a year, you've built a net worth above $1 million by age 30, and you diligently save a huge chunk of your income. But now you want to buy something nice for yourself and you can't shake the guilt.

That's the situation one 30-year-old found himself in recently. He's been eyeing expensive watches but can't figure out how to establish reasonable spending limits.

"I got back into the watch game this year," he said.

So he turned to Reddit for advice, and the community delivered some surprisingly thoughtful suggestions.

Hit Your Savings Target First

The most popular advice? Create a clear savings target and hit it every year. Once you've done that, spend whatever's left without the guilt.

One Redditor pointed out that the 30-year-old already maxes out his retirement accounts, which makes those contribution limits a natural benchmark.

"Hit your savings targets and spend the rest guilt-free," the commenter said.

Another user agreed that this straightforward framework works for most people trying to set budgets.

"All you have to do is hit your savings goal and then just go live your life," the commenter added.

The beauty of this approach is its simplicity. The 30-year-old is already crushing his savings goals and is well ahead of his peers. He owns a house and is actively paying down the mortgage. Setting clear targets gives him permission to enjoy his success without second-guessing every purchase.

Buy Lightly Used

The young professional is specifically interested in expensive watches, and while he can clearly afford them, he worries the purchase might feel "wasteful" since he already owns one. He's built an emergency fund covering a full year of expenses, but sometimes the mental block isn't about the money itself.

One Redditor reframed the dilemma as an opportunity to be strategic about luxury purchases.

"Buy lightly used, skip the depreciation," the commenter suggested. "That way, if you change your mind, you can resell at little loss."

Another user reinforced this point: "If you'll wear it, go for it. The good thing about nice watches is that you can always flip them if you don't find yourself wearing them."

This advice addresses both the financial and psychological concerns. Buying pre-owned luxury items lets you enjoy them while preserving most of your capital if you decide to sell later.

Addressing The Opportunity Cost

The 30-year-old revealed something interesting in the comments: the "opportunity cost 'feels bad,' even if the math seems reasonable." He's thinking about how that $10,000 watch could become much more if invested in an index fund over decades.

It's a fair point, especially from someone who has built a seven-figure portfolio through disciplined saving. He's witnessed the power of compounding firsthand, so he understands exactly what he's giving up by making the purchase.

But one commenter offered a different perspective on this mental hurdle.

"This is a psychological thing where you've continually thought towards savings maximization," the user explained. "It is only semi-related to how much money you actually have. The key is putting in the effort towards understanding your emotions."

In other words, when you've trained yourself to prioritize savings above everything else, it's hard to flip the switch and give yourself permission to spend. The anxiety isn't really about the money anymore. It's about breaking a deeply ingrained habit, even when you've more than earned the right to enjoy some of what you've built.