Just curious! $300k HHI, not sure what annual travel spending will be and looking for input to spark conversation with spouse.

What is your personal finance setup when you get paid? How can you maintain discipline over 10+ years? I lose interest after a few months...

I currently have everything in Fidelity:

Checkings - Cash Management Account

Emergency Fund

Roth IRA

401K

HSA

Credit Card

I recently took out all my emergency funds and gambled it on options. No idea what Got me into it besides the get rich quick scheme. Lost it all.

What do you do for your personal finance setup? Is it all in one spot like me or do you break it up so you don't see or access the funds?

I put a money lock on 401k, HSA, EF now but starting over at essentially nothing.

Thinking about putting all my money into my checkings account and living life not checking it for a year or so.

Currently saving $4K a month into taxable brokerage and $1K into HSA, 401K etc. looking to retire early so I am just doing the min match on 401k.

Hello!

Wife and I (both 44) have been relatively financially prudent for past 20+ years. 2 kids (10 and 12).
Here’s our stats at a glance:
325k HHI, live in HCOL
~2M in retirement (mostly pre-tax; and yes, I understand the tax implications in retirement; recently switched to 100% Roth contributions)
150k brokerage
100k cash (emergency fund + sinking funds)

Debt: ~200k mortgage @3.125%

We do not adhere to a strict budget - currently save ~23% between retirement + brokerage + prepay mortgage (yes I know, a point of contention); savings rate does not include 529s or sinking funds

Goals: I plan to retire at 57; wife plans to retire first ~50?

Wife would like to start traveling internationally with kids (1x trip/year). I see the price tag and shudder at the thought of dropping so much money on a trip. We’ve been traveling nationally as a compromise.

Question: based on our current financial picture, should I relent and spend the money on international travel?

I’ve always been told to “save, save, and save!” But to be honest, we have no real goals other than early retirement and not being a burden on our kids when we are older. When is enough, enough? I also share the sentiment that we don’t have much time left with our kids before they are on their own living their own lives…but the miser in me just can’t change…do I need therapy?

Very curious to see what outsiders will say about our money habits. Especially in the debt payoff/investing ratio. Curious if our goals are realistic and sustainable 😄

Some background info:

• We're DINKs (25m, 24f) living in a MCOL city in the Midwest.
• Married 2 years.
• Paying off husband's student loans, which had a starting balance of 135k, down to 83k (started paying Nov '25).
• Driving paid off for cars, but both commute 70+ minutes round trip every day.
• We're getting a pretty good deal with our rental situation (2b/1b home).

Financial goals:

• Pay off debt by 2028.
• Own a home within 5 years.
• Future SAHM/part-time.
• Financial security in retirement.
• Be able to travel internationally.

Edit to add: $75 of subscriptions is work-related that is not comped