u/FlyFeatherss

I recently moved into a new apartment in NYC and I'm feeling slightly guilty for how much I'm spending and would love a sanity check - here's my monthly budget breakdown:

Monthly Income after tax/deductions: 8500

Expenses:

• Rent - 3200
• Food - 800
• Travel/Transport (average) - 500
• Fun Money - 250
• Health - 150
• Misc - 100

Remaining 3500 goes into my brokerage every 15th of the month.

Even though my rent is well under the 30% income rule, I feel like I could be saving much more if I lived at a more modest apartment. I'm debating downgrading to an apartment with roommates at 1700 which will free up 18k annually which I can invest - which would be ~280k when I'm 65 (assuming 7% growth per yr)...

Would love to know what people's experience were like 'downgrading' and whether you regret it or not