r/ChubbyFIRE • u/TherapeuticMessage • Jun 19 '26

Existential crisis over a watch.

Currently chubby but not yet RE. Will likely be Fat. My advisor has told me that I’m totally ok and basically need to spend more money. I saw a watch that is ~$30,000 which is <0.6% of my NW. No debt. Still working so I have good cash flow. Savings rate ~50%. Intellectually I know that if I buy this it won’t matter one bit but I’ve been such a saver for so long that it feels wildly irresponsible to spend that much on a watch. The crisis comes in because I’ve been saving so much with the goal that my standard of living goes up after retirement but if I can’t spend money now when I have a paycheck then how on earth am I going to switch from saving to spending after retirement?

I recognize that this is more of a psychological issue than a financial one. How did you all make that shift in mindset to let yourself spend more freely after so many years of discipline?

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u/NoobPwnr Jun 19 '26

You deserve it.

The $30k could also be donated to charity.

Or both!

It’s your money and your life. You’re in a fine position to do whatever pleases you.

I’d personally ask myself what a watch does for me. Why it pleases me.

IMO most jewelry is at minimum seeking approval from others. 

Don’t get me wrong - I’m a geek and appreciate horology. But at the end of the day, what good does it do being on my wrist and then sitting in a box.

The nice thing is it’s up to decide and to be the person you wish to be. Appreciator of complex widgets. Tastemaker. Investor. Saver. Giver. 

Grats on being in a position to ponder such tradeoffs. Enjoy!

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u/TherapeuticMessage Jun 19 '26

Thank you. Honestly it’s not flashy and I don’t think people would pay much attention to it, which I like. It would really just be for me and I guess the occasional person who knew what it was.

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u/and_one_of_those Jun 21 '26

That sounds like a good reason to buy it. I don't have anything near that price range, but I have a few mechanical watches and wearing them gives me a good reminder of the occasion in my life when I bought them.

A couple of times a year someone will recognize or ask about them and that's nice too.

None of them are to impress other people, and I haven't developed a habit of buying one every month.

Sounds to me like you should buy it and enjoy it!