April 22, 2025
By Jason R. Heller

I can’t help but regret not living it up when I had the chance. A couple of years ago, I had it all—over 65k invested in stocks, a job paying 85k annually, and a decent amount of disposable income. But despite all that, I lived like I had nothing. I ate Costco hotdogs for lunch, drove around in an old beater car, and entertained myself with pirated games.

The one thing I spent money on was guns—about 3k worth, but at least I could sell those back and get my cash. Other than that? I was practically a hermit, hoarding my money while watching my net worth rise and fall on paper.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve lost both my job and the value of my stocks. I didn’t enjoy any of the money I made or any of the things I could’ve had. Now I’m not broke, but I still find myself stuck in the same routine, grinding away, with nothing to show for all that time.

Looking back, I could’ve YOLOed a little. At least then I’d have some memories, maybe a cool car or a vacation. Instead, I’m right back where I started, only with a lot less to show for it. If I knew how things would turn out, I should’ve just splurged and had fun while I had the chance. Now it feels like I lived frugally for no reason at all.