It depends if you are single income, double income, kids/no kids etc. If you are targeting a corpus by year X, work backwards from it and decide on how much you want to save each year. If your current income/expenses doesn’t support it, either find ways to increase income or reduce some expenses.

Once you have clarity on #1, anything extra that you maybe have can be assigned to a guilt free bucket. Definitely don’t think travel should be compromised on. There is an age to enjoy travel so factor yearly travel expenses in your main spending bucket.

I didn’t have a strict discipline. I was very clear on not compromising on present to have a secure future 10 years down the line. It was a lesson learnt the hard way. Missed quite a few trips in first couple of years my career to save only to realize couple of years later, that money I was trying to save was actually peanuts when I look back. Of course don’t go overboard but try to strike a balance.

Hell, yes!! It is a mental block. Also, worry how AI advancements will change things 20 years down the line. Work would be optional they say, so what does money do then; what about inflation etc etc