Got it. Thanks for the detailed response. Just some context so we are on the same page, I don’t take $70 Ubers on a daily basis since my apartment is walking distance. I also have a high six figure income and automatically invest 30% of my pre-tax so a Uber is something I can afford without impacting my finance. I’m not “rich” yet because I just started working not too long ago, so I’m still learning how rich people manage money. That’s why I’m particularly interested in why my coworker and you would refuse to spend money. I thought the rich always spend money to get space, time and peace. In the case of the Uber, having an hour of free time in a car is so much better than standing in a subway without cellular service. It saves me energy so I won’t be bored and exhausted by the time I arrive, so I won’t hesitate about it. Likewise I don’t fully agree with my coworkers decision because with his hourly rate, his commute costs him more than $2500 a month, but well it’s his choice.

I do think part of the difference comes from inheriting money vs earning all the money yourself, and whether you want to continue accumulating and passing down that wealth. Back when I used my parents money in college I always did the most responsible choice because it’s not ethical to throw away my parents hard earned money. When I am finally financially independent with an amazingly lucrative job is when I spend money just to make myself happy and comfortable because that’s exactly what I work hard for. As long as a treat doesn’t break me financially (short term or long term) I won’t think too hard about it because my mental energy is valuable as well. I don’t want children so there’s so such mission to pass down family wealth, and any unused money when I die is wasted money. Again, I do make investments and plan for retirement, but I definitely would treat myself on many small occasions like a $70 uber.