Since I started earning decent money again, my spending doesn’t seem to have changed much from immediately before that point. Clothes, holidays, eating out. It’s about the same. I think I’ve got a level of spending, above which I view it as wasteful; below which life would be far too dull. So as long as I’m in that zone, I’m cool. When I’ve fallen below it, I’ve simply lived beyond my personal means on the assumption things would improve. Which they always have, so far.
I’m ambitious for that lifestyle, but have no real aspiration to go beyond it. I don’t think it would make me any happier. I’m perfectly happy where I am.
Ambition can be a curse.