I treat frugality and budgeting as an optimization problem : how to maximize my quality of life and satisfaction when I only earn $X. Not every shiny expensive thing i buy will bring me the same level of satisfaction — $1000 spent on outsourcing chores, cooking, cleaning, and other boring everyday things brings far greater satisfaction than $1000 spent on a luxury car payment. Yes, earning more money will surely make your life easier but saving more money by looking at everything you spend your money on and refusing to spend it on the things that give you the smallest bang for your buck is probably even easier (though it can only go so far). So I still urge you to “drain the swamp” in your spending habits via-negativa style and eliminate the low hanging fruit that’s costing you a lot while bringing you limited satisfaction first.