Oh, it definitely is real. The first year I was at my current job I didn't use my entire budget. I won't make that mistake again.

Yes I did the same and also will never do that again.

‘Look boss I saved x from budget z but we achieved target y anyway!

‘Yeah but I gave you Z for a reason, if you’d have added extra resource you may have achieved y+1’

Only empire building is rewarded. Growth is everything.

Savings are overrated and for household budgets not corps or governments.

I guess it never happens because the incentives are so strong not to let it happen. I had a boss who told me he would be in humongous trouble with his boards if he didn’t spend it all.