I think it's a matter of comfort. Some people can live life flying by the seat of their pants. In my opinion, those types of people are comfortable with moving fast, breaking and fixing things, and trying new adventures. They can look back at their lives and tell their grand kids how they'd lived to the fullest. But, on the other side of the spectrum. We have people who feel comfortable living very conservative lives way beneath their means. I think it provides them a sense of security and empowerment. They may come from backgrounds where they never had much growing up that could've contributed to that behavior, maybe. I'm sure my denfintion of a wholeheartedly lived life would be different from yours and a lot of other people. I don't necessary think your definition or anyone else is wrong. I just know at the end of the day we come from different backgrounds. Our desires from life have been shaped by different lives lived in different times or places. If it's comfortable for you to do and you're still happy about life afterwards with no regrets, I see no problem calling it "living life to fullest".

Not spending money does not equal living a very conservative life at all.

I spend $1000 per month and live luxuriously in an emerging market. I save up $5000 per month and do more free fun stuff than most people I know. I am self-employed and move to a new country every few months. My daily life is an adventure in itself. Some of the best 'entertainment' you can experience in life does not have to cost a lot.

It's not about living beneath your means, it's about choosing your own path in life, instead of following society's pressure in getting a 9-to-5 and spending all your income on stuff that won't make you happy in the long run.

Not spending money = a conservative life wasn't what I meant by my statement. I was just pointing out that we do have people in the world who prefer to live their lives very conservatively and beneath their means financially. I wasn't saying one thing equals another.

> When I'm old I'd rather say I'm broke because I lived my life to the fullest

That's probably where people differ - how they understand what "living life to the fullest" means.

To the OP, it means spending less on what he does not need and working on the things he likes. To others, it's travel, meeting other people.

There's no shame spending your money the way you want. Just don't live beyond your means. Know your (financial) limits.

Interesting. Maybe different people have different priorities?

The OP saved up to live working on things he loved.

I mostly save up to travel and try new things.

Some people save up to buy a shiny new red sports car.

When you are old, you are going to decide if you have lived life to the fullest.

Money totally buys full life, wow, you're right.