I think it's fair to say that this is 95% of people's first reaction to hearing about MMM or similar bloggers.
Here's something you can take away from MMM even if you don't agree with everything he says.
Based on your post, these are the things that are important to you (or at least a start):
- Newer car
- owning a house over 300 sq. ft.
- Traveling to Arizona to visit relatives.
Maybe there are a dozen or so other things that are important to you that you could add to that list.
Now open up your bank account and find out how much spending happens on stuff that isn't important to you. 50%? 80%?
If you can dial down the spending that doesn't make you happy or the spending you do that just out of habit then you would be able to do more that does matter to you... nicer house, nicer car, more frequent and longer trips to AZ.
Here's something you can take away from MMM even if you don't agree with everything he says.
Based on your post, these are the things that are important to you (or at least a start):
- Newer car - owning a house over 300 sq. ft. - Traveling to Arizona to visit relatives.
Maybe there are a dozen or so other things that are important to you that you could add to that list.
Now open up your bank account and find out how much spending happens on stuff that isn't important to you. 50%? 80%?
If you can dial down the spending that doesn't make you happy or the spending you do that just out of habit then you would be able to do more that does matter to you... nicer house, nicer car, more frequent and longer trips to AZ.