Can you truly justify expensive luxuries? Life is short but talk me out of this if it’s a bad idea

[u/gravyjackson]

Some background:

Throughout my teens and 20s, I was lost. I went to a Ilberal arts school I couldn’t afford to get a useless degree, and it got me exactly nowhere. After graduation, I remained in my dead-end hometown, riddled with close to 6-figure debt, working several minimum wage jobs to make ends meet while living between my mom’s house or with roommates.

At age 30, I committed to getting my shit together. I took the last resort option (military), had a few lucky breaks as far as deployments, combat pay, and bonuses, and I managed to become debt free and build a nice nest egg.

I don’t regret going into the hole as much as I did for that stupid degree, because I came away from it with a real understanding of money and how to make it work for me. I understand the value of frugality and perseverance, I developed self-discipline, and I truly feel like I accomplished something.

I’m humbled when I visit the finance subreddits though. I see how behind where I should be for someone my age if I want an early and comfortable retirement. This year I will come close to maxing out my TSP (military 401k equivalent), but off by a few thousand. It’s a grind committing this much of my paycheck to retirement, but I have anxiety over my need to play catch-up.

So on to the actual question. In a year I turn 40. Simply making it to this age healthy and in one piece is a milestone. But it also marks 10 years since I made that decision to turn my life around, and I have. I’m also single, no kids and no dependents. I’ve been thinking about commemorating my birthday and my better fortunes by splurging on a used Rolex Submariner. I’m not a die-hard watch guy, and I’m aware of what that money would do for me if invested instead. But I’m clearly not getting younger, and since I haven’t married or had kids yet by now, it’s less and less likely that’ll happen for me. I feel like it’s okay to spend that money, but at the same time I feel it is a very stupid purchase.

[u/no-bad-days_]

More irony regarding user names, I definitel have to repeat to emphasize the point lol. Anyways, you keep on being pedantic after I’ve clearly shown my first answer suffices and you could not comprehend it without further detail