Save Less for Retirement? How to Weigh an Advisor’s ‘Enjoy Life’ Advice

A 37-year-old was told by her retirement advisor to save less and enjoy life. Learn how to weigh that advice and balance retirement planning with living today.

A 37-year-old woman turned to Reddit’s r/personalfinance after a workplace retirement advisor told her to stop saving so much and start enjoying life more. That headline advice — “save less and live now” — sounds appealing, but should you act on it? Here’s how to evaluate the recommendation and make a retirement planning decision that fits your goals.

First, understand why an advisor might say this. If you’re already aggressively maxing tax-advantaged accounts, have an emergency fund, no high-interest debt, and a comfortable risk tolerance, continuing to over-save can mean missing out on present-day experiences. Some advisors push clients toward better life balance rather than automatic wealth accumulation. But motivations vary: some workplace advisors are salespeople with incentives, not fiduciaries required to act in your best interest.

Second, check the numbers. Use a retirement calculator to test scenarios: what happens if you cut your savings rate from 25% to 15%? Will you still reach your target retirement age and lifestyle? Key keywords to consider in this step are retirement planning, savings rate, and retirement calculator. A common rule-of-thumb is saving 10–20% of income for retirement, adjusted for when you start and your retirement goals.

Third, prioritize essentials before cutting savings. Keep employer match contributions, maintain a 3–6 month emergency fund, and pay down high-interest debt. Keep utilizing tax-advantaged accounts (401(k), IRA, HSA) for efficient long-term growth. If those are covered and you’re still over-saving, it’s reasonable to reallocate funds to experiences, travel, or education — items that improve quality of life now.

Fourth, get a second opinion. Ask for a fiduciary advisor or post anonymized details on trusted communities like r/personalfinance for impartial feedback. Review your asset allocation, sequence-of-returns risk, and projected retirement expenses.

Finally, test a compromise. Reduce your savings modestly and channel some money to a “fun fund.” Re-evaluate annually to ensure you remain on track. The right balance between saving and enjoying life depends on your goals, timeline, and comfort with risk — smart retirement planning lets you do both.

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