Geez when you said you had "high spending" in another thread last week I wasn't picturing this James! Well done. Not many people are saving so much of their income, especially living alone...
I've taken less interest in budgeting monthly as I used to. I don't really see the point anymore. Just make sure your core expenses are efficient and low (rent, food, transportation, phone/tv/internet) and make sure that the extras are
worthwhile to you, and you're good to go. Don't fret over spending 4 or 5k in a month when you're budget is 3k, so long as that extra spending has been on something worthwhile (like a surfing trip down south?).
I also used to like MMM's chart with the math about savings rate, but I now think it's kinda silly. I mean I get the point, but when it comes down to it savings rate % is
NOT the most important factor when determining when you'll retire, not at all. The most important things, in order, are: your spending
during retirement, investment returns, and your saving
amount (not rate) while working.
Someone who makes 30k net, saves 20k and spends 10k living frugally is "killing it" according to the MMM chart. But you, who are spending 36k and saving 36k, have a "longer" time to retirement according to the charts because you "only" save 50%. I'd call bullshit on that. When it comes down to it, after 15 years he'll have some amount of money, and you'll have some amount that is twice as much. They'll say "but you spent so much while you were working so you'll spend that much when you're retired too" I'd call bullshit on that as well. It's easy as pie to cut back your spending whenever you want! Sure it might be a bit tougher if you're 40 with a mortgage, wife, and 3 kids... But when retiring/quitting work, I don't see why one cannot revamp their life extensively to accommodate any spending level they require, regardless of past spending.
Overall I think MAKING more money is much more important than saving more money. Don't get caught in the MMM frugality trap where your savings rate is the all-important indicator of success. Budgeting, discount shopping, and reading about frugality all the time are very real drains on your brain. You only have so much mental energy to spend, and if you spend too much on frugality then other, more important things, are GOING to get pushed out. Things like investing, developing ways to improve your career/business, making side income, taking care of your health, etc.
Of course I know know MMM has articles refuting what I've said, and insisting that frugality/savings is more important than income. But my post is getting too long already so I'll just leave it at that for now.