re: 45 Years of age, at what level would you stop saving for retirement?

At 45, even with a pretty healthy retirement balance, I probably wouldn’t completely stop contributing. I’d at least keep getting the full employer match and continue funding tax-advantaged accounts.

But there absolutely is a point where you can ease off the gas. If you already have enough invested that reasonable growth should get you to your retirement target by 60, then spending some of that extra cash on travel, family, hobbies, etc. makes sense. You don’t get your 40s and 50s back.

The number isn’t really $800K or $1M—it depends on what you expect to spend in retirement, Social Security/pension income, debt, and when you want to quit working.

It's a good problem to have!

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stop saving so aggressively and go enjoy a little more

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What does enjoy a little more mean? This is going to be different for everyone, but I think it’s often used as an excuse to forego disciplined saving.

Personally, I’d rather be able to retire at 50 and “enjoy a little more” while my kid is a still a kid.

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Gotta stop caring about this stuff. IMO, the entire point of being rich/wealthy is the freedom to be indifferent to marginal expenses/costs like this.

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Exactly. Buy whatever you want, go wherever you want, do whatever you want, whenever you want.

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Saw an interesting thread yesterday that suggested if you were under 40 and had $800K or more in retirement you should stop saving so aggressively and go enjoy a little more (assuming you plan to work until 60).

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Even assuming inflation at 2% the 800K will have the buying power of 538,000. Save the same, or more, until you retire. Of course, you need to live the one life you have. You aren't guaranteed the next day.

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just got home from two weeks in Colorado. I have no idea how much we spent and don’t care to know. I just ordered a $200 greenhouse tarp so I can protect my banana plants thru the winter upcoming and hopefully get some $10 apiece bananas next summer

live your life

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Yep. And here's some other similar items:

Tips - never think twice about it or get in the weeds calculating them. Any tab less than $100, leave like $25 - 50. Never leave less than $20 on the pillow for a hotel maid - and find ways to leave $50-100 at times. It actually means something to that person and you won't notice it at all.

Returns - never waste time on this for Amazon-esque items. If it doesn't fit/work/etc. either throw it away, give it to someone else or put it in your donate pile.

Don't care about the cost of plane tickets or spend much/any time at all price shopping. Fly on the airline you want, when you want and make sure you are comfortable (even if that means paying for business).

When you rent a car, rent something nice that you know will be fun to drive and plenty big enough for your needs.

Don't cheap out on hotels or do crazy check in times to save a dime. Stay at a place you want, that is nice for how you want it and is convenient to what you want to do.

If you have people in your family/friends/network that you would love to join you in travel/events but you know doesn't have the same means you do, don't be shy about just paying for their flights/lodging. I find the best way is saying "I have a jillion airline miles to burn, so it's not costing me anything" - and then either using those (if it's true) or just pay cash. They don't have to know, but it is worth the effort to be sensitive to their pride and not make them feel like leeches.

For weddings/birthdays/graduations/etc, be very generous. Obviously, keep it appropriate for the relationship, but IMO, you should never give less than $1000 for a wedding and $500 for a graduation. I have taken to given amounts based on birthday # (e.g. $2100 for the 21st). It absolutely makes an impact on the receiver and you won't notice at all.

For concerts - only do VIP and, if driving, pay for the advantaged parking and don't care about the price of any of this. You stood in long lines and pinched pennies when you were young. It's time to just cut to the front of the line and forget about it.

Private air travel - I have been ridiculed for this, but I stand by it: if you are, say 60+ and have a net worth of at least $15M (I could argue for lower, but let's go with this), then earmark at least $1M of that over the rest of your life to spend on private flying. If you called it $30K/trip (and that's probably WAY too high), then you could do more than 30 trips over the years to see family/friends/grandkids/whatever. All the better if you can have a group of 8-10 join you. Just know the math will never work on paper and make peace with it, but the personal utility spread around your friends and family is priceless.

I can probably think of more, but the point is simple: if you have a big denominator, know what it is and treat individual "numerator" expenses in context. If you are rich and worried about $100 spends, that is the same as being middle class and worrying about $1 spends. Stop caring and start living your life. The utility is IN THE NOT CARING. THAT IS FREEDOM. To quote Don Draper: THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY IS FOR!!!

Just save X% that makes you happy and move on with life. We over think retirement way too much. I agree live life when you are younger. Live life when you are older with a job also. Find some financial independence and work life balance as soon as possible and enjoy life.

Too many people caught up in stopping working. Why? Why stop making money? I love making it. It’s fun. It doesn’t have to be a burden on life like people make it.

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Why stop making money? I love making it. It’s fun

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I have fun at work too, but a whole lot more fun when I’m off.

It’s not for everyone. If you don’t have enough hobbies to keep you busy without a job, you might be better off saving less and spending more money now. Personally, I’d like to retire at 50… and if I had saved like I do now 10 years earlier, I would probably be retiring by 45.

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Private air travel - I have been ridiculed for this, but I stand by it: if you are, say 60+ and have a net worth of at least $15M (I could argue for lower, but let's go with this), then earmark at least $1M of that over the rest of your life to spend on private flying. If you called it $30K/trip (and that's probably WAY too high), then you could do more than 30 trips over the years to see family/friends/grandkids/whatever. All the better if you can have a group of 8-10 join you. Just know the math will never work on paper and make peace with it, but the personal utility spread around your friends and family is priceless.

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I flew private for the first time this summer, and the value in it was indescribable. I don't think we will ever do a family vacation flying commercial ever again.

All of the other points you made are pretty spot on. The wealthier a person is, the more valuable their time, peace, and conveniences are.

Eh I just hit 36 and have 1.3M in mortgage debt so I will stop once that’s paid off

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1.3M in mortgage debt

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Imagine all the experiences one could have in life with that money.