Exactly, I started in similar fashion. We lived below our means all the way and still do. It’s just habit now. We don’t scrimp like we used to but we drive luxury cars, our house is very nice but it’s the end result of several tax free sales of prior homes.
One great investment is buying a second home where you want to live in a few or more years. When you sell your principal residence, you don’t pay taxes. Move into the second home, it’s now your principal residence with a basis at its current value and when you sell it, no taxes on that sale either. I’ve done this 3 times. The first one I converted to a rental and kept for 12 years. The second one I sold to a business-related friend. He gave me 50% down and I’m carrying the mortgage. The third one I’m living in as my principal residence. One can make good money just avoiding taxes.
“but we drive luxury cars”
But we *don’t* drive luxury cars.
‘08 Frontier Crew Cab 4WD for dirty work.
‘16 F150 Super Crew XLT 4WD
‘19 Honda Passport AWD for the lovely wife and highway trips.