People talk about balance and such and the retirement talks come 20+ years before you'd even think of it.

Let's say you want a sports car. You can balance it out by doing work on it yourself. You can plan on eating in and going to the gym more. Or canceling the expensive cable bill to counteract the new car purchase.

I'm so indifferent on "travel" because you venture out in the world, for a week or a month, then you come home - possibly back to a shitty hell hole. Then what? Your memories won't comfort you while your air conditioning may or may not work this month. Do you get a new couch, or move to a nicer home or apartment? Personally I'd like to come home to a nice backyard with my dog, flowers, be able to wash my fancy car in the driveway, play in the pool with my children and family during 4th of July. Sure I go on vacations for 1-2 weeks, but why need more? Or why blow a ton of money on that temporary moment? I love vacations and travel but there's also reality. And if it were a "pick one" situation, I'd pick a nicer, quality of life, life. At home.

Blowing thousands on airplane ticket, tickets for tours, places to stay, taking pictures - it just seems so temporary.

Materials aren't everything but if you get a car, you can learn to work on it, you can save money by knowing if you're getting ripped off, can meet people at car shows, become more independent by knowing how to fix your own car. Become part of the forums, and be engulfed in the world of your car brand.

I'm also a fan of renting places, in which you can move and actually live in a neat place like Oregon, California, or NYC. You don't have to do maintenance or mow the stupid lawn on the weekends.

Overall - pick 1 thing you want, and splurge on that. Sacrifice the rest that you don't need.