So this is a bit different from most of the sub but I figure I'd throw it out there.

My wife is a bit of a miser--it really pains her to spend money. She grew up in poverty, and even though her income is really good now, all of her instincts and emotions were developed in a different time. I'm also a person who loves ascetic philosophers and generally tries to save money, so we jived on this front and established very frugal habits (cook simple food for myself, wear old clothes, drive efficient little old cars with very low cost of ownership, prefer a smaller apt than I can afford, after we got a house rented a room just for extra cash).

As we got into middle age and realized via infertility that we'd only have one kid, it started to dawn on me that some of my wife's more extreme austerity measures are overkill and we can start to live more comfortably.

She wouldn't listen to anything I would say until I laid out detailed budgets and retirement scenario simulations. Her attitude changed a lot. She redid her own simulations even more carefully and even I was surprised how well off we are. Now she's suddenly spending money, and I think I will too.

Life is good.

Thanks budget.