I know most disagree, but I've always thought that consultants (and many other city workers) who complain about work-life balance are a bit like pilots complaining about jetlag.For me, the work-life balance comes from working stupid hours and saving lots of money during these years of my life, in order to retire early or contract and take several months off every year later in life... the work-life balance will be measured over my lifetime, rather than per week at the moment, and I don't expect to work more hours in my lifetime than somebody working 9-5 until age 65

No offence, but how old are you if you don't mind me asking?Consulting does not pay well. For the amount of stress and travel you incur, the pressure to perform at 100% on every single interaction, the job insecurity and numerous other considerations, the pay is not good. If you're in consulting, it's because you like solving problems. If you like making money, you're better off elsewhere.Also, it's your choice - but do you really want to look back on your 20's when you're 50 years old, wishing you had spent more time with your friends and family on balmy summer evenings rather than sweating beads for a millionaire with hair growing out of his nose and ears so that you can 'delight' some unthankful client (who probably DOES get to spend the balmy summer evenings with his friends and family, and who in all likelihood you will never see again in your entire life after you've delivered your final report) on his behalf? Just a thought.

32 - and currently saving half of income, as always have...

Sounds like you have a fun life.I would be wary of too much deferred gratification. It's not healthy. You can't get those years back, you can't tell what will happen in the future and you won't have the same interests, opprtunities or capacity for enjoying yourself. It sounds like a bit of a high-risk strategy to me and the big risk is that "it" never happens.Carpe diem, I say

OP if you want to start making observations about work/life balance it might help to have a life in the first place..

ok, but you aren't actually disagreeing, you must realise - I'm saying that I will have that 'life', if you read my post, and more fun, during latter 2/3 of lifetime... what you are saying is that many people have a high income but do not trade it off against more leisure time in future because they spend it all. Well... I know they do that. Everybody knows they do that. If things go badly I will be able to retire in comfort at age 42, if they go well I will be able to retire in comfort at age 37... (feel free to doubt this, but I have had my calculations worked out for a long time and they are solid) I do actually have a nice life, although you may doubt it. Because I have tried to learn about building wealth, I am debt free, own a small house without mortgage already, a car, 3 holidays per year and hobbies... and I actually enjoy time with friends, who I don't pay to spend time with me. if you say this is not a life, you're entitled to that point of view. You prioritise the extra things you buy with the spare money I have learned to invest (and I am good at it: I have actually made money in 2008, unlike most people...) and I prioritise freedom from debt and from needing a job ten years from now... You might be right and I might look back with regret when I am 50 and have been retired for several years. I hope I can cope as I look across at other people working until 65+, filled with fun memories no doubt.Carpe diem is great. there is usually a trade off where you have to mortgage your future against the present, though. Using present as downpayment on future is much cheaper way around, if you understand how compounding works.

By the sounds of it you're probably teetotal, play Risk on a Friday night (great game but there is a time and place for it) and restrict holidays to exotic places such as Skegness. I think I'll take my life over that any day, ta.

actually not teetotal, have never played Risk, last holiday was driving from Sydney to Melbourne...it's fine that you either don't see what I mean or imagine me in a way which makes your decisions seem like the best option - the majority will nod along with you, as they wonder about their mortgage rate and job security and pay rise this year - but Skegness will be the only option available in the futures of most people, believe me - it's ensuring that 5* travel is set up for life which is difficult against the noise of highly paid people trying to become poor people

I really fail to see the point of any of your posts to be honest.As a general rule of thumb, consulting pays well, but not outstandingly well enough that most people are in a position to save half of what they earn every month, unless they are incredibly disciplined and life the life of a mormon. All I hear is a person trying to justify the life they have lived to date, by switching the focus of this thread from work-life balance to 'look at me, I'm amazing.' Gold star for you my friend. And this is why I tend to avoid socialising with people like you. Good day.

Recent events in my life illustrate the points made by 1 or 2 people above.Tragedy can befall each of us or our loved ones at any time and no amount of savings or anticipation of the high life will make up for it.

Congratulations on forming a life plan, but crowing about it on the internet seems a bit of a waste of time. For all we know, a period of serious inflation could be round the corner, and it doesn't take long for savings and investments to get wiped out when that happens. And then all those years of feeling smug will seem like rather a waste. Surely it's better to have a balance in life.I'm reminded of the rich man in Luke 12:18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I'll store all my grain and goods in them. Then I'll say to myself, "You've stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you've accumulated?'"

I suspect the OP isn't married and/or with kids. Cos either of those will nicely dampen plans to retire at 37.Enjoy your 20's while you can.