Everyone is saying how this is totally fine, which it is, there are people burning through more than 10’000 per month and racking up debt. Who am I to deny them their choices?
But for what is possible in Switzerland, we could also notice that Budgetberatung Schweiz (German) states that around 2500 is realistically doable for a single person. This is in line with my experience.
This is without the more esoteric options of saving money (e.g., sleep in a tent or on the street). For example, I once spent a grand total of 20 CHF on food for 5 days to see how low I could go. I had pizza, spaghetti, bread, cheese, tomatoes, carrots, and apples.
These extreme measures are not required, but you could still spend double on vacation and save even more if you started cutting. Not that you have to, but you certainly could, if you wanted.
Main areas for cutting (in stark contrast that nothing can be done):
- Vacations: Does it need to be 5-stars in Japan 2x a year, wouldn’t hitchhiking in Europe also be an adventure?
- Food: Don’t want to do fancy meal prep? At least buy bread, sausage, and apples in Migros instead of Sushi in the restaurant. Colleagues go to eat in expensive restaurants? You need to lose weight and take something small.
- Home: Why need 2.5 rooms, when 1 would do? Or get roommates to help pay bills. Have them be subtenants, kick them out, if they are annoying. But better chose nice and interesting ones. This could also build strong connections.
- Variable costs: Do you really need this much each month? Don’t skimp on health, but what is this 100 CHF per month for clothes? Pants cost maybe 30-50. New pants every week? Do you really need 100 CHF per month to keep your relationship with other people running?
- SBB: Do you really need a GA?
- Memberships & exercise: Don’t skimp on health, but wouldn’t you be able to get a workout by running or using weights and your body at home? Running can also be a social activity.
Edit: Suggestions ninjad by others.
Put the difference in Total Market ETFs, become lower level rich in your lifetime, or do the RE part of FIRE. Anyway, not needing much will make you free from many things, and free to do other things, just not free to spend most of the money you have for consumption.