He saved 70% of his income to retire at 34—why he's no longer 'hyper-frugal': I 'got into deprivation' and wasn't happy

Brandon Ganch, known online as the MadFientist, retired in 2016 at just 34 by saving aggressively and keeping his spending lean.

While he doesn't regret the wealth built by his "hyper-focus" on saving 70% of his income, "I could have taken my foot off the gas knowing what I know now," he told host Paula Pant on a recent episode of the "Afford Anything" podcast.

In the lead-up to early retirement, the software developer and his wife lived frugally "in the woods of Vermont" while they pursued financial independence. But during that time, "I got into deprivation and neither my wife nor I were happy," Ganch said.

Now with two young children, his spending habits have shifted. Instead of being "hyper-frugal," he prioritizes spending on things that improve his family's quality of life, like buying a home in Scotland, where they now live — a decision he described as "a pure luxury," compared with his earlier frugality.

"I'm enjoying homeownership for the first time in my life," Ganch told Pant. "I don't let it stress me out. I know that there's going to be expenses," so he doesn't worry as much about "saving every penny."

Ganch's mindset shift came from reading "Die with Zero" by Bill Perkins, a book that emphasizes balancing financial independence with enjoying life's experiences in the present, not just saving for the future.

Looking back, Ganch wishes he had embraced certain moments in his 20s, like bachelor parties he skipped to avoid pricey airfare.

"I wouldn't want to go and have a drunk weekend right now in my 40s with my friends, but I'm sad that I missed that in my 20s, because it would have been a lot of fun — and we'd have great stories to tell," he said.

He still appreciates the freedom of retiring early and aims to keep