How much do humans actually spend?

Most FIRE discussions seem to revolve around how much we should have. There’s a lot of data on the median net worth by age, income brackets, and savings rates. But I rarely see research on a crucial question: how much do humans actually spend in their lifetime?

It would be insightful to have data on median spending over different life stages. Understanding actual spending patterns might help us better define FIRE goals and avoid constantly shifting the goalposts.

For me, the goalpost keeps moving. I came to the US from a country where $100k felt like a fortune. I told myself I’d splurge when I hit that milestone—maybe buy a Porsche or indulge a little. But when I got there, it didn’t feel like enough. So I thought, “$500k will be my real freedom number.”

When I reached $500k, my mind shifted again: “What if I have kids? $1M is the safer target.” And now, at $1M, I feel like everyone has $1M. $1M is the new $100k, and what I actually need is $3M

Am I alone in this, or does the FIRE goalpost keep moving for others too?