How in the world can you guys afford to put 10% in your 401k? Must not have kids, lol!
I just don't think about it If I had kids I'd probably want that extra $550 a month, but for now, I just think of it like a tax. Any type of budgeting takes that contribution into account. One thing my dad always drilled into my head was "the biggest regret I have about my adult life is I started to invest ten years too late. I could have retired 4-5 years ago if I started my 401 when I was 21". That's something I remind myself of every time I look at a pay stub. I've already got a nice $20K nest egg while the majority of my friends haven't even started a retirement account yet. C'mon compound interest!
Do the math; with compounding interest, EARLY is always BETTER. Plus, with the match (and compounding interest) it's like free money.
Kaos, not your financial adviser, and certainly I get it (I stopped contributing for a while around and immediately after my divorce) but you have to figure out a way to at least contribute up to the max your employer will match, if you have that benefit. Drink lite beer, tell the kids to put on a parka, eat ramen... something. That and flex spending programs. Free money.