The one change that had the biggest impact on my savings rate wasn't cutting expenses — it was restructuring how I pay for housing.

I moved from a $1,450/month one-bedroom in my city's core to a $980/month apartment 20 minutes further out. The apartment is fine. The neighborhood is quieter. I have a car so the distance isn't an issue. I barely noticed the change to my actual day-to-day experience.

The $470/month difference is $5,640/year. Invested at 7% over 15 years, that's approximately $143,000. The rent decision I made in 30 minutes is worth $143,000 in future wealth.

This is why housing is the most important number in most personal budgets and why it deserves more careful consideration than most people give it. The incremental lifestyle improvement from upgrading your apartment rarely justifies the compounding cost of the higher rent.