When I'm old I'd rather say I'm broke because I lived my life to the fullest than I lived conservatively so I can afford to be a stressless elder with savings
(hopefully I wont be downvoted because I beg to differ)
I spend $1000 per month and live luxuriously in an emerging market. I save up $5000 per month and do more free fun stuff than most people I know. I am self-employed and move to a new country every few months. My daily life is an adventure in itself. Some of the best 'entertainment' you can experience in life does not have to cost a lot.
It's not about living beneath your means, it's about choosing your own path in life, instead of following society's pressure in getting a 9-to-5 and spending all your income on stuff that won't make you happy in the long run.
That's probably where people differ - how they understand what "living life to the fullest" means.
To the OP, it means spending less on what he does not need and working on the things he likes. To others, it's travel, meeting other people.
There's no shame spending your money the way you want. Just don't live beyond your means. Know your (financial) limits.
The OP saved up to live working on things he loved.
I mostly save up to travel and try new things.
Some people save up to buy a shiny new red sports car.
When you are old, you are going to decide if you have lived life to the fullest.