How do you balance between spending on family and loved ones vs investing for your own early retirement?

Time with family is more important than just spending money on them. You can spend alot money on family but once they are gone, you cannot buy them back. Time is so much more valuable. Of course if you can afford to, then no issues spending money and time together.

A simple meal everyday together makes a difference. Special occassions eat restaurants. Home cooked food is always the best.

We spend time to get money, so that in the later years, we get to spend more time (since our earning ability may likely take a hit, or even health may take a hit).

But still, we require to spend time to maintain the relationship. Life is all about balance, and the balance is an agreement between family members. I can't use my yardstick to give you what to do, how much time to spend, and what are the activities that all would want to participate in.

But What i can give is a guideline, that if they think you are not spending enough quality time (and seriously that can be a deal breaker for a lot of family), then perharps its time to reduce the time spent. Having enough is the key (and how much is enough, its to be agreed between the family members).