My original goal was to do 2 foreign trips + 2 domestic trips a year, and we even did that for 3 or 4 years when I was still working part-time and my wife already retired. Back then, we had frequent mile deals as my wife traveled for business quite a bit. The domestic trips were the chances for us to exchange our timeshare, which was already a sunk cost. We traveled frugally. No fancy hotels or resorts unless my wife got special deals due to work travel again.
Then, we bought the 2nd home then the RV, so cut back on the foreign travel and fly-and-drive trips. Next came a serious health problem, which subsides for now, so I am looking to do more travel soon.
By the way, my sister and her husband have been doing even more than the 2+2 trips like I described above, and some trips were for a month or more. However, they do not have a 2nd home or an RV like I do.
I like to travel more now before I get older.
Dining out - yes not eating out. We eat in but when we go out, DW wants a fine dining experience. No Applebys or Mickey Ds for us...
Our budget has declined by 25% since retiring 12 years ago...
We eat at fast food and chain restaurants perhaps once or twice a year, and it was for convenience when traveling as we do not consider that as eating out. I am not a picky eater, but when eating out I like to go to places that do things differently or better than we can at home. We do not eat out just to eat out, and both of us like to cook.
And by the way, your spending is going down just like Bernicke's study showed. I think mine will too.