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There are still lots of QOL improvements to be made above, say, $150k. It may depend a lot on if you have kids and where you live. This is especially true when

There are still lots of QOL improvements to be made above, say, $150k. It may depend a lot on if you have kids and where you live. This is especially true when compounded with typical retirement savings and kid expenses. For example: - Housekeepers who come often - Paying someone to manage the yard - Private school and college funds for kids - International vacations for the whole family - Paying for family to visit you if you are working adults

ryandrake 9y ago
Definitely depends heavily on region and your family situation. Using just actual dollar values makes this discussion difficult. A $150k lifestyle in the Bay Area with a spouse and 2 kids is vastly vastly different standard of living than $150k as a single dude in an apartment in a suburb of Atlanta. In the Bay Area for example, you’re not doing ANY of those things you listed making just $150k.
- maccard 9y ago
  I've brought this up multiple times before, but even on 150k in the bay area, you're still living well. After tax, and rent at 4k/month, your remaining pay is greater than the gross income of most mid level software engineers in Europe. If you can't manage to survive on that, you're doing soemthign wrong.
  - ryandrake 9y ago
    Yea, it’s not bad, but you don’t have a nanny, gardener, and private school for the kids on $150k.
criley2 9y ago
The normal explanation is that the happiness derived per dollar decreases with every dollar. The idea being that a couple making $200k jointly per year spending $800/mo on a maid gives them far, far less happiness than a homeless person getting their first warm meal and shower this month.
- darkerside 9y ago
  A working couple with young kids getting a regular maid for the first time can be life changing. It's not the same as your homeless example, but may be easy to underestimate or trivialize.
skybrian 9y ago
Or just don't spend it. You don't have to spend more just because you make more. If you save (invest) the money, you can retire earlier.
mathgladiator 9y ago
I second the housekeeper. I spent $40K on mine last year, and it was the best thing I have ever spent money on. I've done dishes once in the past year, and I generally come home to a made bed. Imagine getting all of that, but then know that you are providing a near livable wage with flexible schedule. She can be a good mom and make money.

ryandrake 9y ago

Definitely depends heavily on region and your family situation. Using just actual dollar values makes this discussion difficult. A $150k lifestyle in the Bay Area with a spouse and 2 kids is vastly vastly different standard of living than $150k as a single dude in an apartment in a suburb of Atlanta. In the Bay Area for example, you’re not doing ANY of those things you listed making just $150k.

maccard 9y ago
I've brought this up multiple times before, but even on 150k in the bay area, you're still living well. After tax, and rent at 4k/month, your remaining pay is greater than the gross income of most mid level software engineers in Europe. If you can't manage to survive on that, you're doing soemthign wrong.
- ryandrake 9y ago
  Yea, it’s not bad, but you don’t have a nanny, gardener, and private school for the kids on $150k.

criley2 9y ago

The normal explanation is that the happiness derived per dollar decreases with every dollar. The idea being that a couple making $200k jointly per year spending $800/mo on a maid gives them far, far less happiness than a homeless person getting their first warm meal and shower this month.

darkerside 9y ago
A working couple with young kids getting a regular maid for the first time can be life changing. It's not the same as your homeless example, but may be easy to underestimate or trivialize.

skybrian 9y ago

Or just don't spend it. You don't have to spend more just because you make more. If you save (invest) the money, you can retire earlier.

mathgladiator 9y ago

I second the housekeeper. I spent $40K on mine last year, and it was the best thing I have ever spent money on. I've done dishes once in the past year, and I generally come home to a made bed. Imagine getting all of that, but then know that you are providing a near livable wage with flexible schedule. She can be a good mom and make money.