That applies in very few careers. Many careers are reverse hockey stick and go flat soon. Loosing 5 years means you get to the same spot 5 years later. You loos

That applies in very few careers. Many careers are reverse hockey stick and go flat soon. Loosing 5 years means you get to the same spot 5 years later. You loose only the difference for few years. Don't forget working also adds extra costs for commute, professional clothes, food at workplace etc. And then you got certain joys in raising kid on your own. Which can be translated into monetary scheme too - how much you have to earn extra to compensate for that by buying all sorts of shit (be it things or experiences)?