4 ms·

that doesn't jive with reality as I see it. for most people, any number is never enough, it would seem

mensetmanusman 6y ago
According to self-reported income satisfaction levels across all classes, almost everyone thinks that if they only made 10% more, then they would be set. This creates the hilarious situation where most millionaires in the US don’t subjectively feel wealthy. Because we are taught that our subjective feelings are the truth, this creates an interesting political situation where we have a built-in assumption that no one will ever be satisfied.
- xyzzy123 6y ago
  Here in Australia, being a millionaire just means you finally paid off your mortgage. :/ If you are supporting a family, you probably still can't stop working. If you've got no dependents and you're willing to go lean you could sell up, head out to the sticks and live off your capital. It would not grant you a lifestyle conventionally described as "wealthy" but you'd be doing OK. Or am I just in the trap?
  - cashewchoo 6y ago
    No, I think this is the same way in much of the US. Millionaires are just skilled labor around age 35-40 (depending on a lot ofc). And you're going to need about 4x that to retire, depending on the kind of lifestyle you want. It's expensive as hell to do the whole "2.5 kids, a house, and 2.5 college tuitions" thing while still having a life of your own. I also realize this comes from a place of privilege (many people can't even really expect to ever retire, much less retire comfortably or lavishly). The middle class has really eroded away to basically not having any lower or middle segment. You're either working poor (whether you self-identify that way or not) or you're upper-middle-class (where you might start to externally seem "rich" but if you lose your job you still have to find another one pretty fast.)
    - metalliqaz 6y ago
      I'm 40 years old with a masters in computer engineering, working in aerospace since grad school. Not even close to a millionaire WTF you talking about?
- 2sk21 6y ago
  But there is an objective way to know when you've reached your number using the concept of "Safe Withdrawal Rate". If your savings (typically in the form of a diversified portfolio) is at about 25 times your typical annual expenditure, you can retire with relative safety (See for example https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Safe_withdrawal_rates https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Safe_withdrawal_rates). Last year, my savings had reached over 60x annual expenditure so I felt more than safe even with allowances for self-insurance for long-term care and higher education for my children. How much more do you need?

According to self-reported income satisfaction levels across all classes, almost everyone thinks that if they only made 10% more, then they would be set. This creates the hilarious situation where most millionaires in the US don’t subjectively feel wealthy. Because we are taught that our subjective feelings are the truth, this creates an interesting political situation where we have a built-in assumption that no one will ever be satisfied.

xyzzy123 6y ago
Here in Australia, being a millionaire just means you finally paid off your mortgage. :/ If you are supporting a family, you probably still can't stop working. If you've got no dependents and you're willing to go lean you could sell up, head out to the sticks and live off your capital. It would not grant you a lifestyle conventionally described as "wealthy" but you'd be doing OK. Or am I just in the trap?
- cashewchoo 6y ago
  No, I think this is the same way in much of the US. Millionaires are just skilled labor around age 35-40 (depending on a lot ofc). And you're going to need about 4x that to retire, depending on the kind of lifestyle you want. It's expensive as hell to do the whole "2.5 kids, a house, and 2.5 college tuitions" thing while still having a life of your own. I also realize this comes from a place of privilege (many people can't even really expect to ever retire, much less retire comfortably or lavishly). The middle class has really eroded away to basically not having any lower or middle segment. You're either working poor (whether you self-identify that way or not) or you're upper-middle-class (where you might start to externally seem "rich" but if you lose your job you still have to find another one pretty fast.)
  - metalliqaz 6y ago
    I'm 40 years old with a masters in computer engineering, working in aerospace since grad school. Not even close to a millionaire WTF you talking about?
2sk21 6y ago
But there is an objective way to know when you've reached your number using the concept of "Safe Withdrawal Rate". If your savings (typically in the form of a diversified portfolio) is at about 25 times your typical annual expenditure, you can retire with relative safety (See for example https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Safe_withdrawal_rates https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Safe_withdrawal_rates). Last year, my savings had reached over 60x annual expenditure so I felt more than safe even with allowances for self-insurance for long-term care and higher education for my children. How much more do you need?