I think you slightly underestimate the degree to which that can change your life. When the average American lives paycheck to paycheck, having tens of thousands

I think you slightly underestimate the degree to which that can change your life. When the average American lives paycheck to paycheck, having tens of thousands of dollars in checking account means that you simply don't have to worry about things like treating your kids and their friends to a movie and popcorn. You can buy things other people would see as a great luxury (e.g. transpacific plane tickets) without batting an eye. You don't need to worry about going to a job you hate because you ultimately don't need it. What money buys you is freedom. If you've got a few million in the bank, provided you don't spend it recklessly, you've got yourself a middle-class lifestyle for the rest of your life. That's freedom from a lot of worries that the average American is perpetually troubled by. Sure, you can blow it and have one hell of a decade, but I respect the average HN'er enough to assume that's not what was meant.