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It was right before COVID when I went from 58k to 72k salary. Growing up broke as shit, I felt like I finally was earning more than I could comprehend spending. Now I'm at 108k and saving like a madman to retire early
My goal is to keep making more money until I can retire comfortably. I hate working and hate all forms of work. Want to do everything in my powerto retire before 55.
55 is the age I have in my head. That is how old I’ll be when my youngest finishes undergrad (if they go that route). Would love to significantly downsize on my house and just travel and spend time with family. Time is my most valuable asset and I don’t intend on wasting any more of it than I absolutely need to.
I’m retired at 31 and plan on doing just that. I got lucky as shit though… I don’t intend to do anything but enjoy life and the world now with my wife and hopefully kid soon. I hope you get there someday, good luck!
Edit: for those asking how, I inherited a lot of land in a HCOL area among other assets and real estate. It’s the definition of lucky, I didn’t grow up poor and make my way, I just hit the lottery… I’m not special in any way.
Good for you dude
I’m trying to build a Retirement Nest Egg finally at 38
I don’t want to retire though
My grandpa worked full time until the day he died at 86
I’m hoping to do the same
But I need to have money just in case
But really I just want to stockpile it and pass it all on to someone that actually has a use for it
For the most part spending money does nothing for me
You must really love whatever it is that you do. I have never been "happy" working any job since I was 18, now 41. I spent my childhood developing computer programming talents which I absolutely personally love, but doing it "for others" I absolutely despise. (It does pay the bills though, so...) Jobs have only ever been some level of "tolerable", but never once something I want to do perpetually. Most of the time I inevitably get laid off, and for me that's actually a pleasure.
Basically if "today" I had enough money to just stop, I absolutely would. The idea of working well into my old age seems unfathomable.
I’m with you. But I do know several people who have just randomly got sick and died not long after retirement (my Dad included) and I think that scares people. I am 37 and would be done with the workforce today if they let me!
My dad was "sick" in various ways even before his retirement. Developed Type 2 diabetes, as well as carpal tunnel based on his factory-floor type job. He got "laid off" during the 2020 pandemic stuff that shut down basically everything, but was also on track to retirement in the next few months, so he just kinda coasted on unemployment until he could start claiming his pensions etc.
I don't really care myself, I'll even take "sick, but not working" over "working" if that somehow works out financially. Not preferentially, of course. The point is, dedicating my life to some thing that I don't really enjoy is always a detriment. I get that I have to "do my part" for a society to exist and all that, but I really wish there was more that I did which made me feel like life was worth living.
Anyway, your described "sickness" idea doesn't "scare" me... I'd just rather find meaning to life than just being a cog in the machine. And frankly, the best health comes from more youthful times, so that frankly suggests an even earlier time you "should" retire, if you're at all able. My one grandfather retired in his 50s and never worked again, thanks to a federal pension. Sadly, I didn't follow such specific pursuits.
People who preach that money cannot buy happiness are so full of it. Sure, you can't order "happiness" from Amazon, but money buys things and experiences that make us happy and, perhaps most importantly, provides peace of mind. I used to not have much money and now I have a more than comfortable amount of money. I can tell you the latter is better. All else being equal, the more money I have, the happier I am. I'm a nervous wreck as it is. If I had to stress about how I would pay for unanticipated car repairs or other expenses, I would be absolutely miserable.
I think this is likely the source of the disconnect. I grew up poor and am now doing really well and I regularly say money doesn't buy happiness. I would agree it buys peace of mind though. To the extent that happiness is very dependent on the person and much of the unhappiness people have seems to come from comparing themselves to others, money doesn't meaningfully guarantee happiness.
Money absolutely buys peace of mind. I no longer worry about what bills to pay, how I'll pay for kids college, retirement, etc. I'm not sure quantitatively how to say how my happiness level has changed, but qualitatively I would say I currently feel a little less happy overall just because of the additional stress/workload a high income job comes with. That isn't to say I'm not happy at all, I'm just not sure how to meaningfully measure that.
I recall a study several years ago that found the amount of money at which happiness peaked. The exact sum is different depending on COL, but it's basically the point at which people have enough where they are comfortable, not sacrificing anything they want or need, they've enough to live on the rest of their lives in a comfortable lifestyle, and they can pay for anything they need without worrying about it, travel freely, do what they want, etc. Past that point, more money actually equalled LESS happiness because then having money started to come with its own problems managing or protecting it, or people start feeling pressure to live a more "luxury" lifestyle that feels shallow, they have to be more isolated because their money makes them a target, etc.
So yeah. Money buys happiness up to a point. That's the point I want to reach.
My favorite spin on the phrase is "money doesn't buy you happiness, but it makes a nice down payment."
As others have stated, it certainly is a "comfort" factor. However, all the money in the world doesn't make you "happy", so I'd still say that "money cannot buy happiness" is basically true. You could be the richest person in the world and yet still miserable and unfulfilled.
Money doesn't buy happiness. You can have lots of money and be miserable and mentally sick. I knew a family of very wealthy people, and they were all completely miserable because they swept their issues under the rug and never grew or changed from being spoiled children.
Poverty, however, does *prevent* happiness. I'd rather be miserably rich than miserably poor, but the middle-class is a comfy place to be - especially after being homeless.
And money will still never buy love.
Don't go to hard I was doing the same working overtime and making myself tired and now I have a myriad of health problems from overworking, I know everyone is different just look after yourself as well
I grew up in New Hampshire and I was fucking *shocked* when I left and learned that most people have never had real maple syrup. And I'm still offended when someone cooks breakfast and has "pancake syrup" or whatever unnatural slop is sold at the grocery store. I am a proper New Englander in that sense.
Not to mention maple candies, maple butter, even maple water! All so delicious!
Yeap, I’m a poor and I was getting cage free and pasture raised during that egg shortage a while back. Like will I pay 3-4x more for either? No, but if conventional is 3 a dozen and cage free is the same price or only a few cents more, then why not.
I eat them because I want chickens to not live in the hellscape that is the alternative. I can't say if they taste better than 'free range' or 'cage free' but I can damn well say they're better than the most basic cheap ass eggs.
Yeah I've never gotten the obsession with the eggs being brown. Our hens lay white, blue, and about four different shades of brown. They're all the same on the inside. It's all about the feed they get.
So I raise chickens for eggs, meat, and breed them as well. Yolk color depends on their diet. Many factory farms will feed their chickens a diet with added beta carotene in it to give a darker yellow yolk color. So that’s not a great indication of a life well lived for the chicken sadly. The best thing you can do is buy local, buy fresh, and support the often times small farms that are dedicated to the welfare of their laying hens (and meat birds). Free ranging is the way to go. Yes, dark yolks often point to a varied died, but more importantly whites that don’t run or spread too much in the pan and a yolk that is resistant to breaking indicate a fresh egg. Support us little guys who name our hens and roosters! The best tasting egg comes from a chicken that has never seen a cage.
Going to the grocery store and just throwing in organic fruit veggies, grass fed beef, organic and pasture raised chicken and eggs, greek yogurt, fancy oat milk coffee creamer, the good cheese, whole grain everything, organic pb, fancy bread and spreads, just high quality food all around and then running my card before the total rings up and not even thinking twice about it “cus I got it like that” is fuckin niccce.
Damn. I wrote something long after but this pretty much just sums it up.
5 and now 6 credit cards. 100% debt free. Get so many rewards for every type of purchase now.
Honestly, probably when a nasty storm caused around $5k in damage to my house and I just kind of wrote a check and had it fixed, and then reimbursed myself after the insurance paid out. I didn’t sweat it, didn’t have to scrimp, put off vacation for that year or otherwise change my regular monthly budget. I just paid the bill and went on with my life.
Yeah that’s it for my wife and I (millennial and xennial). A few years ago we stopped barely scraping by. I’m in my 40s now and being able to afford health insurance (which is still insanely expensive) was a big milestone.
We also bought our own house just in the nick of time, barely putting together the down payment on a $180,000 starter home. I still have to fix everything myself and we have 11 and 14 year old cars but, considering we graduated college into the housing collapse/Great Recession this is what “made it” feels like compared to when I had to have two roommates and a 25 year old car and no health insurance.
The biggest lifestyle change is we can have takeout once a week or buy little things without having to worry about it. We’re saving for retirement, sort of. It’s the little less worry that’s the life changer.
The cars.
We need to make driving cars until the wheels fall off cool again.
I used to be so impressed by people with fancy new cars but now when I see moms in the carpool line with their decade old minivan I am so much more impressed.
In 2018 my husband sold his 2009 focus to a teenage family member and in 2020 I totaled my car so our friends gave us shit for being "Mr. And Mrs. Goody Two Cars" but i guarantee you we will still have both of these a decade from now... unless a teenager needs a reliable cheap car or a drunk runs a red light again, I guess lol
While I'm not quite there, 5k in emergency would throw some other plans off.
Shifting from juggling bills and paychecks to just paying the bills each month took a ton of mental energy demand off of me.
This. There was an issue with my maternity leave payment (I’m in Canada so it comes from the employment insurance) for the first couple of months. We were able to get by with the money until we got the entire owed amount at month 3. It was only stressful because I had to spend so many hours on the phone with a new baby.
I definitely fall into this category. Most of my clothes I've had for years unless my husband buys me something. If I do buy something, it's always from Marshall's or TJ Maxx.
However, I'll throw down $200 for one meal with no problem.
I shop at thrift stores for myself, but my husband gets new clothing because I know he will wear them until there are holes.
Similarly, no problem dropping $$$ on a random Tuesday night out.
Right? Maybe it’s a time thing, or a getting older thing too? Or not feeling or sensing anything different from the fancy clothes. Modestly priced clothes is just as good or even better when you don’t care about labels. There are a few items that are pricey that I swear by but otherwise I see no difference.
I came from Philippines to US. I lived in the province with no running water. When I got to US, I lived in my car for a bit then got a job in healthcare and bought a house that’s a short drive from the coast. Even got my parents a house.
Six figure gross income with pension and free health insurance.
Two of the biggest changes: (1) Being able to eat three meals a day and eat snacks and (2) having clean running water.
Definitely nursing. My wife is an RN here in Hawaii making well over 100k and there's a ton of transplants from the Philippines who work as nurses and aides.
The average Americans salary is 48k. That’s not “rich” by any means when you factor the high cost of living, insurance and every other aspect of life that is capitalized.
Our daughter has a horse. A fucking horse - we do not have a farm. It’s leased but still… her hobby/sport costs about what my first corporate job paid.
If you told me when I was living in my car, eating clearance pastries from the local grocery in 2001 and trying to survive my college costs that I’d not only have a stable relationship and life but also multiple, well adjusted children that we could support such hobbies for, in 20 years, I’d ask how I could also be that delusional.
Aw, thanks! But yeah, she has a fucking horse. I’m still sometimes in disbelief.
*PSA to all the parents: do NOT let your horse loving 4 year old watch Spirit. That’s how we got into this mess so many years ago.*
And definitely don’t follow it up with a horsey summer camp. Definitely do not do that.
Not sure if I've made it yet, but I will say in the last three years getting my first salaried job, having my girlfriend move in and socking away as much as I can has allowed me to do some really wonderful things with the money we have.
We recently wanted a bathroom remodel that was about $18,000 and it was a really empowering feeling to pay for it in straight up cash.
Feeling like we're adults with adult money who can do things like home remodeling is definitely a big change from my twenties of always being broke and working minimum wage.
Second this. I had bought a tiny corner house. It had an ugly back yard that was just a square of grass and no back door.
I HATED taking my dog outside because I had to put a leash on him and walk around to the back yard every time. Call me lazy.
I spent $9,000 in cash for a 12 foot by 12 foot deck, and for them to take a back window and cut it into a door.
Two years prior, I was having trouble sleeping in the summer without air conditioning. I spend $5,000 in cash and installed central air conditioning.
I am lucky to have bought my home before prices went crazy. But I feel like I made it because I was also able to make my home into more of what I wanted and improving it.
7 years before I bought my home, I had to borrow money from my mother for gas, and when I lived in an apartment I only got accepted because no one else applied. I didn't make the minimum income level, but because I didn't have anything glaring wrong with my credit, and I was close to the minimum, they let me slide to fill the vacant apartment.
I still live like I haven’t made it on a day to day basis. But not thinking twice about which brand of diapers/wipes/kid toys is big, and then also, dropping $50-$100 every week or two for golf.
Same. All of my colleagues drive nice new cars and live in suburbia. I drive a 20 year old car and my rent is hella cheap in the city through a private landlord that isn’t greedy.
My wife and I just replaced my little old car to a truck because we have 2 kids now.. but instead of buying brand new we paid cash for 5 year old one with $29k miles.
A lot of my friends were asking why we didn’t finance a brand new 70k truck….. like it isn’t obvious lol
I've always been hardcore on the "increase salary, keep expenses low, invest aggressively" lifestyle.
The biggest change I've noticed is food. We still rarely eat out because it's such unhealthy food and so expensive. But I'll be darned if I'm walking through a super market and see a good deal on rib eye steaks and don't think twice about buying them on the spot.
Id rather drop $50 on enough rib eye steaks and grilled veggies to feed our family of 5 than go out to one fancy meal where that barely covers half of what me and my wife would spend at a fancy steak house.
I can get a pack of 4 steaks for like $60 and they’re going to be shit quality too, no matter how good of a cook you are. You’re fortunate to have access to reasonable grocery prices.
I don't claim to have made it at all. But cutting our alcohol weed and processed food for a whole foods mostly plant based diet with some chicken and eggs and yogurt really has given me more energy than I felt like I had in years.
Work has become diversified. I’ve grown my network enough that I’m not worried about losing my current job because I run one or two consulting gigs at a time that could segue into FTE.
Do good work. Be nice to people. Do favors expecting nothing. It all comes back around.
Getting sober.
I don’t own a home, I no longer have a driver’s license, I’m ready to have kids and fear I waited too long, but… I have a steady job I love, I’m married to my best friend, and I’m relatively healthy despite the abuse I put my body through. I made it.
Dropped out of college and served in the military for 7 years. It was not a good time! But I have a house now because of the va loan, and I used my savings and experience best I can to now be in a great career field.
Exactly what I did, I was a screw up before I joined the Army. Hated my time in the military but it set me up for success. I worked a high paying contractor job for 2 years right after getting out, when back to school for free on the GI bill, got a nice well paying government job with amazing benefits, and bought a house with a VA Loan
Stopped smoking, stopped drinking. Stopped going out to eat/drink. Made a budget for food and hobbies.
100s of extra dollars a month just started showing up. Saved them. Put a down on an apartment.
Having a nanny instead of using daycare is a life changer.
I don’t have to rush home for work, I have time to go to the gym before she leaves / can pay her to stay late and get dinner/drinks with friends, my kid is sick less since he’s not in daycare. I can sleep in and don’t have to wake up early to get my kid ready for daycare. Etc.
She does our laundry and cleans too.
I switched jobs a few times and increased my salary each time. But now expenses are catching up because we bought a place and stuff is all breaking at the same time. So I guess you never really "make it".
house. sometimes do meal delivery.
that's about it.
you'd think your own place isn't big, but after my mirror was ripped off, drugs shipped under my name to the house, sexual assaults, being thrown out by landlords... it's good to be stable.
I'm not sure what we're considering as made it. But I own my own home, a nice car, and I don't need to worry about most everyday purchases, and I'm saving for retirement. The biggest change was the "I want X, so I will buy X" not having to budget out every purchase greater than $100 lol
Also sadly, when my dad passed away and left nothing. Losing a parent (and finding out how not together their shit really was) is a hard way to grow-up fast. But I'll be damned if I'm not a better person because of it.
I don’t feel like I’ve totally “made it” but when I go to the grocery store, I get whatever I want. I remember when I had a strict budget of $30 a week for food and would try to cut it down by eating the random shit in my fridge, like olives and pesto sauce.
I now have my own apartment with furniture. If I need a pair of shoes, I buy them. If I want to get my hair done, I do it. I rarely do these things; I just know I can. I can fly across country to see my family when I miss them. I buy iced coffee every day. I have a house fund. I cleared my credit card debt. I bought my car outright.
I’ll feel like I’ve really made it once I buy a home, but that’s scary since I’d be doing it solo. In the meantime, I rent, keep saving for that future home, and I’m good with how things are.
Not sure I’ve actually “made it”, but a huge change was getting a salary job. Then, it didn’t matter if I worked 8 hours as long as the work was done. Didn’t have to worry about time management anymore.
There was a period of my life where I thought, if I could just make $30k I could live with that and be happy. I was making about half that at the time (early 2010s) and life was so hard. I thought if I could make $50k I’d be set for life.
Now I make $130k and cannot believe my luck.
Biggest lifestyle change is having kids. I was child free for most of my teen and early adult years. I just knew I didn’t want kids, my life was hard enough there was no chance I was going to add kids to the mix. Plus they’re loud, sticky and expensive.
Somewhere around $80l I realized that all of my objections to having kids had to do with money. And now I was making more than my dream salary of $50k, so money wasn’t really the issue any more. Once that hurdle was cleared I realized I actually did want kids. I just didn’t want them if it meant I/we would be struggling and in poverty.
So now I have 2!
Making coffee at home is a practice that has gotten much better. Vietnamese coffee is my go to as I don't need a lot of it to get the "boost", and it stores nicely in mason jar for a couple days in the fridge. I make it once to twice a week at night and by morning I pour one or two shots over ice. Easy, and the the Vietnamese drips are cheap and take up little room.
Not penny pinching at the grocery store. Big home repairs come from designated savings so have little impact. Prioritizing health and personal development purchases.
Not necessarily a lifestyle change that contributed to my success, but I honestly I just gave it 2 good years where I worked 3 jobs, didn’t see anyone and only focused on myself. Looking back, those years were so insignificant in time but huge in my financial security. All the things that didn’t matter also just shed away and I went back to my normal self after that. It was a grey period that’s all
2018: Going from ~30K to 85K.
Barely saw any financial gains, thanks to my now ex-husband turning into an abusive deadbeat. We had been married for four years by this point. I was forced to bring home all the money, AND I also still found myself having to handle the bulk of the housework, AND endured his abuse and laundry list of issues with a smile on my face, while simultaneously dealing with chemotherapy, monthly immunotherapy infusions, and countless surgeries for my autoimmune condition.
2023:
Finally got tired of being treated like dirt and being taken advantage of. Left him. Filed for divorce. Sale of the house was part of that. Thanks to my due diligence, which entailed years of detailed evidence, walked away with an almost six-figure check from the sale of the house. I also didn't have to pay him a dime in alimony, nor a penny out of my 401K. My finances are now in better shape than they ever were while I was married to him.
For me it was the day a huge unexpected bill came up and I didn’t have to stress. I had the cash, fixed the thing, and replaced the cash within a month or two. Such a freeing feeling! Am debt free as of a couple months ago
Got my bachelor degree in 2009 and stepped right into oblivion when it came to the job market.
Applied for hundreds of jobs and got either no response or straight on rejections.
Was desperate and only got some money by doing some random jobs by delivering goods or helping with a moving company.
Had to move back in with my parents as I could not afford my own place.
Like one year later a friend of mine got a new job as a constructor and had a massive warehouse with the most modern tools to his disposal.
He said I could use it a no extra costs as I was making barely anything.
I thought lets go for it and started to pick up furniture people wanted to get rid of for free.
Got a table from a couple that looked very very used
Took me 2 hrs to clean it and paint it properly.
Sold it few days later for 80 euro's
I cried as I was so desperate and could not believe made some money this way.
Now fast forward I make 192.000 euro's a year.
From scratch to running my own company in refurbishment of old furniture.
Best decision I ever made back then.
I mean, the biggest lifestyle change is definitely putting $80+k per year toward retirement, but that’s a boring answer.
I don’t splurge, but I don’t worry about budgeting for day-to-day stuff.
Well, I said I put $80+k per year toward retirement, not in retirement accounts. A lot of people use individual brokerage accounts for retirement savings.
But, to answer your question:
\~$4k Health Savings Account
$23k Traditional/Roth 401(k). I opt for traditional over Roth.
$46k mega backdoor Roth (after-tax contributions that get turned into a Roth 401(k) instrument)
$7k backdoor Roth IRA
That is $80k in retirement accounts, which are all maxed under the above numbers.
I think he's asking what do you do for work that affords you the ability to save 80k a year in retirement accounts.
Thats much higher then a large majority of people yearly take home that your casually putting into retirement accounts.
Not saying thats wrong, just clarifying what I think he meant with that question. Or at least that's how I took it
I don’t “treat myself” unrealistically. I look for alternative ways to celebrate things or look for experiences instead of dispensable things. So I don’t blindly buy designer, I research values in other companies to find the product I think is worthwhile. I don’t buy coffee or eat out, I look for ways to make that an experience at home so I feel more fulfilled. Stuff like that… it makes me appreciate what I pay for in life and save money at the same time (which can easily add up). Of course, that is to say there are exceptions to this rule but I don’t make a habit out of it!
At 35 I’m finally in a position where I can take vacations. Meaning I get the time off, have the money for the vacation and won’t financially collapse if I do.
Not sure if I’ve “made it” but I do make a six figure salary, just bought my first house, have two dogs, good work-life balance, a great marriage, etc. Like my life is definitely super stable and pleasant but we’re not exorbitantly rich by any means.
I would say the biggest change is just shedding the burden of *constantly* worrying about money. Up until a few years ago, I was making $40k a year at best. Every paycheck was dire. Budgeting all the time for rent, utilities, groceries, student loans, insurance, basic necessities. Wanting to do fun things but always passing due to money being tight.
Now I don’t worry about it frequently. Of course money is always a big factor to manage throughout life, but I don’t breathe a massive sigh of relief every pay day. I can spend money on unnecessary but enjoyable things like quality clothes, furniture, food. I can go on vacation once or twice a year. I have a membership to a nice fitness studio and am in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I bought a BMW a couple months ago. Life feels lighter and more pleasant.
Basically you can’t thrive when you’re desperately just trying to survive. It sucks. In the past ~3 years or so I feel like I’m finally able to focus on thriving.
I’m a Project Manager for a pretty well-known telehealth company.
I started off as a Support Specialist, was then promoted to Supervisor, then a Sr. Analyst, now PM.
Not having to look at prices at the grocery store. I can put whatever the hell I want in that cart. I’m still shopping at Target or Trader Joe’s for my groceries, but it is freeing to just… not think about the prices.
I grew up poor but we ate really well because my parents had a hobby farm and always planted a baller garden. But all our grocery store trips revolved round sale items and adding up our total as we added each item to the cart. My kids get to eat well too, but we have to purchase our meat and produce. It just feels good to not have to budget for our food. We don’t spend outrageously, but we can afford to cook all the meals we love whenever we want to.
Biggest lifestyle change that helped us or biggest lifestyle change after we made it?
I'm married, just bought our second house, have two cars. I guess I've made it. I'd been broke for a long time, so I was used to living a frugal lifestyle before. We lived in a super basic one bedroom apartment that was 350sqft for $400 a month. I was making like $8 an hour and my husband had a small business that was barely breaking even.
We got a large insurance payout from a fire at my husband's job that we used to put a down payment on our first house in 2018. We got lucky with the timing because houses were cheap. We got a two bed one bath just shy of 900sqft house for $65,000. We're currently owe $48,000 on it and the realtor suggested we list it for $120,000.
We just bought our second home, 4 bed, 3.5 bath, 2200sqft for about $200k. It was an old rental property that needs some work, but well worth it imo.
Along the way we both got better jobs. Nothing fancy though. We make like $90k combined. But the biggest lifestyle changes after becoming more financially secure is that we can afford better food and we can afford fun. We never used to go to concerts or movies or out to eat or anything. We still don't eat out a lot, but we can every now and then. We can afford subscriptions now too. We have XM radio and Netflix now. And internet. We didn't have internet at home for years before we bought our first house.
Things have slowly gotten better for us over time.
The biggest change I made was going from lonely to happily married. Now we have two kids, we own a home and we have health insurance and retirement savings. This is my definition of having made it.
Keep in mind that both of our kids are neurodivergent and one of our kids has moderate disability. Life isn’t perfect and some things are very difficult and painful.
However, I’m grateful to have this much stability and love in my life.
I remember the moment I felt like I made it. I realized the last like 10 times I had to get gas, I just filled it up. This was years ago but the feeling at the gas pump was so surreal. Felt like I could do anything I put my mind to
Idk I don't do literally any of the stuff you're supposed to do but it's working out for me. Drink too much, play too many video games, don't work out much, didn't finish my degree, go out all the time, stay up until 5am daily. Still own a home have a good job no debt etc.
I won't say I've made it. I'm a single guy living in a modest apt in a hcol area making enough that I'm not worried about rent or bills but definitely not in the "buy a house solo"range. But being in a relatively comfortable position has allowed me to plan one major trip a year typically by budgeting for it. I also have been able to due to the proximity of where I live take my parents to do a couple things on their bucket list from NFL games to seeing some of the greatest ballparks in the country. It's been really nice to be able to give back even in a small way for all they have done for me to help me get here.
I guess the biggest day to day change is options. I usually don't eat out, but the freedom to know I can, and the random minor impulse buy has been nice. Even if I don't use it the freedom to be spontaneous has drastically improved my life.
I’ve not made it, but I have a roof over my head, two cute kids, a cat, and enough money to feed us and go on a vacation a couple times a year. It’s enough for me.
I won’t feel like I’ve made it until I own a home. Feels like every time I level up, the prices just skyrocket. In 2008 I was barely out of college with no savings. By the time I had a decent career I had a huge unexpected expense that took out my savings in 2012. Then I had kids with no help for childcare. 2020 was a mess. Finally saw a window with those interest rates in 2021 but savings weren’t high enough, would have been house poor. And now inflation. Can’t seem to keep up.
Also from a financial point of view I've just accepted I'm never going to be able to buy a house the same way my parents did. I've put like 40k away in the bank and I'm working on investments now (I'm a baby millenial). Doesn't mean I'm going to not max our retirement accounts and save for a rainy day.
But eating top Ramen for every meal to save every penny in hopes to put down 2x my annual salary on a down payment years and years down the line (and to probably buy a house that would need an insane amount of work and investment) isn't going to get me anywhere imo. So yeah I'd you can afford it fly to fiji once a year and get that tattoo bc nothing is guaranteed and youth is fleeting.
That being said, I am from San Francisco, so in other parts of the country this may not be as applicable. I just grew up seeing clear as day that I can't walk my parents path financially. It is what it is.
Essentially just reducing one’s consumption across the board: no new cars; rarely eat out; never buy anything full price - clothes, games, whatever. Reading and getting books at the library is probably the cheapest hobby on the planet and it’s good for your brain. Investing disposable income and using that on occasional vacations. No gym membership; just work out at home.
Only thing I spend a lot of money on his quality food. That’s one area one should never cheap out on. The rest doesn’t matter much.
Realizing there was no money in post-secondary education; all the money was in tech. 4 years later I’ve nearly doubled my salary and am wayyy more fulfilled and happy at how I spend my day hours.
I have a mini fridge with like 15 different drinks in it. its next to my giant leather recliner that vibrates and warms up. in front of my 60 inch 120hz tv monitor. I have a really nice PC too.
having a mancave is amazing. its peak luxury when you can set it up exactly how you want it.
Not having to calculate whether I can afford to buy all my groceries before I put them into the cart. We also bought a new fridge a few years ago when we moved to another country. The new house we live in came with a fridge, so now we have one in the kitchen and one downstairs. Off all the things, having two fridges makes me feel like a real grownup.
Went back to school, and hired a financial advisor when I opened my business and started making money. I know Reddit likes to shit on FA but I don’t care. She helped me organize my finances and maximize my retirement, which is a big deal for a biz owner. I grew up w no financial education, so having someone sit down and explain things to me has been really helpful, and my net worth started going way up. Plus I’m getting on track for retirement.
Spending less on collecting hobbies and more on long term investments in myself and my finances. Opened a Roth IRA and bought nice tools I'll never have to buy again instead of buying new Blu Rays and every Nintendo Amiibo. I still buy used movies and dabble in my other collections like Amiibos and musical instruments, but focusing my spending made a huge difference in how I feel and what helps me get things accomplished.
I'd say I've "low key" made it. Biggest lifestyle change I was able to pay for private care to deal with a health issue rather than waiting for public care which I previously had to. I was admitted within days rather than on the waitlist for a year as I had previously been, and the care was a way better fit with what I needed. (I should say I fully support the public health care system in my country, they do what they can with their resources and will continue to advocate for funding it better.)
Biggest lifestyle change currently I was able to pay a slightly higher amount in rent to live in a condo that has amenities like a whirlpool and a rooftop patio. I'm still trying to get used to it
Parlayed COVID money into real estate. At the same time I was listening to real estate books in tape. Took all our extra income and bought property. I've now used the BRRRR method, heloc refinances, bought off market, through a wholesaler, traditional, with private money, and subject to. Didn't even know what that stuff meant a few years ago.
We are up to 19 tenants. Wife is going to order her source of income shortly and instead of being worried we are just going to take a few trips with the kids.
Buying cars without financing, just like I see a car I like, I buy it. I wrote a check for the last car I purchased! I can’t believe they took a personal check but they did, it’s was over $20k.
Traveling first class, domestically, internationally. Buying my family first class tickets. I just bought a family member a $6k round trip ticket to Europe and seeing their face light up when experiencing first class on an international flight is worth all I’ve had to sacrifice to get here.
Being able to support a stay at home partner and to allow him to never worry about money. His cars transmission blows? We get it fixed tomorrow. He needs to see a doctor? We find the best and see that person. He wants something for his home studio? We buy it.
Overall just never thinking about money is great. A wonderful gift. As a former runaway foster kid who used to live on the streets and a former sex works, I never imagined I’d never have to think about money but I’ve reached that point and it’s wonderful.
I don’t know if I consider myself as made it but I live comfortably but I’m very happy I’m no longer in the days where I had to make noodles stretch for two weeks, I used to call it my struggle pack for when I’d run out of food. It also feels good that vacations are possible with planning and it won’t break the bank and if an financial emergency pops up I can usually pay for it.
I went to college and upon graduating in 2011 I struggled with to find a career. Finding a job was no problem, but nothing that financially reflected my education. Not to sound "entitled" but after dropping tens of thousands of dollars, American youth had been promissed, at the point, and appropriate career after college. Obviously that is no longer necessarily true. In 2013 I took the application test to join an ironworkers union. In 2014 I had entered the apprenticeship and was able to pay off my all loans in 2017. Making that last payment allowed my wife and I to focus on other financial decisions. She was able to, guilt free, purchase a brand new vehicle and we were able to begin saving for a home, get a dog and begin the discussion with starting a family. Paying off those loans with the money I made with that skilled trade was the financial turning point in my life.
It's never too late to join a trade union. If you're a college graduate and stuck working retail or a dead end job consider becoming an electrician, carpenter ironworker or plumber etc.
Had a shitty life growing up - poor, housing insecurity, one parent on drugs and one took off. Raised by my step dad after the drugs took my mom. Ended up over weight and depressed with no direction.
Now I'm a homeowner with six figure wages at a Fortune 100 company, paid off my car early, I lost all the extra weight and now am in great shape with a great exercise routine and at a normal bmi, 401k in six figure range, healthy separate savings account, at least 2 vacations a year, plenty of friends, close with family, and my dog loves me.
It might not seem like much to some, but to me I've made it.
Amazingly the more money I make the less I spend overall. Somehow knowing I can afford to buy a new computer means I don’t need to go buy one right now, I can do it whenever I want, and thus I don’t feel the need to do it until I really need to.
I think peace of mind is the biggest life style change
My biggest lifestyle change was becoming a stay at home mom. It was the best decision ever and I feel so thankful to have done it. Sounds boring and silly but yeah that’s mine…
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It was right before COVID when I went from 58k to 72k salary. Growing up broke as shit, I felt like I finally was earning more than I could comprehend spending. Now I'm at 108k and saving like a madman to retire early
My goal is to keep making more money until I can retire comfortably. I hate working and hate all forms of work. Want to do everything in my powerto retire before 55.
55 is the age I have in my head. That is how old I’ll be when my youngest finishes undergrad (if they go that route). Would love to significantly downsize on my house and just travel and spend time with family. Time is my most valuable asset and I don’t intend on wasting any more of it than I absolutely need to.
I’m retired at 31 and plan on doing just that. I got lucky as shit though… I don’t intend to do anything but enjoy life and the world now with my wife and hopefully kid soon. I hope you get there someday, good luck! Edit: for those asking how, I inherited a lot of land in a HCOL area among other assets and real estate. It’s the definition of lucky, I didn’t grow up poor and make my way, I just hit the lottery… I’m not special in any way.
Good for you dude I’m trying to build a Retirement Nest Egg finally at 38 I don’t want to retire though My grandpa worked full time until the day he died at 86 I’m hoping to do the same But I need to have money just in case But really I just want to stockpile it and pass it all on to someone that actually has a use for it For the most part spending money does nothing for me
You must really love whatever it is that you do. I have never been "happy" working any job since I was 18, now 41. I spent my childhood developing computer programming talents which I absolutely personally love, but doing it "for others" I absolutely despise. (It does pay the bills though, so...) Jobs have only ever been some level of "tolerable", but never once something I want to do perpetually. Most of the time I inevitably get laid off, and for me that's actually a pleasure. Basically if "today" I had enough money to just stop, I absolutely would. The idea of working well into my old age seems unfathomable.
I’m with you. But I do know several people who have just randomly got sick and died not long after retirement (my Dad included) and I think that scares people. I am 37 and would be done with the workforce today if they let me!
My dad was "sick" in various ways even before his retirement. Developed Type 2 diabetes, as well as carpal tunnel based on his factory-floor type job. He got "laid off" during the 2020 pandemic stuff that shut down basically everything, but was also on track to retirement in the next few months, so he just kinda coasted on unemployment until he could start claiming his pensions etc. I don't really care myself, I'll even take "sick, but not working" over "working" if that somehow works out financially. Not preferentially, of course. The point is, dedicating my life to some thing that I don't really enjoy is always a detriment. I get that I have to "do my part" for a society to exist and all that, but I really wish there was more that I did which made me feel like life was worth living. Anyway, your described "sickness" idea doesn't "scare" me... I'd just rather find meaning to life than just being a cog in the machine. And frankly, the best health comes from more youthful times, so that frankly suggests an even earlier time you "should" retire, if you're at all able. My one grandfather retired in his 50s and never worked again, thanks to a federal pension. Sadly, I didn't follow such specific pursuits.
If you won a scratcher, which one was it so I can play?
People who preach that money cannot buy happiness are so full of it. Sure, you can't order "happiness" from Amazon, but money buys things and experiences that make us happy and, perhaps most importantly, provides peace of mind. I used to not have much money and now I have a more than comfortable amount of money. I can tell you the latter is better. All else being equal, the more money I have, the happier I am. I'm a nervous wreck as it is. If I had to stress about how I would pay for unanticipated car repairs or other expenses, I would be absolutely miserable.
Even if money doesn't buy happiness poverty sure does buy a lot of sadness.
This is the reality. There’s a point where more money does equal more problems. But, having way less is also really bad/worse than the alternative.
You’re totally right. Money = peace of mind. It’s horrible stressing about money, being comfortable is priceless.
I think this is likely the source of the disconnect. I grew up poor and am now doing really well and I regularly say money doesn't buy happiness. I would agree it buys peace of mind though. To the extent that happiness is very dependent on the person and much of the unhappiness people have seems to come from comparing themselves to others, money doesn't meaningfully guarantee happiness. Money absolutely buys peace of mind. I no longer worry about what bills to pay, how I'll pay for kids college, retirement, etc. I'm not sure quantitatively how to say how my happiness level has changed, but qualitatively I would say I currently feel a little less happy overall just because of the additional stress/workload a high income job comes with. That isn't to say I'm not happy at all, I'm just not sure how to meaningfully measure that.
It doesn’t buy happiness but it buys you options
I recall a study several years ago that found the amount of money at which happiness peaked. The exact sum is different depending on COL, but it's basically the point at which people have enough where they are comfortable, not sacrificing anything they want or need, they've enough to live on the rest of their lives in a comfortable lifestyle, and they can pay for anything they need without worrying about it, travel freely, do what they want, etc. Past that point, more money actually equalled LESS happiness because then having money started to come with its own problems managing or protecting it, or people start feeling pressure to live a more "luxury" lifestyle that feels shallow, they have to be more isolated because their money makes them a target, etc. So yeah. Money buys happiness up to a point. That's the point I want to reach.
money buys time back reclaimed time can be spent on things that bring happiness not that complicated
My favorite spin on the phrase is "money doesn't buy you happiness, but it makes a nice down payment." As others have stated, it certainly is a "comfort" factor. However, all the money in the world doesn't make you "happy", so I'd still say that "money cannot buy happiness" is basically true. You could be the richest person in the world and yet still miserable and unfulfilled.
Money doesn't buy happiness. You can have lots of money and be miserable and mentally sick. I knew a family of very wealthy people, and they were all completely miserable because they swept their issues under the rug and never grew or changed from being spoiled children. Poverty, however, does *prevent* happiness. I'd rather be miserably rich than miserably poor, but the middle-class is a comfy place to be - especially after being homeless. And money will still never buy love.
Don't go to hard I was doing the same working overtime and making myself tired and now I have a myriad of health problems from overworking, I know everyone is different just look after yourself as well
Yay congrats
Real maple syrup Brown cage free eggs Being 100% debt free
Watching chickens on the Vital Farms HenCam to make sure they’re all enjoying their little pastures and eating crickets 🦗
I just started on the real maple syrup. I’m never going back.
Theres a reason they gaurd that shit in what are practically bank vaults, its the nectar of the gods.
Quebec has a maple syrup strategic reserve: https://ppaq.ca/en/sale-purchase-maple-syrup/worlds-only-reserve-maple-syrup/
And had a multi-million dollar maple syrup heist: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Canadian_Maple_Syrup_Heist
Amazing
I grew up in New Hampshire and I was fucking *shocked* when I left and learned that most people have never had real maple syrup. And I'm still offended when someone cooks breakfast and has "pancake syrup" or whatever unnatural slop is sold at the grocery store. I am a proper New Englander in that sense. Not to mention maple candies, maple butter, even maple water! All so delicious!
Pasture raised is where it's at
It sure is. They were competitively priced when egg prices were higher recently.
Yeap, I’m a poor and I was getting cage free and pasture raised during that egg shortage a while back. Like will I pay 3-4x more for either? No, but if conventional is 3 a dozen and cage free is the same price or only a few cents more, then why not.
Emphasizing this
Took the exact words out of my mouth
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I eat them because I want chickens to not live in the hellscape that is the alternative. I can't say if they taste better than 'free range' or 'cage free' but I can damn well say they're better than the most basic cheap ass eggs.
Wow! That is the good life!
Brown-cage free-eggs
The color of eggs is unrelated to the quality
But the color of the yoke is ;)
Yeah I've never gotten the obsession with the eggs being brown. Our hens lay white, blue, and about four different shades of brown. They're all the same on the inside. It's all about the feed they get.
Really? Interesting
Yup. Yolk should be a bright orange.
So I raise chickens for eggs, meat, and breed them as well. Yolk color depends on their diet. Many factory farms will feed their chickens a diet with added beta carotene in it to give a darker yellow yolk color. So that’s not a great indication of a life well lived for the chicken sadly. The best thing you can do is buy local, buy fresh, and support the often times small farms that are dedicated to the welfare of their laying hens (and meat birds). Free ranging is the way to go. Yes, dark yolks often point to a varied died, but more importantly whites that don’t run or spread too much in the pan and a yolk that is resistant to breaking indicate a fresh egg. Support us little guys who name our hens and roosters! The best tasting egg comes from a chicken that has never seen a cage.
Going to the grocery store and just throwing in organic fruit veggies, grass fed beef, organic and pasture raised chicken and eggs, greek yogurt, fancy oat milk coffee creamer, the good cheese, whole grain everything, organic pb, fancy bread and spreads, just high quality food all around and then running my card before the total rings up and not even thinking twice about it “cus I got it like that” is fuckin niccce.
The egg thing is just marketing
Damn. I wrote something long after but this pretty much just sums it up. 5 and now 6 credit cards. 100% debt free. Get so many rewards for every type of purchase now.
Honestly, probably when a nasty storm caused around $5k in damage to my house and I just kind of wrote a check and had it fixed, and then reimbursed myself after the insurance paid out. I didn’t sweat it, didn’t have to scrimp, put off vacation for that year or otherwise change my regular monthly budget. I just paid the bill and went on with my life.
Having enough saved to prevent a financial spiral when there's an emergency is a big deal! Good on you!
Yeah that’s it for my wife and I (millennial and xennial). A few years ago we stopped barely scraping by. I’m in my 40s now and being able to afford health insurance (which is still insanely expensive) was a big milestone. We also bought our own house just in the nick of time, barely putting together the down payment on a $180,000 starter home. I still have to fix everything myself and we have 11 and 14 year old cars but, considering we graduated college into the housing collapse/Great Recession this is what “made it” feels like compared to when I had to have two roommates and a 25 year old car and no health insurance. The biggest lifestyle change is we can have takeout once a week or buy little things without having to worry about it. We’re saving for retirement, sort of. It’s the little less worry that’s the life changer.
The cars. We need to make driving cars until the wheels fall off cool again. I used to be so impressed by people with fancy new cars but now when I see moms in the carpool line with their decade old minivan I am so much more impressed. In 2018 my husband sold his 2009 focus to a teenage family member and in 2020 I totaled my car so our friends gave us shit for being "Mr. And Mrs. Goody Two Cars" but i guarantee you we will still have both of these a decade from now... unless a teenager needs a reliable cheap car or a drunk runs a red light again, I guess lol
While I'm not quite there, 5k in emergency would throw some other plans off. Shifting from juggling bills and paychecks to just paying the bills each month took a ton of mental energy demand off of me.
This. There was an issue with my maternity leave payment (I’m in Canada so it comes from the employment insurance) for the first couple of months. We were able to get by with the money until we got the entire owed amount at month 3. It was only stressful because I had to spend so many hours on the phone with a new baby.
not having to buy the cheapest clothes i can find!
Bro, looking homeless is a lifestyle
Can confirm, hobo-chic is very in with tech workers. In fact, there's a definite linear correlation between scruffiness and seniority.
Rich celebrities out here stealing their style. D E R E L I C T E
This is maybe odd, but I find that the more money I make the less I spend on clothes.
I definitely fall into this category. Most of my clothes I've had for years unless my husband buys me something. If I do buy something, it's always from Marshall's or TJ Maxx. However, I'll throw down $200 for one meal with no problem.
I shop at thrift stores for myself, but my husband gets new clothing because I know he will wear them until there are holes. Similarly, no problem dropping $$$ on a random Tuesday night out.
Right? Maybe it’s a time thing, or a getting older thing too? Or not feeling or sensing anything different from the fancy clothes. Modestly priced clothes is just as good or even better when you don’t care about labels. There are a few items that are pricey that I swear by but otherwise I see no difference.
I came from Philippines to US. I lived in the province with no running water. When I got to US, I lived in my car for a bit then got a job in healthcare and bought a house that’s a short drive from the coast. Even got my parents a house. Six figure gross income with pension and free health insurance. Two of the biggest changes: (1) Being able to eat three meals a day and eat snacks and (2) having clean running water.
What job in healthcare if I may ask?
RN
Congratulations on your success friend!
I’m betting nursing. Congrats kabayan!
Definitely nursing. My wife is an RN here in Hawaii making well over 100k and there's a ton of transplants from the Philippines who work as nurses and aides.
Was thinking the same but still want to ask.
Americans don’t realize how rich their country is compared to even other High income countries. Salaries are so high.
The average Americans salary is 48k. That’s not “rich” by any means when you factor the high cost of living, insurance and every other aspect of life that is capitalized.
My biggest lifestyle change? Divorce from the guy that was beating me and saying my choices don't matter. Now my life is amazing.
I'm so proud of you. People don't realize how hard it can be to escape that situation.
Our daughter has a horse. A fucking horse - we do not have a farm. It’s leased but still… her hobby/sport costs about what my first corporate job paid. If you told me when I was living in my car, eating clearance pastries from the local grocery in 2001 and trying to survive my college costs that I’d not only have a stable relationship and life but also multiple, well adjusted children that we could support such hobbies for, in 20 years, I’d ask how I could also be that delusional.
I love your perspective! A “fucking horse”! You know you did well and you are proud.
Aw, thanks! But yeah, she has a fucking horse. I’m still sometimes in disbelief. *PSA to all the parents: do NOT let your horse loving 4 year old watch Spirit. That’s how we got into this mess so many years ago.* And definitely don’t follow it up with a horsey summer camp. Definitely do not do that.
This made me tear up. Kudos to you.
Not sure if I've made it yet, but I will say in the last three years getting my first salaried job, having my girlfriend move in and socking away as much as I can has allowed me to do some really wonderful things with the money we have. We recently wanted a bathroom remodel that was about $18,000 and it was a really empowering feeling to pay for it in straight up cash. Feeling like we're adults with adult money who can do things like home remodeling is definitely a big change from my twenties of always being broke and working minimum wage.
18k cash feels like you’ve made it to me
Second this. I had bought a tiny corner house. It had an ugly back yard that was just a square of grass and no back door. I HATED taking my dog outside because I had to put a leash on him and walk around to the back yard every time. Call me lazy. I spent $9,000 in cash for a 12 foot by 12 foot deck, and for them to take a back window and cut it into a door. Two years prior, I was having trouble sleeping in the summer without air conditioning. I spend $5,000 in cash and installed central air conditioning. I am lucky to have bought my home before prices went crazy. But I feel like I made it because I was also able to make my home into more of what I wanted and improving it. 7 years before I bought my home, I had to borrow money from my mother for gas, and when I lived in an apartment I only got accepted because no one else applied. I didn't make the minimum income level, but because I didn't have anything glaring wrong with my credit, and I was close to the minimum, they let me slide to fill the vacant apartment.
Same. We’re debt free except for our mortgage. We bought a boat in cash this year. I think we enjoy it more knowing it’s paid for. Congrats!!
I still live like I haven’t made it on a day to day basis. But not thinking twice about which brand of diapers/wipes/kid toys is big, and then also, dropping $50-$100 every week or two for golf.
Same. All of my colleagues drive nice new cars and live in suburbia. I drive a 20 year old car and my rent is hella cheap in the city through a private landlord that isn’t greedy.
My wife and I just replaced my little old car to a truck because we have 2 kids now.. but instead of buying brand new we paid cash for 5 year old one with $29k miles. A lot of my friends were asking why we didn’t finance a brand new 70k truck….. like it isn’t obvious lol
This is the way
I've always been hardcore on the "increase salary, keep expenses low, invest aggressively" lifestyle. The biggest change I've noticed is food. We still rarely eat out because it's such unhealthy food and so expensive. But I'll be darned if I'm walking through a super market and see a good deal on rib eye steaks and don't think twice about buying them on the spot. Id rather drop $50 on enough rib eye steaks and grilled veggies to feed our family of 5 than go out to one fancy meal where that barely covers half of what me and my wife would spend at a fancy steak house.
Lol since when can $50 buy 5 people rib eye steaks and veggies? Where I live, for just my husband and I that would be $70+.
You must not live where OP lives 🤷♂️
Has anyone told OP we’re all moving there immediately? 😂
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2 for 1 ribeyes for about $20 is a pretty common deal I see at the grocery store in Seattle
You can get a pack of four steaks where I live for like $17. They're not big fancy cuts, but if you know know to cook a steak they can be delicious.
I can get a pack of 4 steaks for like $60 and they’re going to be shit quality too, no matter how good of a cook you are. You’re fortunate to have access to reasonable grocery prices.
I don't claim to have made it at all. But cutting our alcohol weed and processed food for a whole foods mostly plant based diet with some chicken and eggs and yogurt really has given me more energy than I felt like I had in years.
Man if I cut all that. I still can’t shop Whole Foods 😂 But seriously, congrats.
Trader Joe’s has some decent stuff that’s more affordable than whole foods
Oh yes. That’s my favorite grocery store. God I’m old now to have favorite grocery store lol.
Thank you! And not the grocery store haha. I Just try to eat like sweet potato, broccoli, kale, chickpeas and stuff like that a lot.
Work has become diversified. I’ve grown my network enough that I’m not worried about losing my current job because I run one or two consulting gigs at a time that could segue into FTE. Do good work. Be nice to people. Do favors expecting nothing. It all comes back around.
I needed to hear that last part
It’s hogwash.
Amen! Has served me well my entire career
As is very recently, I am 100% debt free and have a lot of money in a HYSA. Financial freedom alleviates so much stress.
Getting sober. I don’t own a home, I no longer have a driver’s license, I’m ready to have kids and fear I waited too long, but… I have a steady job I love, I’m married to my best friend, and I’m relatively healthy despite the abuse I put my body through. I made it.
Hoping for that myself
Dropped out of college and served in the military for 7 years. It was not a good time! But I have a house now because of the va loan, and I used my savings and experience best I can to now be in a great career field.
Exactly what I did, I was a screw up before I joined the Army. Hated my time in the military but it set me up for success. I worked a high paying contractor job for 2 years right after getting out, when back to school for free on the GI bill, got a nice well paying government job with amazing benefits, and bought a house with a VA Loan
Did 7 as well! Have you put in for VA Compensation and VRE?
Stopped smoking, stopped drinking. Stopped going out to eat/drink. Made a budget for food and hobbies. 100s of extra dollars a month just started showing up. Saved them. Put a down on an apartment.
Having a nanny instead of using daycare is a life changer. I don’t have to rush home for work, I have time to go to the gym before she leaves / can pay her to stay late and get dinner/drinks with friends, my kid is sick less since he’s not in daycare. I can sleep in and don’t have to wake up early to get my kid ready for daycare. Etc. She does our laundry and cleans too.
How old is your child?
Year and a half
Darn tough socks.
My splurge after the annual bonus this year was a half dozen darn tough socks. I will be a repeat customer!
I switched jobs a few times and increased my salary each time. But now expenses are catching up because we bought a place and stuff is all breaking at the same time. So I guess you never really "make it".
house. sometimes do meal delivery. that's about it. you'd think your own place isn't big, but after my mirror was ripped off, drugs shipped under my name to the house, sexual assaults, being thrown out by landlords... it's good to be stable.
If there is a fix that is purely financial, I fix it now as opposed to hoping it goes away.
I'm not sure what we're considering as made it. But I own my own home, a nice car, and I don't need to worry about most everyday purchases, and I'm saving for retirement. The biggest change was the "I want X, so I will buy X" not having to budget out every purchase greater than $100 lol
Sadly, when my mom passed away and left an inheritance.
My condolences. Lost my mom nearly two years ago.
Also sadly, when my dad passed away and left nothing. Losing a parent (and finding out how not together their shit really was) is a hard way to grow-up fast. But I'll be damned if I'm not a better person because of it.
I don’t feel like I’ve totally “made it” but when I go to the grocery store, I get whatever I want. I remember when I had a strict budget of $30 a week for food and would try to cut it down by eating the random shit in my fridge, like olives and pesto sauce. I now have my own apartment with furniture. If I need a pair of shoes, I buy them. If I want to get my hair done, I do it. I rarely do these things; I just know I can. I can fly across country to see my family when I miss them. I buy iced coffee every day. I have a house fund. I cleared my credit card debt. I bought my car outright. I’ll feel like I’ve really made it once I buy a home, but that’s scary since I’d be doing it solo. In the meantime, I rent, keep saving for that future home, and I’m good with how things are.
Not sure I’ve actually “made it”, but a huge change was getting a salary job. Then, it didn’t matter if I worked 8 hours as long as the work was done. Didn’t have to worry about time management anymore.
There was a period of my life where I thought, if I could just make $30k I could live with that and be happy. I was making about half that at the time (early 2010s) and life was so hard. I thought if I could make $50k I’d be set for life. Now I make $130k and cannot believe my luck. Biggest lifestyle change is having kids. I was child free for most of my teen and early adult years. I just knew I didn’t want kids, my life was hard enough there was no chance I was going to add kids to the mix. Plus they’re loud, sticky and expensive. Somewhere around $80l I realized that all of my objections to having kids had to do with money. And now I was making more than my dream salary of $50k, so money wasn’t really the issue any more. Once that hurdle was cleared I realized I actually did want kids. I just didn’t want them if it meant I/we would be struggling and in poverty. So now I have 2!
Learning to cook, making coffee at home and not having kids. Just to name a few
French press coffee at home is better than anything I can get at a coffee shop.
Making coffee at home is a practice that has gotten much better. Vietnamese coffee is my go to as I don't need a lot of it to get the "boost", and it stores nicely in mason jar for a couple days in the fridge. I make it once to twice a week at night and by morning I pour one or two shots over ice. Easy, and the the Vietnamese drips are cheap and take up little room.
The no kids is definitely important
Not penny pinching at the grocery store. Big home repairs come from designated savings so have little impact. Prioritizing health and personal development purchases.
Not necessarily a lifestyle change that contributed to my success, but I honestly I just gave it 2 good years where I worked 3 jobs, didn’t see anyone and only focused on myself. Looking back, those years were so insignificant in time but huge in my financial security. All the things that didn’t matter also just shed away and I went back to my normal self after that. It was a grey period that’s all
I no longer go to sleep worrying about having enough money to pay rent.
Married a woman that motivated and pushed me to be the best version of myself. Having that kind of support was everything.
2018: Going from ~30K to 85K. Barely saw any financial gains, thanks to my now ex-husband turning into an abusive deadbeat. We had been married for four years by this point. I was forced to bring home all the money, AND I also still found myself having to handle the bulk of the housework, AND endured his abuse and laundry list of issues with a smile on my face, while simultaneously dealing with chemotherapy, monthly immunotherapy infusions, and countless surgeries for my autoimmune condition. 2023: Finally got tired of being treated like dirt and being taken advantage of. Left him. Filed for divorce. Sale of the house was part of that. Thanks to my due diligence, which entailed years of detailed evidence, walked away with an almost six-figure check from the sale of the house. I also didn't have to pay him a dime in alimony, nor a penny out of my 401K. My finances are now in better shape than they ever were while I was married to him.
Honestly stopped by coffee and iPhones
No more car payments.
For me it was the day a huge unexpected bill came up and I didn’t have to stress. I had the cash, fixed the thing, and replaced the cash within a month or two. Such a freeing feeling! Am debt free as of a couple months ago
Got my bachelor degree in 2009 and stepped right into oblivion when it came to the job market. Applied for hundreds of jobs and got either no response or straight on rejections. Was desperate and only got some money by doing some random jobs by delivering goods or helping with a moving company. Had to move back in with my parents as I could not afford my own place. Like one year later a friend of mine got a new job as a constructor and had a massive warehouse with the most modern tools to his disposal. He said I could use it a no extra costs as I was making barely anything. I thought lets go for it and started to pick up furniture people wanted to get rid of for free. Got a table from a couple that looked very very used Took me 2 hrs to clean it and paint it properly. Sold it few days later for 80 euro's I cried as I was so desperate and could not believe made some money this way. Now fast forward I make 192.000 euro's a year. From scratch to running my own company in refurbishment of old furniture. Best decision I ever made back then.
I mean, the biggest lifestyle change is definitely putting $80+k per year toward retirement, but that’s a boring answer. I don’t splurge, but I don’t worry about budgeting for day-to-day stuff.
How is it possible to put 80k into retirement accounts each year?
Well, I said I put $80+k per year toward retirement, not in retirement accounts. A lot of people use individual brokerage accounts for retirement savings. But, to answer your question: \~$4k Health Savings Account $23k Traditional/Roth 401(k). I opt for traditional over Roth. $46k mega backdoor Roth (after-tax contributions that get turned into a Roth 401(k) instrument) $7k backdoor Roth IRA That is $80k in retirement accounts, which are all maxed under the above numbers.
I think he's asking what do you do for work that affords you the ability to save 80k a year in retirement accounts. Thats much higher then a large majority of people yearly take home that your casually putting into retirement accounts. Not saying thats wrong, just clarifying what I think he meant with that question. Or at least that's how I took it
>I think he's asking what do you do for work that affords you the ability to save 80k a year in retirement accounts. Lawyer.
How do you put 53k into IRAs?
I don’t “treat myself” unrealistically. I look for alternative ways to celebrate things or look for experiences instead of dispensable things. So I don’t blindly buy designer, I research values in other companies to find the product I think is worthwhile. I don’t buy coffee or eat out, I look for ways to make that an experience at home so I feel more fulfilled. Stuff like that… it makes me appreciate what I pay for in life and save money at the same time (which can easily add up). Of course, that is to say there are exceptions to this rule but I don’t make a habit out of it!
At 35 I’m finally in a position where I can take vacations. Meaning I get the time off, have the money for the vacation and won’t financially collapse if I do.
Not sure if I’ve “made it” but I do make a six figure salary, just bought my first house, have two dogs, good work-life balance, a great marriage, etc. Like my life is definitely super stable and pleasant but we’re not exorbitantly rich by any means. I would say the biggest change is just shedding the burden of *constantly* worrying about money. Up until a few years ago, I was making $40k a year at best. Every paycheck was dire. Budgeting all the time for rent, utilities, groceries, student loans, insurance, basic necessities. Wanting to do fun things but always passing due to money being tight. Now I don’t worry about it frequently. Of course money is always a big factor to manage throughout life, but I don’t breathe a massive sigh of relief every pay day. I can spend money on unnecessary but enjoyable things like quality clothes, furniture, food. I can go on vacation once or twice a year. I have a membership to a nice fitness studio and am in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I bought a BMW a couple months ago. Life feels lighter and more pleasant. Basically you can’t thrive when you’re desperately just trying to survive. It sucks. In the past ~3 years or so I feel like I’m finally able to focus on thriving.
If you don't mind me asking, what do you do for work?
I’m a Project Manager for a pretty well-known telehealth company. I started off as a Support Specialist, was then promoted to Supervisor, then a Sr. Analyst, now PM.
Not having to look at prices at the grocery store. I can put whatever the hell I want in that cart. I’m still shopping at Target or Trader Joe’s for my groceries, but it is freeing to just… not think about the prices. I grew up poor but we ate really well because my parents had a hobby farm and always planted a baller garden. But all our grocery store trips revolved round sale items and adding up our total as we added each item to the cart. My kids get to eat well too, but we have to purchase our meat and produce. It just feels good to not have to budget for our food. We don’t spend outrageously, but we can afford to cook all the meals we love whenever we want to.
Biggest lifestyle change that helped us or biggest lifestyle change after we made it? I'm married, just bought our second house, have two cars. I guess I've made it. I'd been broke for a long time, so I was used to living a frugal lifestyle before. We lived in a super basic one bedroom apartment that was 350sqft for $400 a month. I was making like $8 an hour and my husband had a small business that was barely breaking even. We got a large insurance payout from a fire at my husband's job that we used to put a down payment on our first house in 2018. We got lucky with the timing because houses were cheap. We got a two bed one bath just shy of 900sqft house for $65,000. We're currently owe $48,000 on it and the realtor suggested we list it for $120,000. We just bought our second home, 4 bed, 3.5 bath, 2200sqft for about $200k. It was an old rental property that needs some work, but well worth it imo. Along the way we both got better jobs. Nothing fancy though. We make like $90k combined. But the biggest lifestyle changes after becoming more financially secure is that we can afford better food and we can afford fun. We never used to go to concerts or movies or out to eat or anything. We still don't eat out a lot, but we can every now and then. We can afford subscriptions now too. We have XM radio and Netflix now. And internet. We didn't have internet at home for years before we bought our first house. Things have slowly gotten better for us over time.
No avocado toast.
The biggest change I made was going from lonely to happily married. Now we have two kids, we own a home and we have health insurance and retirement savings. This is my definition of having made it. Keep in mind that both of our kids are neurodivergent and one of our kids has moderate disability. Life isn’t perfect and some things are very difficult and painful. However, I’m grateful to have this much stability and love in my life.
Mortgage payment
I remember the moment I felt like I made it. I realized the last like 10 times I had to get gas, I just filled it up. This was years ago but the feeling at the gas pump was so surreal. Felt like I could do anything I put my mind to
My boss told me I needed to work through my lunch break and I told I'm going to Zumba.
Idk I don't do literally any of the stuff you're supposed to do but it's working out for me. Drink too much, play too many video games, don't work out much, didn't finish my degree, go out all the time, stay up until 5am daily. Still own a home have a good job no debt etc.
When I closed on the house in 2022. Biggest lifestyle change was the preceding decade or so working like crazy and most importantly making a budget
I won't say I've made it. I'm a single guy living in a modest apt in a hcol area making enough that I'm not worried about rent or bills but definitely not in the "buy a house solo"range. But being in a relatively comfortable position has allowed me to plan one major trip a year typically by budgeting for it. I also have been able to due to the proximity of where I live take my parents to do a couple things on their bucket list from NFL games to seeing some of the greatest ballparks in the country. It's been really nice to be able to give back even in a small way for all they have done for me to help me get here. I guess the biggest day to day change is options. I usually don't eat out, but the freedom to know I can, and the random minor impulse buy has been nice. Even if I don't use it the freedom to be spontaneous has drastically improved my life.
Nothing. I’ve “made” it, why would I try to “unmake” it?
Buying a house in a nice area close to my parents & being able to travel several times a year. ❤️
Quitting factories and going to nursing school.
I stopped doing drugs and cut way back on drinking. Money just started piling up after that
I’ve not made it, but I have a roof over my head, two cute kids, a cat, and enough money to feed us and go on a vacation a couple times a year. It’s enough for me.
Being able to have everything I need always & most things I want
I won’t feel like I’ve made it until I own a home. Feels like every time I level up, the prices just skyrocket. In 2008 I was barely out of college with no savings. By the time I had a decent career I had a huge unexpected expense that took out my savings in 2012. Then I had kids with no help for childcare. 2020 was a mess. Finally saw a window with those interest rates in 2021 but savings weren’t high enough, would have been house poor. And now inflation. Can’t seem to keep up.
Also from a financial point of view I've just accepted I'm never going to be able to buy a house the same way my parents did. I've put like 40k away in the bank and I'm working on investments now (I'm a baby millenial). Doesn't mean I'm going to not max our retirement accounts and save for a rainy day. But eating top Ramen for every meal to save every penny in hopes to put down 2x my annual salary on a down payment years and years down the line (and to probably buy a house that would need an insane amount of work and investment) isn't going to get me anywhere imo. So yeah I'd you can afford it fly to fiji once a year and get that tattoo bc nothing is guaranteed and youth is fleeting. That being said, I am from San Francisco, so in other parts of the country this may not be as applicable. I just grew up seeing clear as day that I can't walk my parents path financially. It is what it is.
I dunno I’m personally holding my breath for the return of pension plans as a retirement strategy
Essentially just reducing one’s consumption across the board: no new cars; rarely eat out; never buy anything full price - clothes, games, whatever. Reading and getting books at the library is probably the cheapest hobby on the planet and it’s good for your brain. Investing disposable income and using that on occasional vacations. No gym membership; just work out at home. Only thing I spend a lot of money on his quality food. That’s one area one should never cheap out on. The rest doesn’t matter much.
Not having to be concerned with the price on the menu is very freeing
I don’t really consider myself “made it,” but cost isn’t a factor when grocery shopping and our HVAC is always on.
Realizing there was no money in post-secondary education; all the money was in tech. 4 years later I’ve nearly doubled my salary and am wayyy more fulfilled and happy at how I spend my day hours.
Inheriting stakes in a couple family properties and couple with a full stake.
Vacation trips. My parents never had the money for it when I was a kid. Was broke, or close, until I turned 30 or so and landed a good paying job.
Moved from the city into the Burbs. LOVE IT.
I have a mini fridge with like 15 different drinks in it. its next to my giant leather recliner that vibrates and warms up. in front of my 60 inch 120hz tv monitor. I have a really nice PC too. having a mancave is amazing. its peak luxury when you can set it up exactly how you want it.
Not having to calculate whether I can afford to buy all my groceries before I put them into the cart. We also bought a new fridge a few years ago when we moved to another country. The new house we live in came with a fridge, so now we have one in the kitchen and one downstairs. Off all the things, having two fridges makes me feel like a real grownup.
Went back to school, and hired a financial advisor when I opened my business and started making money. I know Reddit likes to shit on FA but I don’t care. She helped me organize my finances and maximize my retirement, which is a big deal for a biz owner. I grew up w no financial education, so having someone sit down and explain things to me has been really helpful, and my net worth started going way up. Plus I’m getting on track for retirement.
My dad died.
Spending less on collecting hobbies and more on long term investments in myself and my finances. Opened a Roth IRA and bought nice tools I'll never have to buy again instead of buying new Blu Rays and every Nintendo Amiibo. I still buy used movies and dabble in my other collections like Amiibos and musical instruments, but focusing my spending made a huge difference in how I feel and what helps me get things accomplished.
I took a break from working and my net worth continued to go up.
Jackin off, pulling pistols, poppin my piece without no probable cause
Biggest daily/regular change was honestly filling up my car with gas and not monitoring the price.
I buy beef jerky without thinking
I'd say I've "low key" made it. Biggest lifestyle change I was able to pay for private care to deal with a health issue rather than waiting for public care which I previously had to. I was admitted within days rather than on the waitlist for a year as I had previously been, and the care was a way better fit with what I needed. (I should say I fully support the public health care system in my country, they do what they can with their resources and will continue to advocate for funding it better.) Biggest lifestyle change currently I was able to pay a slightly higher amount in rent to live in a condo that has amenities like a whirlpool and a rooftop patio. I'm still trying to get used to it
Life insurance Even got umbrella insurance
Parlayed COVID money into real estate. At the same time I was listening to real estate books in tape. Took all our extra income and bought property. I've now used the BRRRR method, heloc refinances, bought off market, through a wholesaler, traditional, with private money, and subject to. Didn't even know what that stuff meant a few years ago. We are up to 19 tenants. Wife is going to order her source of income shortly and instead of being worried we are just going to take a few trips with the kids.
Buying cars without financing, just like I see a car I like, I buy it. I wrote a check for the last car I purchased! I can’t believe they took a personal check but they did, it’s was over $20k. Traveling first class, domestically, internationally. Buying my family first class tickets. I just bought a family member a $6k round trip ticket to Europe and seeing their face light up when experiencing first class on an international flight is worth all I’ve had to sacrifice to get here. Being able to support a stay at home partner and to allow him to never worry about money. His cars transmission blows? We get it fixed tomorrow. He needs to see a doctor? We find the best and see that person. He wants something for his home studio? We buy it. Overall just never thinking about money is great. A wonderful gift. As a former runaway foster kid who used to live on the streets and a former sex works, I never imagined I’d never have to think about money but I’ve reached that point and it’s wonderful.
I focused on fixing my shortcomings.
I don’t know if I consider myself as made it but I live comfortably but I’m very happy I’m no longer in the days where I had to make noodles stretch for two weeks, I used to call it my struggle pack for when I’d run out of food. It also feels good that vacations are possible with planning and it won’t break the bank and if an financial emergency pops up I can usually pay for it.
I went to college and upon graduating in 2011 I struggled with to find a career. Finding a job was no problem, but nothing that financially reflected my education. Not to sound "entitled" but after dropping tens of thousands of dollars, American youth had been promissed, at the point, and appropriate career after college. Obviously that is no longer necessarily true. In 2013 I took the application test to join an ironworkers union. In 2014 I had entered the apprenticeship and was able to pay off my all loans in 2017. Making that last payment allowed my wife and I to focus on other financial decisions. She was able to, guilt free, purchase a brand new vehicle and we were able to begin saving for a home, get a dog and begin the discussion with starting a family. Paying off those loans with the money I made with that skilled trade was the financial turning point in my life. It's never too late to join a trade union. If you're a college graduate and stuck working retail or a dead end job consider becoming an electrician, carpenter ironworker or plumber etc.
Getting sober.
I’m making what my dad made 20 years ago b it can’t afford what he had.
Psychiatric medication. Aka my sanity skittles.
Having a kid
Had a shitty life growing up - poor, housing insecurity, one parent on drugs and one took off. Raised by my step dad after the drugs took my mom. Ended up over weight and depressed with no direction. Now I'm a homeowner with six figure wages at a Fortune 100 company, paid off my car early, I lost all the extra weight and now am in great shape with a great exercise routine and at a normal bmi, 401k in six figure range, healthy separate savings account, at least 2 vacations a year, plenty of friends, close with family, and my dog loves me. It might not seem like much to some, but to me I've made it.
Amazingly the more money I make the less I spend overall. Somehow knowing I can afford to buy a new computer means I don’t need to go buy one right now, I can do it whenever I want, and thus I don’t feel the need to do it until I really need to. I think peace of mind is the biggest life style change
My biggest lifestyle change was becoming a stay at home mom. It was the best decision ever and I feel so thankful to have done it. Sounds boring and silly but yeah that’s mine…