Net Worth of 2.4M 41 years old and feel poor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Not op.
I've had several coworkers who were cautious about saving and were wiped out financially by serious medical issues. Our insurance has gotten crappier every year and I worry what will happen when we retire. It seems like it isn't possible to save enough and I want to leave money for my children.

Why? Are they incapable of becoming as successful as you on their own?

I kind of feel the same way. Inheritance is not something that has been done in our family so its not something I'm really budgeting for for my child. College - now that I am budgeting for![/quote

But why not rethink it? It is incorrect to assume that an inheritance ruins young people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok - I'm sure I'll get a lot of grief. We just paid off our house. We have no debt and have 2.4M net worth. We have 1.6 M retirement, 500k. house equity, 200k college savings, 100k cash. I know we aren't poor but it seems like our friends are doing so much better. They have nicer homes, take better vacations and don't seem as concerned about money. We make about 235k combined and our salaries are equal. It seems like so many people make 200k each these days.

Please tell me that I live in a bubble.

One has to wonder Ebeneezer, do you let your wife turn on the heat during the winter months? So you notice others take nicer vacations...With all the time it takes to count your money, its amazing you have time to take any vacations.

[Anonymous]

Dear OP, STFU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP, STFU.

Wow, so many angry and jealous people on this thread. OP, this is a case study in why it is so good to be discreet about your money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Not op.
I've had several coworkers who were cautious about saving and were wiped out financially by serious medical issues. Our insurance has gotten crappier every year and I worry what will happen when we retire. It seems like it isn't possible to save enough and I want to leave money for my children.

Why? Are they incapable of becoming as successful as you on their own?

I kind of feel the same way. Inheritance is not something that has been done in our family so its not something I'm really budgeting for for my child. College - now that I am budgeting for![/quote

But why not rethink it? It is incorrect to assume that an inheritance ruins young people.

I don't assume inheritance ruins young people - we just don't have the budget for it. College and retirement have to come first.

[Anonymous]

There will always be someone who has it better than you and someone who has it worse than you.

I'm just shocked that you would post such a ridiculous statement on the forum. Are you gloating or really wondering your lot in life?

[Anonymous]

This isn't a financial question, it is a psychological and spiritual one. Clearly OP doesn't have a sense of security with all that she has and compares herself to others with better/nicer/more things. I doubt that more money would reduce her anxiety.

A psychologist would ask whether her need to compare herself to others made her happier and better adjusted. A pastor/priest/rabbi/imam would ask what meaning the money brings to her life. With a little probing and more self-awareness, she might find a better equilibrium.

[Anonymous]

OP, perhaps it is time for you to take a religious, sabbatical year spent in missionary service to the poor of Liberia, or Afghanistan, or El Salvador. Please write to us with updates about your spiritual journey, and let us know the answer to your own question when you return after twelve months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will always be someone who has it better than you and someone who has it worse than you.

I'm just shocked that you would post such a ridiculous statement on the forum. Are you gloating or really wondering your lot in life?

The OP is not gloating. Certainly the OP is financially comfortable, but not wealthy to the extent of being independently wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP, give yourself the luxury of everything not going right. You're not living on the edge. You just think you are. It's probably this focus on control - which also meant discipline to save - that is contributing to stress.

Have a percentage of income that allows for life's mess-ups ie: locking your keys in the car and hiring a locksmith, choosing the more convenience air travel times, paying for parking or taxis when it offers convenience, fixing the car if it's been in a wreak w/out agonizing...

Forgive yourself for a life not-perfect. And make sure you extend this outlook to your loved ones.


Not op. What? You are making assumptions that op is uptight and not accepting of a less-than-perfect life? Is op overly controlling because he has saved some money and that makes him stressed? Let me guess, op should go spend that money at take a cab when it's convenient? What the hell?

Clearly there is some psychological issue going on with the OP

[Anonymous]

I asked before, but will ask again: pls post your budget OP. Thx.

[Anonymous]

It's called "keeping up with the Joneses". You will always feel poor if your measuring yourself against people who are more well off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I asked before, but will ask again: pls post your budget OP. Thx.

We don't budget-really. We have no mortgage or car loans. We buy our groceries at warehouses mostly. We buy furniture off Craigslist. We have two kids in parochial school and both take expensive private music lessons. When we make a purchase, we ask ourselves if we really need something/ or very important rather than whether we could afford it. OK private school/ music lessons are not a necessity per se but they are very important to us. We travel overseas every other year but stay in local areas rather than tourist areas....so that's about 6 to 7 thousand for a family of 4. We have never made a real budget except we save between 25-35 percent of pre tax income including company matches. It's not like we have a travel budget of X, it's does it make more sense to go to Costa Rico for 5k .or Japan for 9k (hypothetical) etc?