Why is saving so hard for most normal people?

[Anonymous]

I get a dopamine rush every time I check my net worth and it's higher than before. I'm obsessed with making more money and investing it to increase my NW. Why does the average person not care at all about this? I'm 27 and all my friends are living in the moment, not saving anything. I grew up lower middle class and I hated every single second of it, I had divorced parents and my mom made 25-40k/yr and my dad made about 90-110k/yr. I now make more than both parents combined with a net worth of 600k, which I know is considered mediocre on this site but it's infinitely better than what I grew up with. I never want to feel poor again. None of my friends are good with money and they all blow it every month, even the ones without trust funds who should be saving.

[Anonymous]

Troll.

[Anonymous]

There some evidence that some people experience dopamine rush by saving and pain by spending while most others experience the rush in spending and pain at saving. Just be thankful you have the brain chemistry that makes it easier to save, but be mindful of tendencies to be a miser, not spend wisely etc.

[Anonymous]

too much of one thing is no good either and will make you and/or your spouse crazy.

[Anonymous]

Your friends might be busy acting like normal 27-year-olds instead.

[Anonymous]

You seem to derive a lot of your value as a person from your net worth while others feel important in other ways.

[Anonymous]

Your friends are supporting the economy.

Paradox of Thrift.

[Anonymous]

Because they are stupid and don’t spend 1 hour doing personal finance yet spend all of their money on dumb crap and hours on TikTok and instagram. If people actual,y crunched the numbers, they’d be shocked about how much they could save and barely notice hits to their paychecks because they’re simultaneously reducing their taxable income by saving.

[Anonymous]

Y O L O

[Anonymous]

I didn’t know what net worth was when in was 27, much less what mine was. I got (and still get) my dopamine rushes from positive relationships and experiences with friends, good books, time with my family and loved ones. Consider building an actual community for emotional support rather than a bank account?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t know what net worth was when in was 27, much less what mine was. I got (and still get) my dopamine rushes from positive relationships and experiences with friends, good books, time with my family and loved ones. Consider building an actual community for emotional support rather than a bank account?

100% this!

But back to OP's money question. I had no money until I was in my early 30s and I am so glad I spent it on experiences and fun. Would my NW be higher had I saved it all? Sure! But my life would have been poorer overall. I am glad I lived, and traveled, and spent when I did.

[Anonymous]

Because most people don't earn the kind of money you make (despite what you read here). The single mom earning minimum wage and doesn't own a car is worried about paying rent and feeding her kids, not saving. The average 27 year old is worried about owning rent and student loans, not saving. I could go on, but you get the idea. Count your blessings and have some compassion for others.

[Anonymous]

Just turned 40 and NW is solid now (right around 3M if you don’t count home equity). NW at 27 was pretty much zero because we traveled everywhere in the world and had amazing experiences. You can’t ever get back your 20s. Please don’t let money control you like this. Contribute to a 401k but spend your 20s on experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get a dopamine rush every time I check my net worth and it's higher than before. I'm obsessed with making more money and investing it to increase my NW. Why does the average person not care at all about this? I'm 27 and all my friends are living in the moment, not saving anything. I grew up lower middle class and I hated every single second of it, I had divorced parents and my mom made 25-40k/yr and my dad made about 90-110k/yr. I now make more than both parents combined with a net worth of 600k, which I know is considered mediocre on this site but it's infinitely better than what I grew up with. I never want to feel poor again. None of my friends are good with money and they all blow it every month, even the ones without trust funds who should be saving.

How did you get to 600k @ 27 yo w/ 150K+ salary? Mathematically not sure how that's possible. Show us how you got there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get a dopamine rush every time I check my net worth and it's higher than before. I'm obsessed with making more money and investing it to increase my NW. Why does the average person not care at all about this? I'm 27 and all my friends are living in the moment, not saving anything. I grew up lower middle class and I hated every single second of it, I had divorced parents and my mom made 25-40k/yr and my dad made about 90-110k/yr. I now make more than both parents combined with a net worth of 600k, which I know is considered mediocre on this site but it's infinitely better than what I grew up with. I never want to feel poor again. None of my friends are good with money and they all blow it every month, even the ones without trust funds who should be saving.

Your parents made $150k — that’s not lower middle class.