At what HHI did you stop feeling like more money = better life?

[Anonymous]

Hopefully this question makes sense. I see a lot of posts where people making $500k say they are middle class/don't live a life of luxury. We are DINKs and I know that kids make a big difference, but since surpassing $175k (we make about $225k now) I haven't felt like more money makes any difference in our lifestyle. Sure, if we made more we could have a bigger house perhaps or buy more luxury goods, but we have everything we need and nearly everything we want at this income level.

[Anonymous]

400k dink and I'll let you know when we get there.

[Anonymous]

I should add, we did buy a nice big house for just the two of us, and I'm going over finances with a fine tooth comb right now. Definitely have everything we need and more.

[Anonymous]

$125K

We were very comfortable with that amount.

[Anonymous]

$200k

[Anonymous]

Have 3 kids and live in DC. Have felt fine since 150. Make 200 now.

[Anonymous]

150k. Now at 250k. We live such a nice life that I don't understand a lot of the posters whining about 400k+. I think they must really have a lot of lifestyle creep because we have a nice home and still take international vacations yearly. There's nothing I want that I don't have.

[Anonymous]

$275k, family of four

[Anonymous]

This is the conversation I currently have with DH at our 220HHI:

Me: I feel like we aren’t making enough money.
DH: why?
Me: Everybody we know makes more money.
DH: so?
Me: We should too.
DH: Is there something you want that we don’t have?
Me: no...
DH: then why do you want more money?
Me: maybe I’ll want something in the future that I can’t afford!
DH: ok, why don’t we worry about it then.
Me: ok, I guess you are right!

[Anonymous]

Kids are sooooo expensive. I was quite happy in my 20s making 75k. Married now with two kids. We're making 400-500k and feel good . . . but we would probably consider private school if we made more.

[Anonymous]

Once we reached $300k we were living a very comfortable UMC life and we were not worried about money. As the years went by we were making multiples of that but we lived in the same home, drove the same cars, took the same vacations. The UMC life was perfect for us. But our savings grew! Now we are retired and we are spending it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the conversation I currently have with DH at our 220HHI:

Me: I feel like we aren’t making enough money.
DH: why?
Me: Everybody we know makes more money.
DH: so?
Me: We should too.
DH: Is there something you want that we don’t have?
Me: no...
DH: then why do you want more money?
Me: maybe I’ll want something in the future that I can’t afford!
DH: ok, why don’t we worry about it then.
Me: ok, I guess you are right!

I love this! Hopefully you are saving for retirement and educations which will be in your future.

[Anonymous]

DINKS early 30s looking at kids soon -- we make 600K, $4M net worth and are certainly very comfortable. But we live in a VHCOL and I still feel a desire to make more because I would like to reach financial independence ASAP after having kids. Being financially independent with kids would increase my peace of mind = better life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are sooooo expensive. I was quite happy in my 20s making 75k. Married now with two kids. We're making 400-500k and feel good . . . but we would probably consider private school if we made more.

You can afford private unless you are living beyond your means.

When DC started private we were making Around $200k (with a new mortgage to boot). I would say we have paid tuition without sweating for quite some time and we're over $500k HHI now. One kid but still.

[Anonymous]

We stopped caring about more money/felt as rich as our taste could ever possibly need at $400k (including private school for one). We are at 900k-ish now and have private school for 3. But nothing has meaningfully changed since 400k.