Same -- this is a just do it -- kind of thing. I think it helps that I've always maxed out, since my first job so I look at 18k in the 401k the same way I look at taxes -- there's no choice. So my budget is built around gross - 18k 401k - taxes.

I agree with the "we just did it" poster. It's not meant to be flippant. We increased our contributions with every COLA, step, and grade increase we got over the years. We are two mid-ladder 14s with one child in daycare and one in school, and a fairly substantial mortgage. We drive beater cars, we don't have expensive hobbies, we limit eating out, our vacations, such as they are, are just to visit family anyway since that eats up most of our vacation time combined with school closings. I don't feel like we are deprived in life, we even have a house cleaner come every other week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tell ya, even with double GS-15 10s and a kid it ain't easy. We want to move someplace where the air is cleaner and the groceries are cheaper.

isn't that around 300k? I wouldn't characterize that as "ain't easy" with one kid. You are doing very well.

320k... if you can't do it w/320k, it's on you.

Anonymous wrote:I tell ya, even with double GS-15 10s and a kid it ain't easy. We want to move someplace where the air is cleaner and the groceries are cheaper.

isn't that around 300k? I wouldn't characterize that as "ain't easy" with one kid. You are doing very well.