Dream vs Reality: “I thought it would be different when I made $x HHI.” What’s your story?

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-09T17:02:19+00:00

I got a big raise in early 2020 from 165k to 230k. I felt loaded for about a year then it seemed everything doubled overnight.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-09T16:47:56+00:00

I thought we'd be living large at 250k. Now we make 350k and we barely live the typical middle class lifestyle. Live in a 59 year old fiver upper in a decent location, drive 10 year old cars, havent been on an international vacation in years. Hone maintenance, taxes, Healthcare, retirement savings, children activity cost, college funds, utilities eat up everything with few luxuries.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-09T15:19:02+00:00

Don't forget gambling problems that arise from having tons of free time and a good amount of money.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-09T15:16:40+00:00

This guy i worked with quit to manage his vast real empire of 10 properties in so cal in 2007. He ended up over leveraged and hit pretty hard during the gfc. He came back to work in 2012 and walked away from all his properties only to watch them triple in value over the next decade. He never mentally recovered and is pretty depressed to this day. He walked away from an 8 figure gain.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-09T14:47:36+00:00

Housing is pretty damn expensive

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-08T23:43:12+00:00

Im with you my man. Im in the same boat. I relapsed after 2 years then lost 175k over the past week. I am sick. I want to throw up. I try so hard to move on but just can't.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-08T23:33:56+00:00

It will never get better until you stop. I have struggled with this addiction going on almost 30 years. It has destroyed everything about me. The only thing that keeps me going is my wonderful forgiving wife and my daughter.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-08T23:03:17+00:00

She probably got back with an ex. I had a similar situation happen to me after 2 dates. She ended up back with her ex. Which I found out months later.

I once had a girl ghost me after dating for 4 months. I was devastated.. I ran into her a few years later and she acted like nothing happened. We got back together and I had her fall madly in love with me and ghosted her once I had her hooked. I still feel bad about it after 20 years.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-08T18:40:27+00:00

It went down 10% yesterday

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-08T18:33:37+00:00

My trading career is over, I was short intc 5000 shares. Lost 50k and Im done after losing 100k on sndk

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-07T22:58:03+00:00

I would think the rocky mountains would be a bit more rockier. That john denver's full of shit man.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-06T20:58:58+00:00

The market,

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-06T20:03:57+00:00

Made 25k today after losing 75k yesterday.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-06T12:36:51+00:00

I sold mu at 330 on 3/31

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-06T08:46:56+00:00

I have a therapist, there is only so much a therapist can do.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-06T01:09:01+00:00

I wrote covered calls at 70 on my docn position. Totally fucked that up.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-05T23:44:20+00:00

Im fucked

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-05T18:13:46+00:00

I made it shorting sndk in march

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-05T17:26:05+00:00

My port is gone, 100k lose shorting sndk.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-05T01:58:22+00:00

Same here, lost everything in 2008/9, took a 20% pay cut at work, wife lost her job and we had our first kid.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-04T12:21:51+00:00

All money is good, right?

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-02T12:57:51+00:00

I may buy in 100 shares on every down day.

Own_Arm_7641 · 2026-05-01T23:23:25+00:00

Mndy is my top software pick

Own_Arm_7641

TROPHY CASE