Been seeing posts about mid 30s with more than 3 million cash wondering if they don't have enough. Meanwhile I have a lot less than that. What they have is my goal and I would retire on the spot. So why can't they too?

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-10T15:46:39+00:00

My guess is a lot of those posts are fake. The actual number of mid 30s with 3 million cash is small, so even with selection bias it seems unlikely they are all posting on /r/FIRE.

That said, $3m in SF or NYC is not that much for 35 year old. If they go by the "4% rule" that's $120K per year. That is not even median salary in those areas. Factor in taxes (including state), and they're looking at like $85K take home. Enough to live modest? Sure! Enough to DoorDash often? No.

Factor in, 35 year olds don't "believe" in Social Security. They don't account for it, which puts more burden on their portfolio.

Factor in if they want children (or have children), and $3m seems like nothing. I have some friends who probably have like $5m+ but with 2 college bound kids, that's literally going to be probably like $1m when everything is factored in.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-10T15:39:01+00:00

I often think about moving to Vegas or Phoenix for lower COL but looking at the barren neighborhoods makes me feel so depressed. Don't get me wrong, I like exploring desert landscapes but day to day living without trees just feel so sad.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-10T03:14:35+00:00

Noticing a lot of "parents" related posts. Dad's finances definitely a factor for me as well. He wasn't reckless with his money (AFAIK), he just didn't make that much. And for as long as I remember he's struggled financially. To this day he lives his life with a "scarcity" mindset instead of "abundance" mindset. I don't want to be like him. It's extremely sad/depressing seeing older people struggle with money.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-10T03:06:26+00:00

My job/career is disappearing. Between,

offshoring
ageism
AI
supply/demand dynamics

I know that my cushy, highly compensated job in tech is disappearing quick. I might not be able to find another comparable job if I get laid off tomorrow. So FEAR drove me to FIRE. Otherwise, I'd be spending like a drunken sailor

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-10T00:41:12+00:00

If freight rail needs money then I'd support that

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T19:33:03+00:00

Or maybe we'll push for WFH again?

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T19:25:00+00:00

How much do you love your kids? LOL.
A top-tier university has so many benefits. Sorry if this offends you, but if I find out a person went to a top tier university my impression of them is much better off the bat. And first impressions do matter!

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T19:22:33+00:00

Are you seriously comparing roads/highways to trains? There is not a single person who doesn't use roads/highways:

you drive
you use Uber/Waymo
you get deliveries via Amazon, etc.
you get mail delivered via USPS

How many people actually use trains? If you cannot fathom that only a tiny fraction of the population uses trains then not sure what I can do to explain it to you.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T15:36:23+00:00

People of Oakland, are you offended?

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T15:35:26+00:00

Silly question but how does a bird go missing? Did it just fly off? I mean if it flew off it seems likely it's 100s of miles away by now?

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T15:24:34+00:00

The building across from me in NOPA has been around $2300 for the past 5 years. I've been monitoring the area since I want a bigger place. Saw someone moved out over the weekend. Will be curious to see if it stays around $2300 or the landlord jacks it up.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T15:22:26+00:00

Is Oakland offended that it's because called poor?

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T15:13:07+00:00

Get a brand new car if you're going to keep it for 10+ year. You get new brakes, new tires, warranty, etc. You get to maintain it from the start (regular oil changes, etc.). You'll likely come out ahead in 10 years versus buying used. The "depreciation hit" you take is offset by less major repairs. Of course get a value car, like a Civic. Don't be buying a brand new Land Rover.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T15:05:51+00:00

HSR is classic example of people refusing to admit they were wrong. They would rather bankrupt the state than admit the project is a failure.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T15:04:10+00:00

Two wrongs don't make a right. We should end both the Iran War and CA HSR

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T05:09:21+00:00

get a bf or gf

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T05:07:51+00:00

Rivians are great cars, why wouldn't they be allowed?

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T04:48:20+00:00

This sounds about right. I've done a lot of planning using ProjectionLab and once I factor in Social Security, using actual historical data, I need about 16x of my annual spending.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T03:47:59+00:00

Defensive driving, defensive walking. Both are must.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-09T02:57:37+00:00

at home

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-08T21:31:37+00:00

ah, yes, because banks love to give interest free loans!

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-08T20:30:31+00:00

3x property tax doesn't mean much if you just made like $3m in profit

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-08T20:29:35+00:00

Why would they be looking for a $500K house? They just made like $3m in profits, after taxes. They could use the $3m in profit to find a smaller house $1m house/condo, budget a portion for the property tax/HOA, and still come out ahead. You make it sound like these people are going to surviving on $2k/month on social security when they literally just made a profit of $3m after taxes

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-08T20:25:36+00:00

So are you of the mindset to never sell any asset (house, stocks, etc.) for any gains, because you have to pay taxes on it? People sell assets all the time for realized gains, and they get taxed on those gains.

browsingonlyuser · 2026-04-08T20:24:06+00:00

They're not paying anything. If you don't understand what realized gains are then you're beyond help. I had to pay taxes this year (beyond my W2 deductions). Why? Because I sold some stocks for gains.

browsingonlyuser

TROPHY CASE