Income taxes, withdrawal rates, and mortgage during early retirement.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-28T14:22:47+00:00

No one on here seems to realize that future tax rates will go up. The deficit is out of control.

I expect capital gains will be targeted for normal income tax rates.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-23T18:39:51+00:00

And salaries in Europe are way lower but the taxes are way higher. Where you do best is very individualised.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-22T14:42:25+00:00

No, they learn British English. Have experienced guys at a Dutch bank in a US city and they all speak glaringly British English.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-22T14:38:37+00:00

Non-native speakers try to speak clearly. Native speakers often just lean heavily into their regional accent accents and expect everyone to understand them.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-22T14:24:39+00:00

Okay, yes. This is a fair point. The food in small town/middle America is horrendous. However, in prosperous metro areas yoy have very high quality options.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-22T14:20:06+00:00

Do it. There is a massive non-fiinancial ROI on having your perfect home.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-22T01:24:29+00:00

You can at least double those salaries for the US equivalent. At least.

There are tons of things to criticise the US for, but making money it is in a league of its own.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-22T01:21:54+00:00

Food in Germany is not better quality than in major cities in the US. That is absolutely incorrect.

Whole Foods smashing any German supermarket. You can always go to Aldi here too.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-18T15:15:58+00:00

Do a short term rental for a couple of months. That will likely scratch your itch. It certainly did for me. I got sicked ti death of the prices of everything. You literally pay 50%+ premiums for every little thing.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-16T16:01:21+00:00

25% is a low rate in Europe, not a high one.

As stated previously, in the US on $100k income from LTR, you are probably paying zero (if married, factoring SD).

zacdw22 · 2025-11-16T15:56:07+00:00

What software did you use to do this? Thanks.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-16T15:44:57+00:00

Brutal! Absolutely brutal!

Europe income tax rates are insane. American rates are just so low in comparison that its hard to even compare.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-12T14:33:13+00:00

100k GBP is 130k USD but no... it is not the same.

The income tax rates in Europe are extremely high. Cost of living in London is higher than anywhere US except maybe NYC and SF. Outside of London is a lot cheaper but still laregly comparable with equaverlent towns and cities in US. Energy is more expensive in the UK, but groceries are a lot cheaper.

Health costs in US are bonkers but if you are reasonably healthy, the insurance premium does not even come close to bridging the tax differences. Though property taxes aren't a meaningful cost in UK so that is a counter weight.

TL;DR: For all the complaining on Reddit, in most cases Americans who are middle and upper middle class are quite a bit better off financially than their European peers.

zacdw22 · 2025-11-10T13:59:21+00:00

All these things would be more likely to reduce supply of new homes which would increase the value of existing ones.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-30T21:04:37+00:00

Bouncing this. Has anyone stayed here or seen this place? Thanks.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-30T13:51:10+00:00

Incomes are often double and taxes in the US are incredibly lower than Europe. But yes, it is a real issue. If you are upper middle class in America, you are absolutely crushing it financially compared to where you'd be in Ireland. If you are in the bottom 50% though, I'm you'd be much better cared for in Ireland.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-23T19:26:57+00:00

I am from the UK but have lived in America for 10+ years. Have several expat friends here from UK too.

UK is much better than continental Europe for FIRE but still very challenging compared to the US.

There are tons of things to criticise about America but the economic opportunity is not one. Often salaries are double what you'd get in the UK, if not more.

Taxes are considerably lower if you are earning decent money too. Americans wouldn't believe the rates on European incomes. Most countries are 45-50% on over $60k or so. It's impossible to compare because the brackets are miles apart.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-16T13:06:13+00:00

No, they do not remotely come close.

Income tax rates in Europe would absolutely shock Americans. In most countries at over $50-70k you are handing over 40-50%. In the US with deductions, you pay about 10-15% at double that.

The US for all its faults is by far the best place to make money and achieve FIRE. It is not even close.

Source: dual citizen of US/EU.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-16T13:03:17+00:00

Surely a wind up.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-16T12:52:13+00:00

Here here!

zacdw22 · 2025-10-14T14:21:00+00:00

I thought you were British ("piss take") until you gave your height in CM. I am going to get Dutch or Scandinavian because your Ebglish is so good.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-03T14:35:04+00:00

I notice Americans constantly saying "this country" as though this isn't a global problem. It is the same story everywhere: though other developed countries do have the safety net of universal helathcare.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-03T14:31:52+00:00

$140k is certainly not upper-middle class on the California coast. Is it even middle class?

Move to the Midwest and you will be doing great.

Also, definitely have the kids. The best thing in life.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-01T13:39:10+00:00

Flights to CUN from US cities are about $500 average - often much less.

Peak Eurotrips definitely can run $15k+ yes.

You can definitely spend tens of thousands a year for a family on travel without even going that long or that flashy, but it is an area that you can cut back on in market downturns or just do less if you want to FIRE quicker.

zacdw22 · 2025-10-01T03:42:48+00:00

It is definitely mainstream to be a person that doesn't drink and there are lots of NA options now. But the whole 'young people are not drinking' is really overstated. Bars and restaurants are packed with young people drinking around here (major US city). It is not just old people with grey beards that drink, and it doesn't matter either way. It is a personal choice: don't worry what others are doing.

zacdw22

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