SD R, I’m with you on being very surprised and impressed by the cordiality on this thread as well. Hopefully this is how it’ll be from now on. I’m also with you on 40+% of take home as being high, in and of itself. However, he did state that they’re on single income and he’s still contributing to 401k and HSA (assuming maxing out the $15500). We don’t know what his wife’s work situation is. Maybe she has the capability of going back to work if things gets tough. I personally think they have more income growth potential and are more conservative than most who are dual income and are at 30-40% of their take home. You’re also right that we all have our own comfort zone and just because someone has a different comfort zone that we do doesn’t mean that they’re wrong. Everyone’s life style is different and only they truly know what they’re truly comfortable with.