[quote=Scarlett]
Or lose a job or move to a more expensive area/housing or have a medical emergency or have high maintenance costs for the old cars, old home etc.
I thought it was calculated based on safe stable living with 8% return. Now you are saying things like inheritance and high inflation. Why not winning the lottery.
I see that the issue of having 2-3 kids is not disputed. So what is your point? that one in a million couples with that kind of income can do that?[/quote]
Since it’s all hypothetical, I didn’t count in raises, bonuses, job losses, buying new houses, etc. I was trying to keep the equation as simple as possible. Life is too unpredictable to know exactly what will happen. If the bad things happen, this hypothetical couple will never get to $1.5M, if good things keep on happening, $1.5M will be reach sooner than 15 years.
Cost of maintaining old cars? Really? Is it that expensive to maintain a civic? Cost of maintaining old house will still be less than cost of buying a new house. Same w/ a car.
Well, since you ask me to tell you want my point is, here it is. My point is that it can be done. Whether you, I, or anyone here can do it is dependent on how they spend their money and how they budget their money. But it’s possible if one strive to achieve it. Having kids is only expensive if you want it to be. They don’t need brand new clothes, hand me down would do just fine. Bottom line is, when talking about savings, ones expense is just as important as ones income. The more frugal you are, the more money you can save.
Are you disputing that it’s possible to save $4k/month for a HH that make $150k/yr?
If one find it too tough to save $4k/month, how about saving $2k/month instead? @8% return each year, you’ll have $1.9M after 25 years. If you start at 25, you’ll be 50 when you have $1.9M. That’s still pretty young.
If you find it too tough to save $2k/month, how about saving $1k/month instead? @8% return each year, you’ll amass $1.5M after 30 years. If you start at 25, you’ll be 60 when you have $1.5M. Is it tough to save $1k/month when you’re making $150k/yr? Another point I want to make is, it’s much easier to amass a large asset if you start early. Compound interest works in your favor.
I guess I should have just toss out the term compound interest instead of trying to show it w/ examples. This whole attack from sdcellar would have never arise if I keep my examples to myself.
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