LogFAQs > #937595260

LinkPizza posted...

Sure. People can learn a skill and do that. But not everyone. Not even almost everyone. If everyone did that, those jobs would be overfilled with people. Meaning that most of those jobs would either start paying less (not in as much demand anymore), and people wouldn't be able to get them as there would be no open spots (or they wouldn't be open for long). That being said, it's not as easy to save, either. How much a person can save, if they can save, depends on a lot of things. How much money they make is one thing, but you have to consider how much they spend. Like on a house, and other necessities. And how big their family is. And that stuff changes with the area they live in. But that can also change how much they make.

And even then, saving can only go so far sometimes. I know plenty of people on base who save a good amount. Usually because they're married mil-to-mil. And even then, it would take a lot to save the amount you're talking about saving. Well, without living a shitty life, that is... If they want to live in a cardboard box and only eat ramen for a while, they could save faster. But most normal people don't want to live a shit life for however many years to have a better one when they're old and about to die...

Yes, everyone cant be wealthy to a point they can live off investments. Nothing would ever be produced! Everyone cant also do the same job. The size of your family and when you have children is a personal choice. Having a kid or two should only push retirement back a few years.

A house isnt a necessity, its an indulgence. Shelter is a necessity, maybe a small apartment you split with a SO. Maybe a good sized 1 bedroom for $1000 a month, leaving them with a full $8000 to spend throughout the rest of the year if they need to live on 20k. Yes, you do have to consider how much a person spends. They can choose to spend their money on something other than a income-generating asset, or they can spend it on a consumer goods.

Spending 15-20k isnt cardboard boxes and ramen levels of spending. Its a single bedroom apartment on the outskirts of a city, healthy meals, transportation, and good entertainment. It also leaves the average American able to save $10,000. Cardboard box and ramen is spending like $300 annually. The idea isnt to live a shitty life, but if buying luxury items are what makes life worth living for you...retirement isnt your thing.