6 ms·

Or you'll spend it all on rent?

vecinu 9y ago
Why would you do that if your goal is to retire early? In 10-15 years in SV/NY you can earn $1MM after tax + growth and then move to a lower COL city/town and take it easy.
- pm90 9y ago
  The problem with that is that your COL in those 10-15 years is significantly impacted. That's probably 10% of your entire life. While I understand some people might be comfortable with the tradeoff... its important to remember there is something you are giving up.
  - vecinu 9y ago
    I don't think I understand what you're giving up in that 10% of your life. I'm living in a studio, have a parking spot, walk to work and go out with my coworkers/friends after work. What am I missing out on?
- gozur88 9y ago
  After tax? Sure, it's possible, but there aren't actually that many people who make $300k/yr.
  - aianus 9y ago
    $100k after tax is only $140k pretax
    - gozur88 9y ago
      Eh... sure, if you're only paying federal taxes. But in on that $140k you're going to end up with about $92k. And everything is more expensive in cities. The idea you're going to live in SF and save more than about half that, even living like a monk, is kind of fanciful. NYC is even worse - lop another thousand off and pay even more to live.
      - aianus 9y ago
        I've personally lived in both cities and you can live perfectly well on $4k a month with a couple of roommates. Better than the average American even. Then, if you invest $46k a year for 15 years at a real return of 4% you end up with ~$943k in present day dollars which is right around what the parent was saying. Not to mention $140k total compensation is relatively low for a senior dev in SF/NYC, you will likely be making a lot more 10 years in.
        gozur88 9y ago
        Where are you going to get a real return of 4%?
        aianus 9y ago
        US stock market has averaged 8 over the past 50 years
        gozur88 9y ago
        That's unlikely to be true in the future for a whole host of reasons.
      - vecinu 9y ago
        You will be making $200k+ in SF even in your early years, if you climb the corporate ladder you can get to $300k in 5 years. You can definitely sock away enough even without a 4% rate of growth to put away $1MM of after-tax money in 10-15 years, if you're smart with your money.

Why would you do that if your goal is to retire early? In 10-15 years in SV/NY you can earn $1MM after tax + growth and then move to a lower COL city/town and take it easy.

pm90 9y ago
The problem with that is that your COL in those 10-15 years is significantly impacted. That's probably 10% of your entire life. While I understand some people might be comfortable with the tradeoff... its important to remember there is something you are giving up.
- vecinu 9y ago
  I don't think I understand what you're giving up in that 10% of your life. I'm living in a studio, have a parking spot, walk to work and go out with my coworkers/friends after work. What am I missing out on?
gozur88 9y ago
After tax? Sure, it's possible, but there aren't actually that many people who make $300k/yr.
- aianus 9y ago
  $100k after tax is only $140k pretax
  - gozur88 9y ago
    Eh... sure, if you're only paying federal taxes. But in on that $140k you're going to end up with about $92k. And everything is more expensive in cities. The idea you're going to live in SF and save more than about half that, even living like a monk, is kind of fanciful. NYC is even worse - lop another thousand off and pay even more to live.
    - aianus 9y ago
      I've personally lived in both cities and you can live perfectly well on $4k a month with a couple of roommates. Better than the average American even. Then, if you invest $46k a year for 15 years at a real return of 4% you end up with ~$943k in present day dollars which is right around what the parent was saying. Not to mention $140k total compensation is relatively low for a senior dev in SF/NYC, you will likely be making a lot more 10 years in.
      - gozur88 9y ago
        Where are you going to get a real return of 4%?
        aianus 9y ago
        US stock market has averaged 8 over the past 50 years
        gozur88 9y ago
        That's unlikely to be true in the future for a whole host of reasons.
    - vecinu 9y ago
      You will be making $200k+ in SF even in your early years, if you climb the corporate ladder you can get to $300k in 5 years. You can definitely sock away enough even without a 4% rate of growth to put away $1MM of after-tax money in 10-15 years, if you're smart with your money.