[rbg81]

I think this is correct. My salary is a solid six figures, but has not kept pace with inflation. Many of the things I rely on have doubled or tripled in price over the last few years. Things like groceries, transportation, utilities, health care and taxes have skyrocketed. I have always bought new cars, but have balked at paying over $40K for a car.

It does help that I have a low interest rate mortgage, my kids have moved out and interest rates on CDs have improved. But I have given up on the idea of early retirement. Once I starting taking money out of my 401K, I’m going to lose about a third of it to taxes right off the bat.

[gloryblaze]

Yikes! I do hope you realize that a solid six figures makes you one of a small and fortunate few?

https://www.zippia.com/advice/how-many-people-make-over-100k/#:~:text=18%25%20of%20individual%20Americans%20make,than%20women%20in%20the%20US.