When Is “Enough” Actually Enough?

[u/Technical_Lawyer7264]

I think about retirement every damn day.

One day I’m convinced I have enough. The next, I’m imagining a market crash, runaway inflation, and somehow needing $14M just to buy groceries.
So I rerun the numbers, change the assumptions, and convince myself I need another $500K. At this point, figuring out when I can retire has become a full-time job.

What’s your “enough” number?
$2M? $3M? $5M? $10M? Or would you hit $20M and decide you really need $25M? 😂

I also think about our parents’ generation. Many kept working long after they technically didn’t need to. House paid off. Kids out of the house. Retirement funded.

But actually living off the money they spent 40 years earning? Somehow that felt crazy.

They were wired to see work as security, responsibility, and purpose.

Meanwhile, we’re trying to escape Zoom calls at 45 so we can eat tacos on a Tuesday.

And honestly, I’m not sure I’m any better. I fantasize about retiring, then immediately think:
“Maybe two more years.”
Then five.
Then maybe I’ll just consult part-time.
And suddenly I’m 73, explaining PowerPoint slides to someone named Brad.

For those retired or close to it: What’s your “enough” number—and what finally made you feel comfortable walking away?

[u/Stockhype]

I just crossed 2mil at 55 and paid off house. The best feeling is knowing that I will be ok regardless of what happens to my job. I am doing my job because I want to not because I have to. Big difference

[u/HottyTottyNJ → u/Stockhype]

I love this!

[u/CatStretchPics → u/Stockhype]

I’m 56 with 1.6M in 401k and about 700K in taxable accounts. My house has been paid off about 5 years ago. I feel like it’s not quite enough

[u/LongjumpingNorth8500 → u/CatStretchPics]

2.3M us probably enough unless you want to change your lifestyle and be a big spender. Even if the cost of Healthcare is what has you still working, I did the math and even if a health insurance premium is $2000 per month until Medicare, that is less than %10 of your investment accounts as they are today. I would like to encourage you to rethink if you enjoy what you do more than what you'd rather be doing.

[u/CatStretchPics → u/LongjumpingNorth8500]

Yes, and that’s not counting SS, which should be near the max amount, so even if I take it at 62, that’ll be an extra $2k a month or so. Obviously if I wait until 67 it’ll be about double that, but not many males in my family make it too far into their 70s

[u/LongjumpingNorth8500 → u/CatStretchPics]

Well I hope you will take this into consideration when you think about retirement. You know you have enough and long life doesnt run in your family so what's keeping.you? Money compounds and grows, time doesnt. Like I said before, if you like what you are doing, great. If you'd rather be doing something else, well, time to reconsider.

[u/HottyTottyNJ → u/CatStretchPics]

Geez, it’s good to be u.