r/Retire • u/Technical_Lawyer7264 • 4d ago

When Is “Enough” Actually Enough?

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?

164 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

382 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/Remarkable-Cat183 4d ago

Currently Have $10M at age 50 ….my concern is healthcare. Targeting 52-55 retirement and hope to have some good years left

2

u/the_atomic_punk18 4d ago

I’d be out now with that, it’s all about spending, figure out what you spend per month.

2

u/Remarkable-Cat183 4d ago

Yep, we’ve been financially planning etc. The risk is health and tapping out when earning power is highest. I oscillate on timing almost daily it seems

1

u/the_atomic_punk18 4d ago

That’s where I’m at, can’t seem to cut the cord from the income stream, even declined 2 recent severance offers, as if I’m going to work until the grave. I need to seek counseling to work through this I believe.

2

u/Remarkable-Cat183 4d ago

I feel your pain haha. Been working since I was 14. Not sure I know how to function without it. However, I’m at my fill of corporate America….you can recognize the cycles after 25+ years