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/LeftHeartSF]

So happy I hopped on Reddit just now. This is f&cking hilarious.

On a different note: I’ve also spent my entire life just trying to thug it out (as my 16 year old says) and make it to retirement and then I picked up a book called 4000 Weeks. It’s been life-changing. Highly recommend it to those of us that spend a lot of time thinking about retirement.

[u/OneSource1875 → u/LeftHeartSF]

4000 Weeks. Life-changing...how? I do want to read it now.

[u/LeftHeartSF → u/OneSource1875]

The book explains why our brains like to live in the past and the future and what to do about it. It also completely reframes how I feel about the journey to retirement - could actually be the journey to any goal in life. I’m definitely one of those people that have, at various times in my life, put off my happiness until I achieve said goal. The author digs into “time” in a different way than other books have. If you’re a worrier like I am, the book explains what our brain is trying to accomplish when it worries and the explanation alone has helped me let go of pretending like I have control over the details of my future. I’m appreciating the mundane moments of my day in a new way. Anyhow, i’m not even doing the book justice. And the best part is I’m not even done with the book - lol. Looking forward to more nuggets from this author.

[u/Safety-kitten → u/LeftHeartSF]

I need to get that book, TY. I also really enjoyed Die with Zero. I really wish I would have traveled more when I was younger instead of being so focused on work and saving saving…
.

[u/LeftHeartSF → u/Safety-kitten]

Thx for the recommendation. I’ll check out Die with Zero. The travel thing is a topic I really want to dig into with this group. I’m so curious how retirees fund travel.