re: How much were you making at ages 25, 28 and 30?

Then dollars / Today's dollars

25 - $30k / $39k

28 - $68k / 84k

30 - $68k / $79k

Between the ages of 28 & 30 I was laid off for COVID and took a "prove-it" deal for similar position in completely new industry since I needed a job. By the grace of God, I've been able to do really well in this new industry and actually just got my first "big increase". I'll be making a little over $100k more than I was 8 years ago. Blessed would be a tremendous understatement for the way things have turned out after I was laid off with a wife and kid at home.

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It is never about how much you make. It's what you spend.

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False. It's a two sided equation...of course what you make matters tremendously. Broadly speaking, there is a spending problem in America but there's also plenty that need to earn more.

In today's dollars:

$263k
$313k
$439K

At least according to the linked calculator.

Ah, inflation.

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Inflation has gone up about 34% since 2014. A little less than 3% per year on average. What have you been doing that you haven't increased your income ~30% over the past 10 years. You had 4 years of Trump + crazy covid spending/low interest rates that have juiced salaries over the past 10 years.

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i made just a bit more in 2023 AND 2024 than i did in 2022

fml

Age 25: $62k
Age 28: $59k
Age 30: $80k

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If you had much savings at the time then feel free to post that too.

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At 30 it was 180k in retirement accounts. I can tell you to save early and often and as you hit your earning years in your 30s and 40s it really ramps up.

Looking at your savings in your 20s can be depressing, but just keep plucking away.

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Does anybody here make less than $100k?

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I do! I make $75k. I'm a single dad with 1 still in high school and the other in college. I don't have to pay for college because my oldest is smart as hell. My youngest that is still living with me has several scholarships to smaller schools for basketball. I've lucked out with college. Day to day expenses kick my arse. I have about $50k in a 401k that I put the max in every paycheck. Had 2 others that I had to draw out after 2 divorces. Shows I'll have close to $800k around retirement. I have other assets though.

25: $0 per year (1st year of medical school)

28: $0 per year (3rd year of medical school).

30: $50,000

35: Enough to be in the highest tax bracket.

Damn... looking at everyone else's amounts, I must have been living in poverty at 25, 28 and at 30! Sure didnt feel like it though. Hats off to the OT Ballers that are making bank. I'm in my mid 40's, make mid $90's; wife makes $100.... feel like we do very good, modest spenders and not in debt!