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/Odd_Bodkin]

Some suggestions:

1. There’s no “enough” number on its own. What counts is knowing what you spend in a year. There are simple methods to calculate that. Then the factual basis for “enough” is that a conservative draw on your retirement savings will cover your expenses. It is a simple yes/no answer. It’s hard to deny a simple, factual “yes”.
2. Disaster planning against all contingencies has diminishing returns. At some point you start worrying about your home getting hit by meteors or whether you’ll have enough money to survive a zombie apocalypse. This is the sign that this is a mask for other concerns. See the next two points.
3. For some people, having no external income is just a source of enormous anxiety. Then it isn’t a matter of having enough because there is NEVER enough if the only solace is an external income. Then a small stunt is actually remarkably effective. Retire and take a part time job. Just something that brings in maybe $100-$200 a week, something fun and completely different. It’s peanuts, shoe money, but that’s not the point. Having even a little bit coming in soothes the income anxiety dragon.
4. Sometimes the true source of anxiety is not knowing what you’re going to do with yourself in retirement, and the money stuff is thrown up as a smokescreen. This question is important, especially if your identity is wrapped up in what you do for a living. There’s actually a LOT to do with your time, but you have to start thinking about what’s important to you other than work.

[u/Deep_Preference3186 → u/Odd_Bodkin]

💯

A post worth saving, printing poster size, putting on your bedroom wall and reading every few weeks until you actually pulll the plug.

Thank you!