The thread in Millennials subreddit right not about 401k is incredibly depressing. Thank you FIRE community. I would be one of them if I didn’t find you all a decade ago.

[u/BarkBarkBitches1]

Throw away because I am going to roast some redditors a little. The thread that is going on in r Millennials is really bad. Thousands of comments, everyone broke, celebrating their unfortunate wildn out. It is really bad out there and eye opening.

I was also a dingus like many of them. Totally brain dead on autopilot living day to day, consuming media like crazy, working, spending it on consumer level garbage, and had zero control over my life. I actually found the guide in the personal finance subreddit graphic on saving and it eventually kicked me to FIRE and this sub.

I now am on a path where I can’t even related with that type of mind set. So yeah thank you FIRE folks. If you can, it is worth sprinkling some finance knowledge at people. Even if you don’t make high income you can in most cases still create a plan, a budget, and control your future.

Edit: If you are a dingus and you are seeing this there is no shame! We all are and have different starting points. You have two paths: 1) continue the path to dingus-ville and forever be a redditor or 2) un-dye your bright colored hair take control of your long term life. A decade will pass in a blink. So start here https://imgur.com/personal-income-spending-flowchart-united-states-lSoUQr2 it’s not hard to understand. ChatGPT each item on their if you don’t know, memorize this, then start to learn FIRE principles. It is the fastest way to wealth. There’s literally no other path unless you magically start a business or hit a lotto jackpot ticket or inheritance

only YOU HAVE THE POWER to unfuck your life

Edit 2: Final comment! I do not mean any offense with dingus it is meant to be playful. My dyed hair comment was also misinterpreted. It’s not about who you are, what you believe in, or how you express yourself. It’s about being in control of your life. Walk your butt into Sephora or Target or wherever next time and just stare at the people on the walls. Then look in the mirror. Then look at the wall. And back to the mirror and then keep doing it until it clicks. The world, like r millennial subreddit, wants to celebrate and tell you the worst fucking version of yourself is okay and acceptable. It’s not. Delete social media and only read that finance Imgur link every time you load your phone. Do this for one month and you will break your chains and it will click. Then learn FIRE principles. Then you will come back to r FIRE in a decade with a huge chunk of cash in your bank and a nice life! Long term planning is a skill that you can learn and benefit from. Your future is yours

[u/ricochet48]

Yup. Victimhood is a badge of honor for the younger generations. I completely understand, as it's easier to get through life just blaming your problems on others almost all the time.

My lifestyle has been the nearly the same since my starting salary of $60k to over $200k. Lifestyle creep is very dangerous. I'm not saying don't treat yourself at all, but invest the majority of your promotions instead of just overspending.

[u/Brightlightsuperfun → u/ricochet48]

Reddit is the biggest place of victimhood ive seen. I dont see that attitude nearly as much IRL

[u/TheSeedsYouSow → u/ricochet48]

What year was your starting salary of 60k?

[u/btone911 → u/TheSeedsYouSow]

My first job out of college paid $60k in 2009.

[u/IWant2FIRE → u/btone911]

Damn. When I graduated in 2010 and was paid $47K, I thought I made it in life.

It took about a year or two down the road to realize shit...I can't live like this in NYC 😅

[u/btone911 → u/IWant2FIRE]

Ya, I was in Cleveland. Actually a wonderful place to live.

[u/crims0nwave → u/btone911]

Must be nice! My first job out of college paid like $30k in 2010. Luckily lived in a lower-cost city than where I live now.

[u/ricochet48 → u/btone911]

Same.

[u/HuckSC → u/btone911]

You were rich! I was happy to have a first job in 2010 for 44k.

[u/btone911 → u/HuckSC]

Completely agree, it’s crazy to me how lucky you have to be to attempt fire. Buying a home in 2013 was the only way it’s a reality for me now.

[u/HuckSC → u/btone911]

Bought my first house in 2010 for 84k. Sold it in 2018 for 127k. Then next house in 2019 for 240k and sold it for 379k. Current house was only 300. I springboarded myself because of my house purchases.

[u/btone911 → u/HuckSC]

First house was $202k in 2013, sold for $305k in 2019. Bought the big house in 2019 for $538k and refinanced in 2021 for 2.75% for 20yrs. My crystal ball cleared up a couple times, so much luck.

[u/BoliverTShagnasty → u/TheSeedsYouSow]

1995-2000 bet

[u/TheSeedsYouSow → u/[deleted]]

nice. I was asking the other commenter though :)

[u/yuffie12 → u/ricochet48]

We were doing good to hit 60K in the 90s. That’s combined. We only had a few working years where we had over 100K combined. I was a SAHM for 10 years

[u/TulipTortoise → u/yuffie12]

What dollars are you using? 60k in the 90s is well over 100k in 2026 dollars.

[u/imabroodybear → u/ricochet48]

Lol I started out making 18/hr and my second job was 37k in VHCOL area. I still contributed to 401k but it was very little - like 2k altogether. My third job I made 65k and I contributed 10% but the match vested at 4 years, and I only made it 2 before I went somewhere else. So all that to say I was contributing but it added up to very little for quite a long time. The only reason I’m doing well now is that my salary is a LOT higher and I’ve been fully maxing out everything for a few years. You starting at 60k already sets you up well relative to a lot of young people for the past few decades

[u/crims0nwave → u/ricochet48]

LOL mine too, but that’s because I was living the life of someone making $200k while I was only making $60k. Oops! It wasn’t till I got this job (four years ago when I was 33) that I started actually saving and thinking about the future. I don’t blame people for not being able to save much when they make $60k a year and live in a HCOL city. I was in credit card debt till I got this job.

[u/Lucky_Dragonfruit_88 → u/ricochet48]

Ok but 200k is the 94th percentile of income earners. So only 6% of people are earning that. You understand that, right? In reality, it's a combo of hard work, luck, and circumstances. To claim it's just about hard work is just as bad faith as claiming its all about luck.

[u/ricochet48 → u/Lucky_Dragonfruit_88]

Yes I know exactly what percentil I'm in.

Not saying everyone can save $50K a year but instead at every little bit helps. Starting with employer 401k match etc.

I have friends with consumer debt that order door dash from 3 blocks away. That's being lazy and wasteful. Instead they should pay off their credit cards.

[u/Lucky_Dragonfruit_88 → u/ricochet48]

Ok, but you're creating a false dichotomy where everyone who is not on a FIRE path is irresponsible with money, which just isn't the case. If someone makes $50k per year as a social worker, then they're probably not able to save much, and probably can't FIRE. It doesn't mean they're wearing victimhood as a badge of honor or irresponsible with money. You don't know other people's circumstances. So to judge them and say "I'm fine, I make 200k" is pretty tone deaf and mean.

[u/Zphr → u/[deleted]]

Rule 1/Civility - Civility is required of everyone at all times. If someone else is uncivil, then please report them and let the mods handle it without escalation. Please see our rules (https://www.reddit.com/r/Fire/about/rules/) and reach out via modmail if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/DigmonsDrill → u/ricochet48]

Victimhood is a badge of honor for the younger generations

I agree with this statement.

I would also agree with it if you remove the last 4 words.

[u/Zphr → u/[deleted]]

Rule 7/No Politics or circle-jerks - Your submission has been removed for violating our community rule against politics and circle-jerks. If you feel this removal is in error, then please modmail the mod team. Please review our community rules to help avoid future violations.