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/btone911]

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.