[fintstone]

It is hard to imagine owning a million dollar car. On the other hand, it is relatively hard to imagine buying a $100K car for me...although I could.

I was just talking to my much younger brother (giving amateur financial advice...LOL)….since he is in his mid 40's and has no retirement saving/plan other than social security...and pretty much spends everything he earns. I was advising based on an assumed 24% ($165-$315K) tax bracket (trying to explain how to stay out of the next one 32% ($315-400K). Turned out that he was not even in the 35% bracket...but was in the $37% ($600,001 or more)...and has made that much for much of his working life. His housing and cars are not that different than mine (does not live in a high-cost city like NY or LA)...so I said, "I cannot even imagine that I could spend that much each year if I tried." He said, "I cannot imagine being able to live on a penny less." I always felt bad that I made much less than my older brother (lawyer) who was making over a $mil years ago (in DC)...but did not expect the same for my younger brother (engineer) who really seems not to be a real go-getter. We are all from a very poor family (rural Appalachia)..think Beverly Hillbillies before they struck oil.

I was to the point where I felt like my wife and I were doing well financially. Now I feel like a total loser (financially). I have worked in the public sector where salaries are capped. It seems to me that maybe I have chosen poorly...and need to find a new job/career as well (but am probably too old now). When did people start making salaries like this?