[campbellcj]

Obviously you could avoid eating pet food for dinner on significantly less, but you have to also keep in mind that certain costs here such as healthcare are essentially unbounded and increasing at 3X+ inflation rates. I sure don't want to be faced with a healthcare issue at a relatively young age, and be bankrupted by it.

In particular, between about 55-65 (or whenever Medicare kicks in these days) healthcare/insurance gets REALLY expensive here, as in $25K/year in some cases I have personally seen among reasonably healthy married couples.

And I won't even mention education for the kids. I will be approx. 54 when my oldest enters college!!! I can't even guess what that will cost but for tuition+total cost of living it is $$$,$$$ over 4 years...per kid.

Also, we all want to have our toys and travel fun etc. in retirement. What's the point of eating Top Ramen and watching Jerry Springer reruns all day long, after many years of hard work? I plan to work as long as it takes to NOT have to do that when I stop working...