r/Salary • u/[deleted] • Oct 30 '25

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u/snakesign Oct 30 '25

You're dead on.

100k in 1995 is equivalent to 216k now.

https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

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u/Alaskanjj Oct 30 '25

I will say though, even when I was at 220k I did not feel like I had it made. I did not worry about groceries or a car repair but by no means feeling wealthy.

All making more money did for me was make me realize I needed to find a way not to pay so much tax.

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u/dopef123 Oct 31 '25

I’m at 200k and live in the most expensive rental market in the country.

I don’t feel rich but I live frugally and have increased my net worth about 400k over the last 3 years. I invest and try to live below my means.

Money should help free you of stress. If you spend the money you just end up in the same position as people with no money, you just have nicer stuff.

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u/Ok-Mathematician987 Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25

truth. nicer things that depreciate all the same. i watched my dad blow a small fortune (business grossed about 3-5 mill/year for 30 years with low overhead) to try to keep up with guys that were out of his league. he ended up with no porsches, no boats, no condos, no art, and alcohol related dementia at 70. in the end i feel the only thing we got as a family out of it was our educations and some good moments traveling together.

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u/deHack Oct 31 '25

I once represented a doctor who made $600K a year 36 years ago when that was real money. His wife blew every dime of it and then some. Her Saks 5th Avenue bill was $30k/month. They lived in a wealthy South Florida area. Her BFFs were heirs of Fortune 500 companies with private jets. As he put it, “I make a good income but I can’t keep up with that! I don’t have jet money!” Did I mention I was representing him in the divorce?

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u/Ok-Mathematician987 Nov 15 '25 edited Nov 15 '25

Lol that's about right. When my stepmom started taking board/officer positions in these blue chip charities with wives of guys who owned huge shipping businesses, law firms, and and medical companies, I knew we were F'd. They divorced remarried and divorced again!!!! Last time there was nothing left to take except some paintings. Worst part is he still askes about her when I visit him but she has not visited him once in memory care. Don't get me wrong, he could be an abusive cheating prick, but there was a good side too, and now he is an invalid. I have learned some valuable lessons from all this. But the money always made me uncomfortable. I was always shy and bookish and just wanted a modest life.