[brianwawok]

So by Mr Money Mustache method, you look at the 4% rule.

1mm = 40k per year forever

2mm = 80k per year forever

3mm = 120k per year forever

4mm = 160k per year forever

Pretty set with anything past 2mm in most of the US, maybe you would want 3 or 4 if you really like SF.

[qaq]

160K in SF right that will take you far

[brianwawok]

It will give you a place to live and food to eat without ever having to do work for money again?

[qaq]

If you have no family sure

[brianwawok]

Not true at all. If you cannot survive on 160k even with a family even in SF, you may want to look at your spending habits.

[jonnathanson]

Let's say I have a child with special needs, be it giftedness or disability. If I want to provide my child with decent care and quality of life in the SF Bay Area, a household income of $160k is going to make things very difficult. Not impossible, but certainly very hard, and likely harder than anywhere else in the country.

In this case my "spending habits," as you put them, might include expenses like routine hospital or clinical bills, specialist care, or some sort of domestic help. Double all of that if my child is physically as well as mentally disabled, or if my child exhibits some sort of prodigy that I want to nurture properly.

You have to remember that the price of goods and services in this local economy is largely driven by those earning some significant multiple of our hypothetical $160,000.

[brianwawok]

I mean, I guess you can have:

* Stop working and live on your 160k per month for life

* Deal with kids special needs

* Live in SF

Pick two

Does this really need stated? Do we need a disclaimer at the bottom of EVERY financial story ( * you may need 10-15% more if your kid has special needs)

[qaq]

"survive" and comfortably live are fairly far removed concepts

[brianwawok]

I would be quite comfortable at those levels, do you enjoy arguing?