[_dark_matter_]

There are still lots of QOL improvements to be made above, say, $150k. It may depend a lot on if you have kids and where you live. This is especially true when compounded with typical retirement savings and kid expenses.

For example:

- Housekeepers who come often

- Paying someone to manage the yard

- Private school and college funds for kids

- International vacations for the whole family

- Paying for family to visit you if you are working adults

[ryandrake]

Definitely depends heavily on region and your family situation. Using just actual dollar values makes this discussion difficult. A $150k lifestyle in the Bay Area with a spouse and 2 kids is vastly vastly different standard of living than $150k as a single dude in an apartment in a suburb of Atlanta. In the Bay Area for example, you’re not doing ANY of those things you listed making just $150k.

[maccard]

I've brought this up multiple times before, but even on 150k in the bay area, you're still living well. After tax, and rent at 4k/month, your remaining pay is greater than the gross income of most mid level software engineers in Europe. If you can't manage to survive on that, you're doing soemthign wrong.

[ryandrake]

Yea, it’s not bad, but you don’t have a nanny, gardener, and private school for the kids on $150k.

[criley2]

The normal explanation is that the happiness derived per dollar decreases with every dollar.

The idea being that a couple making $200k jointly per year spending $800/mo on a maid gives them far, far less happiness than a homeless person getting their first warm meal and shower this month.

[darkerside]

A working couple with young kids getting a regular maid for the first time can be life changing. It's not the same as your homeless example, but may be easy to underestimate or trivialize.

[mathgladiator]

I second the housekeeper. I spent $40K on mine last year, and it was the best thing I have ever spent money on. I've done dishes once in the past year, and I generally come home to a made bed. Imagine getting all of that, but then know that you are providing a near livable wage with flexible schedule. She can be a good mom and make money.

[skybrian]

Or just don't spend it. You don't have to spend more just because you make more. If you save (invest) the money, you can retire earlier.