[gxnxcxcx]

Please keep in mind that your current "I have to x" may have been manufactured (or at least partially influenced) by the same attention-grabbing machinery you now want to escape from, so I suggest you keep some healthy wiggle room to accommodate new insights on what may or may not be essential for you in the future.

[giantg2]

I agree with this. If you think you won't have enough for retirement while also having a decent paying job, then it's possible you might just have to adjust your expectations for retirement. That could mean something like retiring later, getting a part time job in retirement, or moving to a lower cost area.

[abrocks]

Getting a part time job in retirement or moving to a lower cost area is definitely on my list. However, I do want to retire early.

[abrocks]

Yes, there is the classic dilemma - I know what I know - I know what I don't know - I don't know what I don't know

I am worried about the third right now.

[nicksiscoe]

Not to shill in this thread… but I’m 23 and thinking through a lot of the things you’re thinking about right now.

I realized recently that there are lots of “unknowns” in my life that I actually could reasonably uncover with a little bit of effort and a sensible system for discovery.

Examples: Marriage, home ownership, retirement, work promotions, children, hobbies/interests

These are things we actually can know if we’re on track for, we just don’t know how. It’s just math at the end of the day - what $$$ needs to come in and out and when to accomplish XYZ thing.

No silly online calculator understand the context of your situation. We need a solution that is all-encompassing, highly unopinionated and configurable, and that embraces uncertainty.

I’m building a little software tool for this called Wayform (https://www.wayform.io). I still have a lot of work to do, but I want it to be useful for young people like ourselves trying to find mental peace while also caring deeply about our life trajectory.