Feeling like a failure this season

[failedbyfear]

I'm 38 and feeling like a loser. Over the past 3 years I tried to build my own startup and burned through $100K of personal savings. Before that I worked at consulting jobs and saved up a bunch of money then quit to mope around for 6 months at a time before starting a new gig. At this point I "only" have $200K and retirement seems another brutal 25 years away. Financial advisors say you need 2M to retire in the US - I just don't feel like I can reach that amount.

I know I'm better off than a lot of people and I can still do consulting, but I just feel like I've wasted my time trying to build a company instead of just building a nest egg.

[Pr0ducer]

38 and 200K? I'd be happy if I were you.

[failedbyfear]

When I was 35 I had 300K and was earning six figures. If I had just stayed put my net worth would be 500K.

[elliott34]

do you have kids

[failedbyfear]

no kids, but I want to start a family. It seems like it would be hard to save for retirement and raise kids.