I agree with JimOhio that it's so relative.
I am a doctor, as is DS, and we both feel probably an "akin" psychology on this issue. He's remarked how he shops at flea markets. Part of this I'm sure is just hobby. . .but part of it is probably out of a little necessity. I am 39, have about $85,000 in our Roth's, only $2500 in DW's 403(b), and she's 10 years vested in a pension. WE have good health care and thank God for that. She provides that as an employee as I am self-employed.
We also have 240K in equity in a 360K home.
But compared to my "forefathers", we live like middle/middle class. People in my profession used to have mansions and Mercedes by the time they were 39. . .until abuses of the ins. system the docs did were brought to a grinding halt.
Now, our generation pays for it.
So. . .sometimes "success" is just an illusion. My forefathers weren't really successful. . .(a lot of them, that is), they were just in an incredibly easy system - a "cash cow" or "cottage industry" as they put it.
Yet. . .if you tell them what you make, and it isn't that much per year, they look at you as if, "Well, what's wrong with you? I made $750,000/year. . .you must be a bad doctor."
So. . .that's the stigma. We call the docs from this era "Mercedez 80's Docs."
Sad fact is that many patients are still thinking that docs are in the Mercedez 80's.
So. . .we all have our Jonzez we try to keep up with and it's potent on our thinking but don't feel bad about your situation. Chances are you aren't as bad off as you think anyway.
Just remember what you stand for.
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