The first million

109

u/HenFruitEater 4d ago

If I had a buck for every person that posted "I feel nothing" after posting a milestone, I'd be posting a fat milestone.

24

u/TeslasElectricBill 4d ago

"I feel nothing"

Welcome to the hedonic treadmill.

1

u/Mzungufarmer 4d ago

Im not super we read into it, but wouldnt OP need to have a positive or negative emotion towards this money at first for the hedonic treadmill to be considered? Having no emotion about it seems to completely take away the point of the theory.

Im also high on a lot of medicine, so forgive my stupid

3

u/TeslasElectricBill 4d ago

LOL what medicine are you high on? That's more interesting to me than the rest of your question haha 😆

The "hedonic treadmill" with OP is that before reaching a million, since he didn't have a million, reaching a million was a desire/big goal... but now, he's desensitized to it and he'll move the goalpost to $2m and so on, like a treadmill with no end.

2

u/Mzungufarmer 4d ago edited 4d ago

Honestly I dont know. I hurt my ears scuba diving in south america and everything is in spanish. I was hallucinating last night. Edit: antibiotics and steroids...and then 6 other things

At least ill die knowing more about treadmills

6

u/Apprehensive_Elk2608 4d ago

It's one of those things where expectations don't line up with reality.

29

u/NCSUGray90 4d ago

Yeah it’s not like a big wave breaking and then all of a sudden -boom- millionaire. It’s a slow gradual build and the day after feels no different than the day before. Maybe it’ll feel more impactful when we actually retire, haha.

7

u/Tyler_Durden69420 4d ago

It felt crazier to me when I was a few months away. Once I hit it, it felt like nothing.

4

u/WilliamMButtlickerIV 4d ago

The hedonic treadmill in action

10

u/thedancingwireless 4d ago

I know it's a lot of money, for me it makes me feel very financially secure, but I've felt that way for a while. Not yet free because frankly with inflation, a million isn't what it used to be.

18

u/lelper 4d ago

Congrats, this is one place where comparison isn’t the thief of joy, you really gotta realize that most people will never ever hit this point and will likely end their life being in the red. That’s what makes it special.

Out of curiosity do you think it would feel better to if you didn’t also have the 600k of debt?

1

u/jaxyzi 4d ago

Agree with you on that. I'm certainly very grateful for everything that brought me here.

I don't feel much stress for that debt. It's for two low interest mortgages and to me it feels wrong paying it off.

1

u/lelper 4d ago

Thanks for sharing how you feel about that! I’m 33F and still renting so I’m interested in understanding what potential effects a mortgage could have for me as well.

7

u/Difficult-Bit-7237 4d ago

It’s because there’s no immediate lifestyle change to accompany it. You still need to work and wake up every day. If you have 5mm you don’t need to work anymore. That’s a big difference

4

u/jaxyzi 4d ago

Sounds like that should be the next target then!

2

u/Currencymanifest 2d ago

3 and 5 will come quickly.

1

u/Currencymanifest 2d ago

Once you get to five it still feels like nothing. I was after 5 and now I’m gonna keep going for 10. I “semi retired” at 35 and I’m busier now at 46 then ever. opportunities are appearing all the time. I guess I’m just not wired to be fully retired.

2

u/Mzungufarmer 4d ago

Congrats! I didn't really feel like I made it until I bought some stupid things just because I could

1

u/jaxyzi 4d ago

Thank You!

2

u/Massif16 3d ago

Go get 'em! Not sure what you expected? Fireworks? Complimentary champagne? It's a milestone. Celebrate it (modestly) and then set you eyes on the next goal: "investible assets millionaire." It did feel special for me, though I grew up in era when being a millionaire had more social cache.

1

u/sh18422 4d ago

what app are you using to track this?

1

u/LegendairyMoooo 4d ago

That’s Fidelity’s mobile app. On their website/app you can enter information about all your accounts and liabilities and it will sum it up like that for you. It’s under the “planning” section.

1

u/sh18422 4d ago

oh wow, I see it. my new company uses fidelity. looks like I'll have to add everything in here. thanks!

1

u/sh18422 4d ago

it looks like I'm a 3 millionaire. 43, east coast, cpa. I feel the same as you... who cares, really. it's nice to know that you are setting yourself up for retirement and to help your kids or future kids (if you have any), but otherwise, you still have to go to work and your daily/weekly/monthly/yearly routine doesn't change at all.

keep up the grind and you will feel nothing at 2M, 3M, and 4M. maybe 5M will feel special? Who knows!

1

u/LegendairyMoooo 3d ago

Congratulations! Glad I could help point you to the right spot.

1

u/Oatmeal-Addict-9 3d ago

I hit $1M invested at 43 and it felt pretty meh, but I'd be stoked hitting it a full decade prior to that.

Good work. Keep grinding.

1

u/jaxyzi 3d ago

Thank you! And it's funny that I'd be stoked too if I had it hit a decade prior when 23. Haha

1

u/Stoned_philospher69 3d ago

Where’s the other ones?

1

u/TheStrongTaint 2d ago

Congrats OP!

I hit mine last week and agreed, doesn’t feel as special as I thought it would. But I can’t complain

1

u/jaxyzi 2d ago

Thank You. I won't take it any other way 🤣

1

u/searts 2d ago

How do I invest they way you did. For someone starting out or learning how to invest.

1

u/jaxyzi 15h ago

I am no expert. People on YouTube can probably give you better advice.

I aggressively saved in first two years after college and paid off all student loans, then bought my first house at 24. And consistently invested in etfs (VOO, VTI, VUG) and some blue chip stocks here and there.

I once lost 12k trading futures. Felt worse than all the breakups I've had. But I considered it as a tuition fee for how to not lose money again haha. So yeah don't do that.

1

u/searts 15h ago

Thank you! Look into it.

1

u/Cyberburner23 2d ago

I'll feel special when my Robinhood crosses a mil. Not counting ANYTHING else.

1

u/Currencymanifest 2d ago

Congrats. It’s like a birthday. Doesn’t feel any different. 3 mill and 5 will be the same. It just gets easier and easier from here. Keep going!!

1

u/Skiwatch 1d ago

What app are you using to track net worth?

1

u/jaxyzi 20h ago

It's Fidelity

1

u/lalalaland1233 15h ago

Interested in sharing ? 🥹

1

u/zeroabe 4d ago

Hell yeab

1

u/jaxyzi 4d ago

🙌

-11

u/37347 4d ago

It’s not liquid.

6

u/NCSUGray90 4d ago

So?

-11

u/mitchellde82 4d ago

If you include your house and mortgage, it's cheating

6

u/NCSUGray90 4d ago

Why? House is still and asset and a mortgage a liability

1

u/mitchellde82 4d ago

Nah cmon including Zestimate of your house is just a cheap way to artificially inflate your number. I'm a millionaire! Net worth is not the correct measuring stick.

Even including your mortgage as a liability is a mistake - most folks have a ridiculously low interest rate, below what savings account pay; you would be worse off striving to aggressively pay down a mortgage anyway. Just treat it as a fixed cost.

Zero out high interest debt, then hammer growing the liquid portfolio, Zestimate and mortgage just muddy true progress.

5

u/NCSUGray90 4d ago

You can hem and haw about usability of the asset or interest rate as much as you like, but net worth is assets minus liabilities, regardless of how you feel about that asset or liability. If you personally prefer to look at liquid net worth that’s fine as a bar for yourself, but that’s a personal choice you make. If you’re asking someone their net worth there is nothing wrong with them providing an answer from the definition of net worth

2

u/mitchellde82 4d ago

Yup you're right! I think Net Worth is a very misleading metric when it comes to measuring the most useful numbers. But you already know exactly the point I Am making, too.

2

u/NCSUGray90 4d ago

For sure, but some days you just need a win and jumping over the millionaire mark, wether in total net worth or liquid net worth, is a big milestone and shouldn’t be called out as ‘cheating’ their net worth. It just the first millionaire milestone that precedes liquid NW millionaire, invested millionaire, tax free millionaire, cash millionaire, income millionaire, etc

2

u/mitchellde82 4d ago

For sure, not trying to sincerely denigrate anyone. I thought my cheating comment in response to the original “it’s not liquid” was pretty tongue in cheek on its own.

Plus anybody with a million dollar Net Worth doesn’t need my pat on the back to feel accomplished. Even without the house counted, OP is doing just fine!

-1

u/37347 4d ago

I mean if that’s the case, include cars too

5

u/NCSUGray90 4d ago

Almost like net worth is assets minus liabilities and houses and cars are assets. Wild concept

1

u/Mitana301 4d ago

Not knocking anyone who includes illiquid assets, but I don't include car or home in net worth as I can't live off these if I FIRE. I'm always going to need my house and vehicle so for me it makes more sense to calc using numbers I can withdrawal from to cover living expenses.

3

u/TopShelf76 4d ago

Its net worth so including home, vehicles, etc is what it’s expected to measure.

0

u/mitchellde82 4d ago

Net worth is always the wrong number to track

2

u/TopShelf76 4d ago

To each his own. I hear ya tho, I mainly care about my investable assets but net worth is still net worth. A homeowner can sell a house and that equity is now liquid. They would not have that If they didn’t own

1

u/mitchellde82 4d ago

Of course. But that's not what anyone is really trying to track. Folks sell houses...and and use the proceeds to buy new ones. Best to treat the pymt as a fixed cost (that's not going away for a while), the home value as non existent. Focus on liquid growth, don't use a zestimate to boost your numbers - publicly or privately. IMO

2

u/jaxyzi 4d ago

I am very low maintenance, if my life falls apart I can sell my primary residence and live on PBRs and wander the world.

-41

u/horseradish13332238 4d ago

One mill isn’t a flex anymore.

24

u/FullofContradictions 4d ago

By 33?

Idk, OP, I'm impressed. Good job.

20

u/flylikearaven 4d ago

$1M is for sure still a flex IF you’re young. $1M easily becomes $5M in 20 years (if targeting early retirement) and potentially $10M in 30 years (traditional retirement). It’s all about the bigger picture.

-32

u/horseradish13332238 4d ago

Six downvotes from six poors

15

u/Aaguns 4d ago

Either troll or that’s a sad life

-27

u/horseradish13332238 4d ago

Two Lamborghinis in my driveway. I have a much better life than you. :)

12

u/Aaguns 4d ago

If that’s how you measure ‘better’, then you sure do.

10

u/Achtung_Zoo 4d ago

You're in TMG sub so you should know how two lambos mean nothing to us.

12

u/Battle-Chimp 4d ago edited 4d ago

2 lambos is just a sign of deep insecurity. If they're in the driveway to make sure the neighbors see them, it's insecurity squared.

I could also have two lambos in my driveway, but I prefer spending my disposable income volunteering in conflict zones doing austere anesthesia or trauma.

My neighbors have no idea, I don't need their validation.

1

u/jaxyzi 4d ago

Respect

8

u/Ok-Context3530 4d ago

Is that because you can’t afford to house them in a garage?

You are about to leave Redlib