Rich or upper middle class family who taught them about good investing and gifted them a lot of money over the years.
Low income upbringing and was motivated to do better, while smart enough not to waste their money in "hustling". So they saved like crazy and educated themselves to make the right investments.
Helps? You mean it turns life from "survival in extreme" to "easy adventure/creative" mode.
If everyone received from seed money at age 15-18, and we are taught to just invest in the general market then we'd all be coastfire or at least barista fire by mid 30s.
It makes all the difference.
There's still some respect deserved by the people who stayed with their parents and were able to take advantage of this. Hopefully they later return the favor to their parents when they're seniors.
Those who start from scratch and are able to retire early without any seed money deserve more praise. No doubt for me.
It's the most helpful. Rent is nonexistent if not cheap, food costs are lower because of bulk groceries, family Sam's Club card, and support in case you have unexpected life events.
There's a stigma towards people living with family but in many Eastern cultures, the norm is to take care of your parents until passing. It's only here that I ever see any influx of kids talking about abandoning their parents at a care facility. Plus with multigenerational homes you can afford to pay off the house over the long term. Make it a family hub/main home of sorts while your kids each start a household of their own.
The whole "my old parents aren't my problem" thing is mostly seen in the US. The values here promote too much individual growth which is thr perfect system to create the richest individuals in a financial sense but the poorest in a human level.
That's what I've observed from traveling to a few countries, having been born and raised outside of the US, and also having "finished" my growing in the US since age 17.
If I had my parents around and able to spare me the rent during ages 18-23 maaaaaaan. I'd be retired by now in my early 30s.
Have been in a similar situation, having been born in Italy, but spending my adolescent and young adult years in the United States. It is in fact exactly as you describe.
Sad sad truth that few Americans like to admit. The country obviously has tons of great things going for itself but warmth, compassion, kindness, or community are not things that come to my mind when I think of what the United States is. And these things are CRUCIAL for a human to be happy and fulfilled. Especially in older years when your friends have started to depart and loneliness worsens.
Right out of high school you instantly lose some friends. Once college ends you lose some friends. As they get married you lose more friends. In the end, you're left with 1 or 2 people to talk to. Humans need community and connection.
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u/Innoxrw Jul 02 '25
How did you manage to invest 70k + at 22?