<prompt> Human: I will soon be starting a job in the SF bay area that pays 200k in total compensation per year. I am currently 21 years old. I have an apartment lined up that will cost me 2500 per month or 30k per year. My other expenses should not be very large since my work provides me with food during the week, a gym, and transportation. I will not have a car and health insurance will be through my employer. I have been budgeting my money for a while and believe I will be able to get by on another 20k a year in additional expenses. If my after tax income is about 130k that will leave me with 80k I can put toward savings. My employer will also match 4500 every year which will put my total yearly savings at nearly 85k. It is likely if I perform well at my company, after 5 years I will be making 300k in total compensation. For the sake of this argument, however, I will assume my income does not change. Over 9 years, I would be able to save 765k in principal. Factoring in a 5 rate of growth per year optimistic, would give me nearly 1MM in total savings.I feel this would be enough for me to retire on as long as I move to a cheaper region of the country, which I want to do anyway. Is this realistic? Is there anything else I should be aware of if I want to try to do this?  <response>: Jobs that paid 200k a year out of undergrad are EXTREMELY intense. Most people burn out quickly. Those that manage to last 10 years have, or develop, an extreme work ethic. These people would be bored within 2 weeks of retirement. Youre also going to get used to the life style, your peers are going to be going on nice vacations and be going out to nice places, youre going to want to date, etc.I think its good to a save a ton of money while youre young, but dont waste your 20s and do nothing fun because you expect to retire at 30...because you almost certainly will decide not to but you dont get those years backed - Im 30, and life is much different now than it was when I was 21. 