<prompt> Human: Hi, im 24 and ive decided that im going to become a janitor. Please dont tell me not to be a janitor just assume this is the situation. I have worked everything out that if i live bare bones with nothing my whole life and not have anyone depending on me if i get a 401k and i save as much money as possible while still having somewhat of a life with small things i enjoy i will wind up with 318,000 for retirement at the end.Im scared though because idk if that amount will be enough to live on for the rest of my life after that? Wont 318,000 be worth barely anything by then? Am i missing something? I know interest is a thing but idk where to factor it in. Again, please dont tell me i dont have to be a janitor my whole life and all that. Just assume this is the situation. Thanks! EDIT:Okay here is how i worked it out. If i have a job for 24,960 per year1807 per month being my take homeAnd i live bare bones and literally nothing goes wrong i can save 6000 per year.For 35 years thats 210,000 after 35 years saved.If i get a 401k at this hypothetical job i could save 52,395 with that and if theres matching is could add 26,197.So the grand total after 35 years with all that would be 288,592 to live on. Oops my number somehow changed, but thats how i got it. It seems like im missing crucial things? Idk how finances work. Lol this is why i have to be a janitor.  <response>: 6kyr for 35 years at a 5 return is 542k. You are leaving out the part where your income will increase over time due to inflation. So in later years youll be saving the equivalent of 6k now, and if you can average a 5 return after inflation over those 35 years, the amount you have will be the equivalent of 542k today. 