Also, speaking personally as someone doing £180k when I know my market salary is at most two thirds of that: I don't really spend the money, because I never want to be pinioned to my job, or to even feel like I'm locked into my job because I'd e.g. have to move out of my house if I quit. That limits you quite a bit, unless you're preternaturally confident in your jobseeking ability.
I do the same. I’m naturally frugal but have loosened up some as earnings increases but I don’t spend or leverage like my peers. They are prisoners to their jobs and I can (and have) said “enough” and walked away when jobs get too toxic. I don’t generally have a problem working long hard hours but I unplug at times where interruptions will not be fielded and I’ve been present during complete shit show management stuff that I just morally will not be associated with. It’s immensely helpful to my mental health knowing I can walk off anytime things go sideways.
I even negotiate my compensation in a manner that I’m not beholden like those with stock, options or anything where vesting periods are involved. It’s typically event based and more short term. But, I don’t work in a field where I’m turning down early Facebook equity or something like that.
Yeah, that sounds very similar to me. I’m the opposite in terms of spending - I’ll naturally default to spending my income, rather than defaulting to not spending – but that only holds up to about £100k, at which point it goes beyond my capacity to (in a natural way) spend it all. But I share the concern about being a prisoner to one’s job. That’s my main concern. I don’t understand how so many people are willing to put themselves in a position - partly in terms of spending habits but primarily in terms of fixed commitments like rent and women - where they could not live their current life without their job, where losing or forgoing it would mean ruination, by the standards of the life they choose for themselves. That’s just beyond my comprehension. For me a job is a very contingent thing.
