Retirement planning is tricky. On the one hand you don't want to be working til you die, on the other I don't want to die working constantly because I'm banking every cent instead of enjoying some of it at 30 years old. There needs to be a balance. I expect to WAY downsize my life when I retire. I put in the 6 percent that my company matches and I have a good salary so it's decent, then I am putting a decent amount into the house. The plan is to pay it off and when I retire sell it and way downsize, putting the profit in the bank then living off around the equivalent of 35k in today's dollars. With no housing cost that is more than doable. I'm not extravagant and don't go on crazy trips or burn money on completely idiotic expensive things. I want to enjoy some of the money now so I have a nice house and big property but feel that is still somewhat an investment. Things like fancy cars and stuff I don't get into, they just burn the money.

But I hear some people banking crazy amounts in retirement and you have to verify careful. For one you don't want to be so frugal and never enjoy any money then die at 40. Second, that money still goes into the market. It isn't guaranteed. You could lose a lot though it isn't likely historically. I believe you need to put away a decent amount but also put a little money in some other investments like a bit of precious metals, a bit of common ammo and of course a residence.