It has been said the fun part is the journey to the goal, not the goal itself. To save at least a couple million on $40,000 a year with 2 kids over 30 years not only would they had to have a great rate of return( I didn't run the #s) but been extremely frugal.
A crappy house or apt.!
Shitty cars!
No vacations!
Fashionably challenged!(Kids included)
Live like this from my 20s to my 50s. So I can live like this from my 50s to my 80s just not working. No thanks!
There has to be a happy median here.
It's mostly what you make and some of what you save. IMHO
This reminds me of the story of the guy who was a janitor and lived in a 1 bedroom apt. for 40 years and lived off of canned goods.
The neighbors always felt sorry for him because he was so poor.
When he died they found out he owned the building and had saved every penny he had made.
What's the point! He lived poor but ended up with millions and his bastard son blew it all in a couple years after his death.