I'm making a little over 200k right now. It doesn't feel much different from making 115k.

At 115k I had enough money to buy whatever I wanted and save 2-3k/month. Now the numbers in my Vanguard account rise a bit faster than before, but my overall lifestyle is exactly the same.

A 200k salary is comfortable, but it's by no means "fuck you" money. I still worry about the things everybody else worries about: Finding fulfillment, love, a place to call home, and planning out my future retirement.

In my first Silicon Valley job, I thought I was making X. I never really looked carefully at my paycheck. Honest. I was 20 something and I really just didn't check. Turned out I was making 2X.

My boss got a call one day (open seating) and said, Yes. Yes. Noooo. I'll talk to him about about it right now. We went into the closet (seriously) for privacy and he asked if I thought I was overpaid. I said no. He explained to me that I had been paid 2X.

1X was not that much different. I spent less. But really, I got used to it pretty quickly.

Did they take it back?

I got paid like $200 extra once in college. They took it back the next paycheck :(

All the same stuff I was worrying about when I was making 50k -- "how can I make more?" mixed in with "how can I feel happier and more accomplished?"

Taxes. Taxes. Taxes. As a single individual making a little over 200k you endup with 120k net. The gross income means absolutely nothing since you're giving away 80k every year.

middle class, not a place to be

I wake up every day wishing I have this problem one day.

I don't want to ruine your dream, but in order to make 200k/year, you have to give away 80k/year.

People only see the bright side...