Question by IMUS B: What is considered “successful?” I live in the US, make less than ,000 a year, and I live comfortably so ?
I just retired at age 37 after working in a factory for 20 years. I get a pension equal to $ 35 for every year of service that I worked ($ 700/mo). My15 yr mortgage will be paid off in 2011 and with taxes and insurance all combined is $ 293 a month. It is a cozy 2 bdrm home (a little less than 1,000 sf.) that I bought for $ 40,000. I have no other loans or debt and no credit cards. I have a car and a motorcycle that are both paid for. I am very frugal and have always live well below my means.

Everything else I pay, insurance, utilities, food gas and $ 10 every 3 months for a prepaid cellular phone all total less than $ 300 a month. I still have $ 100 bucks or so leftover after all expenses are paid (which after 2011 will be about $ 400 leftover once my house is paid off).

I have never been married and don’t have (and don’t want to have) any kids. Anyway, like I said I live comfortably on $ 8,400 a year which is about half of the “poverty line” for my area. I have six figures in a 401K all in an interest producing bond that yields from 3% to 8% (even in 2008). I have all the necessities and really don’t see a need to take on any more debt whatsoever. It seems like monetarily most people say only $ 100,000 a year or more is successful.

So, my question is at age 37, with very low income but very low debt…am i “successful” or not?

Best answer:

Answer by Gino G
It is how you define it, not how others define it.
Dont worry about keeping up with “the Jones’s”. Go your own way.
I’f your happy then that is success, isnt it?!

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