Why We Should Retire as Early as Possible…

The Reality of Work Costs and American Savings Culture

Mary Carter
3 min readSep 6, 2024

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Have you ever stopped to think about the true cost of your job? I’m not just talking about your time and energy I’m talking about money.

Yes, that same money you’re supposedly earning.

As someone who’s spent years observing the frantic dance of corporate life, I can say with certainty: working is expensive.

And I’m not just talking about money I’m talking about our health, our well-being, and frankly, our sanity.

The Hidden Price of Your Job

Let’s talk numbers, because numbers don’t lie (although sometimes I wish they did). A recent study showed that the average American spends $22 a day just to get to work.

That’s right, $22 just for the privilege of sitting in an uncomfortable chair for 8 hours.

And it doesn’t stop there. Add $13 for breakfast/coffee and $16 for lunch. Oh, and don’t forget about clothes on average, $8 a day. For us women? $11.25.

Because apparently, looking “professional” comes with an extra price tag if you were born with two X chromosomes.

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Mary Carter
Mary Carter

Written by Mary Carter

I share candid reflections on love, sex, and life's ups and downs, no holds barred and no taboos.

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