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Comment by esotericn | Hacker News Reader

I'd like to read more about the history of the people in the article.

The biggest issue as far as I can tell is that it's easy to 'lose' at any stage. You can make a ton of decisions starting from about age 15-20 that influence your degrees of freedom at age 40 (in the article there's a family of 3 that seemingly have little savings, for example).

If you were born to a non wealthy household, the reality is that you simply don't get to go through life not focusing on money. Your income, investments, and career have to be at the forefront of your mind, always. And even then there's a ton of chance involved.

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^^^ This 110%. I grew up in a poor family. Had friends that were well off and didn't have to think much about the future. I noticed early on that I just didn't have that luxury. Fortunately I was aware enough at an early age that every decision I make has to be a good one. I can't afford any failures. I don't think thats a good a way to become an adult or raise a society. By 25 I was at a good place but not without issues. I was having multiple anxiety attacks and all kinds of health issues. I made it out but with scars.

There has to be a better way.

I'm 27.

You know, it's funny - most of my friends who were "well enough" are the same ones who'd blame people for not working enough thus not being "successful". Modern conservatives, if you like.

Nah, I am well enough because I was intelligent enough to see beyond the horizon of my abilities back then (you could also say I was idealistic enough to be reckless and believe in that distant future).

Most of the poor people of my background never had that chance, to see beyond that horizon. They gave up earlier than they should have - but can you blame them?

Because as I've already said in my first paragraph those who are "well enough" in the first place, today are as blind to their privilege as much the poor are blind to what they could have if they worked enough.

I am in a good place now. Probably even better than those who were "well enough", but the price for that is the realisation of how lucky I am and how much I wish the world wasn't this way.

> Your income, investments, and career have to be at the forefront of your mind, always. And even then there's a ton of chance involved.

This is true and it's immensely disheartening that we live in a world where this is true.

I agree with this and that is why we are focusing on funding our child's 529 account to the max without endangering our retirement.

One effectively has to be a hero in terms of self-regulation, long term planning, and hustle. And never get hit with family crisis, disability, local economic depression, etc.

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