Husband and I are in our early 30s and have 2 kids under 2. We’ve got 750k invested (combo of 401ks, IRAs, 529s, and brokerage). We have 50k auto loan and owe 300k on house worth 620. No other debt. Salaries of 360k, target bonuses totaling 100k. My simple MO has been to max both 401ks, invest entirety of our annual bonuses, but otherwise feel free to spend most of what we earn, which means we do enjoy some luxuries. Is this too loose? Anyone else take this approach?

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We’re in a very similar situation. Mid 30s, 2 young kids, HCOL, $350k salary, $100-130k bonus, $750k in retirement accounts, $50k savings, $25k car loan, $750k mortgage on a $1.7M home.
After maxing out 401k, we spend 100% of the salary but try to a save the bonus or use some for big purchases.
Our low cash savings make me uncomfortable and at year-end I always get heartburn when I see how much cash went out, but the individual expenses all seem reasonable.
Across retirement, home equity, capital gains, our net worth still goes up in a healthy way every year.
The hope, too, is that our income will rise in a year or two (Partner election for me), at which point we’d start saving more. At current income the early (55 yrs?) retirement plans wouldn’t work…

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Really depends when you want to retire, and if you have any plans to build generational wealth.
There’s no wrong answer.

We certainly don’t want to work until “normal” retirement age. Ideally we could retire when the kids are in college (I.e. 18-20 years).

I think that’s pretty reasonable. What about 529? Are you funding that too?

That sound like you are doing fine. When I was promoted to managing director, my boss told me, “live on your salary, save your bonus”. Sounds like the same as what you are doing.

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