Does anyone else feel totally demoralized when scrolling through Reddit or FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) forums and seeing 30-year-olds with $500k+ net worths? It’s like everywhere I look, someone my age (or younger!) is either a high-earning software engineer or a genius investor who bought Amazon at $3 and has been maxing out every retirement account since birth. Meanwhile, I’m here just trying to make sure I don’t accidentally pay my electric bill late again.
It sometimes feels like everyone else is running a marathon while I’m just learning to tie my shoes. Rationally, I know social media is a highlight reel and that comparing myself is pointless, but honestly? It’s hard not to feel left behind, like I’m failing at adulthood.
So, how do people deal with these feelings? How do you stay focused on your own financial journey when it seems like everyone else is lapping you? Any advice for getting out of this comparison trap and feeling okay about my own progress?
Look, I get it. You log on and see some 28-year-old who’s already got half a million socked away and you start spiraling. Suddenly, your own life feels smaller, your progress feels pointless, and you wonder if you’ve already “lost.” That’s a lie. It’s poison. And it’s a poison we willingly drink every time we play the comparison game.
Here’s the deal: Comparison is a thief. It doesn’t just steal your joy—it hijacks your peace, your focus, your future. And you know what else? It’s not even real. People aren’t posting about the panic attacks they have over credit card debt or the fights they have with their spouse about money. They’re posting the highlight reel, and you’re comparing it to your behind-the-scenes.
You want to stay grounded? You want to keep your head on straight? Start where you are. Not where you “should be.” Not where some anonymous Reddit flexer says you ought to be. Where you are, right now. Take an honest inventory—money in, money out. Are you spending on things that actually matter to you? Are you being intentional, or just coasting?
Write down your goals. Not someone else’s. Yours. And then build a life that aligns with what actually matters to you. Track your progress, celebrate the wins—however small. That’s where confidence comes from: integrity, honesty, and forward motion. Not scoreboard-watching.
And the next time you feel yourself drifting into envy, just remember: Their journey has nothing to do with yours. Your story is worth telling. But you can’t tell it if you’re obsessed with someone else’s chapter.
Keep your eyes on your own lane. That’s how you get where you’re going—one step, one choice, one day at a time