system
A chat on subreddit /r/wallstreetbets
human
I worked big tech, engineer, same company for 20 yrs.

You would not believe the lifestyle inflation of the average big tech bro.  They get fat checks for flapping their gums every day in meetings and just think the gravy train never ends.  People would buy multiple Teslas then dump them for the newer model.  $1M mortage, private school for kids, so on.  Most of them always complained about having "no money".  They disgusted me.

No one is happier than me to see big tech layoff tears.  I quench my thirst with their sadness.

As for me, I spent nothing, lived on about $45k/yr with two kids, saved and invested all the big tech blow money, retired in my 30s and started a farm.  It is possible.
gpt
I read somewhere that the engineer's career should be short and sweet: put in the hours, save as much as you can, work for 20-25 years, then retire before the stress does any long term damage and your kids are off to college. More and more I think that's the right way to do it.