$100K doesn't go as far as it used to yes, but it should still be more than enough for a
single person. West Coast or North East regardless. I can't speak for a family though
Generally, you can pick 1 of the 3 with $100K, maybe 1.5
a) nice apt living by yourself in a nice neighborhood
b) money to travel and spend on "experiences" (eating out, concerts, nice holidays, social events etc)
c) money for the latest gear/tech/clothes etc
You'll run into issues when you try to do 2/3 or 3/3.
The bigger issue is in these high COL areas is acquiring tangible assets e.g. a home. Your rent is as high as a mortgage. Usually the idea was to rent then own but now, there's less and less room for that.
the rent prices in major cities really fukk UP your bread.
This, but the Fed doesn't include Rent into it's CPI calculations. If it did it'd have to admit long ago that inflation was higher than it reported a while back. Sure consumer goods haven't increased in prices for a while, but what benefit is that if housing in some areas is increasing 5-10% YoY.
The entire US financial system is based on huge debt and the unchecked "printing" of money, which has no real backing; not to mention large financial institutions lending each other money in an extreme credit based system. Inflation will continue to trend as a result of the loss of purchasing power of the dollar based on US monetary policy. Basically means your dollars will continually be able to buy less and less goods and services comparatively speaking. Plus Americans have been living a period of excess. Many folks don't know what it means to put aside frivolities and tighten that belt.
The housing market is currently in a bubble and will eventually burst...boom and bust cycles etc etc. This time foreign interests will probably pour more money than ever before into US markets.
There's definitely a new order shift brewing and that's what Biden was talking about in his speech.
Breh, I really wish I could rep you twice for this. I've maintained for a long time that the Fed has been the primary driver of a lot of the issues plaguing the average American financially. They've expanded the money supply to crazy degrees and as a result, devalued the purchasing power of the USD.
Americans gonna need to tighten up big time and deny themselves in the coming months/years.
- I still have $1400 left to throw in a savings or investment account. 
