But there's another reason to save: early retirement. It may not seem interesting to you now (I know it didn't for me at 26, I was programming and was getting paid for it!) but when you're 40 it's far more appealing. Unfortunately I didn't make a ton of money at 26 or I would've beaten myself with a stick for not saving more for the future.
But I can easily "retire" early right now, just not in the USA. In two years I'd need to supplement with some little contract jobs maybe, but that needn't be full time.
I hear you though, I'm definitely trying to learn from my elders, regardless of anything I'll always at least be putting money into a savings account (that I refuse to touch but in the direst emergency). I just can't shake the feeling that this generation is the last one that will get to benefit from our 401ks, if we get to at all.
