* I budget every dime and have automatic transfers into various investments, so I set it to the % I want to save and then base my other expenses around what's left, which is still plenty.

* Max ESPP, max 401k, max Roth. No excuse for not doing these if they're available to you.

* No debt. Paid off student loans ASAP after college, which were not huge, but I also lived on scraps in college, lived in cheap dumps and worked during the summers and holiday breaks to make ends meet.

* Very moderate living expenses. Seattle area. Our rent is $1700. My share is $950 and my fiance pays the difference. Got lucky with the place, but we also don't live in a sexy neighborhood and my fiance is a bargain hunter.

* Excellent compensation package, although not out of band for my experience level.