CCF brought up a good point about how savings work. I decided I would bring up how it went for us.

2005 - $6457
-this was my IRA contributions until then since DH wasn't a citizen or had any retirement savings

2006 - $34,782
-saved $8k IRA, $15k 401k, $2947 401k match = $2378/yr

2007 -$67,785
-saved $8k IRA, $15.5k 401k, $6079 401k match = $3424/yr

2008 - $74,245
-saved $10k IRA, $15.5k 401k, $6172 401k match = -$25,212/year losses

2009 - $117,055
-saved $10k IRA, $16.5k 401k, $6951 401k match= $9359/year

2010 - $196,368
-saved $10k IRA, 16.5k 401k, $7438 401k match= $45,375/year

2011 - $232,524
-saved $10k IRA, 16.5K 401k, $7384 401k match = $2272/year

2012 - $302,841
-saved $11k IRA, 17k 401k, $8318 401k match= $33,999/year

2013 - $443,762
-saved $11k IRA, $17.5 401k, $8099 401k match = $104,322 (very good year obviously)

2014 - $514,544
-saved $11k IRA, $17.5k 401k, $8967 401k match = $33,315/yr

2015 - YTD $577,571

We obviously had one really good year, and few solid years and early on very little growth. The first few years when the market was sliding and we were holding basically steady, might have contributed a lot since we just kept on buying shares.

Right now I can see the difference as we're getting over the hump of investments and starting to earn more than we are contributing. It takes awhile but once we get on that pace I can see lots of traction.

If we continue to save at our current pace and increase nothing for retirement in 15 years @ 6% annually we should hit $2M. This does not include our taxable savings or paid off homes, which would give us an income of $60-80k/year.

I am pretty comfortable with that number and "retiring" at 50. Question is how much earlier could that number be? Depends on so many variables.

But it is possible to right the ship quickly, just keep investing and don't lose hope.