# How much money will the average American spend in his lifetime?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-money-will-the-average-american-spend-in-his-lifetime/603945>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 24, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-money-will-the-average-american-spend-in-his-lifetime/603945 "2011-11-24T02:05:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-money-will-the-average-american-spend-in-his-lifetime/603945/1 "2011-11-24T02:05:53Z")

</div>

In other words, if the average American can have a running tab for all expenses incurred for goods and services, at the end of a lifetime, what would that total be? How much does the average American spend?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-money-will-the-average-american-spend-in-his-lifetime/603945/2 "2011-11-24T03:58:49Z")

</div>

From [here](http://surveysez.com/joomla/index.php/education-a-employment/100-lifetime-earnings.html), the average American earns 1.6 Million dollars over their lifetime. With the currently abysmal saving rate, my guess is that they spend almost all of it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-money-will-the-average-american-spend-in-his-lifetime/603945/3 "2011-11-27T14:44:13Z")

</div>

> [@beowulff](#):
>
> From [here](http://surveysez.com/joomla/index.php/education-a-employment/100-lifetime-earnings.html), the average American earns 1.6 Million dollars over their lifetime. With the currently abysmal saving rate, my guess is that they spend almost all of it.

I would _hope_ they spend most of it. Other than those that want to leave something for the next generation.

My plan is to die broke. If my estimates are right, I will. If I die young, probate will have to sort through my affairs. If I die old, I will have to live on the teat of charity (hopefully not government) my last few years.

My plan will change if someone invents the immortality drug.