Are You Saving Too Much??

Are you saving too much? That is the stupidest question I've heard in a long time. And this is coming from the 'personal finance' department at Yahoo (via Fortune). Americans have had a negative personal savings rate since April of 2005. Why else would there be a credit bubble?
These articles certainly don't help; they only feed into the consumerist ideals that have driven the economy for the better half of two decades. Contrast that headline to this one: Retire at 40: Here's How. This article is much more worth your while:

"If you were to take 20% of your annual income starting at age 20 and put it in a fund following the S&P 500 Index ($INX), that fund continued to grow at the long-term historical rate (12%) and you received a 4% raise each year, you could walk away from your job and live off the interest at age 41 matching your current salary -- or quit at 43 and be able to give yourself a 4% "raise" each year from the interest, which is probably the better plan because it combats inflation."

One article teaches you how to be poor, while the other article teaches you how to be rich. It's your choice.