Not necessarily. Idk, I make 100-115k and make my mortgage pay for itself. 2 house lot, rent the 5 bedroom to cover mortgage +500 a month. If I wanted to work more overtime I could potentially live purely on OT and save 100% of my straight time labor. But don't really feel like doing that.

Or you could live in a really inexpensive area like the Midwest and work on the oilfields in Alaska. Could make 300k+ and and pretty much save it all. My uncle did that for a while and bought a mansion and a bunch of corvettes and muscle cars on 500k a year

My cousin was a contract welder on oilfield pipelines and also made north of 500k a year. Lived in a trailer and saved it all. Jobs are available, just not necessary the computer/desk jobs.

OP could you detail your expenses to show that you live paycheck to paycheck? (Didn’t read thread)

How? I only make 18 an hour at one job and 20 at another. I’m part time at both but paying my bills is a priority so I pay them before I do anything else and what else do you need? I watch football on the weekends and go to the gym and play warzone. If I have any extra I’ll buy more food than I need but ky pantry is snack full of food. 80 dollars at aldi will give you more than you need

I know what you mean. I make $800k and am living paycheck to paycheck too

OP so brain dead that he could be making 7 figures and still live paycheck to paycheck.

Yep. When gambling is part of the mix, your expenses will rise to your income.

If I had to pay rent I wouldn’t be able to save any money

- *United States Space Force Vet*
- makes 300k a year

Pick none.

$300k and living paycheck to paycheck is legit impossible unless you’re a straight up trash can with money lol.

Wtf are you spending your $$$ on?! Even when I only made $200k I felt like I could legit buy almost whatever I wanted.


I will say one thing. It’s not how much you make it’s how much you save and invest.

Do yourself a favor and put yourself on the voluntary gambling exclusion list before you lose your marriage and your house

You can get by if your job pays around 30/50k a year.

If youre making like 15k/year you can actually still get buy but it'll be pretty tough and you'll be working long hours on jobs with no future. That means rent is going to be around $300(will probably be sharing a room or renting in a low tier area) with the $900 left over for other things.

This is why most people don't own homes, drives a beater, and have low IQ(because they work alot). This is also why a higher qualitee of life is dependent on an entire family and friends helping each other. If you try to solo it, it's going to be tuff getting by.

It's not easy right now, but let me put it this way.


Everyone wants to talk about how houses are more expensive now, they ignore one giant point, houses in 1960s were like 900 sq feet on average and lower quality. Houses these days are 2,300 on average, SIGNIFICANTLY bigger and built far better, drywall, electrical, better appliances, etc. Not to mention, areas are more populated, explaining at least a big chunk of cost increase.


Median household is $75,000/year. Take home on that should be about $60,000/year. That's a flat $5k/month.


Buy a home that is $400,000. In some areas, that's a big full size family house you can raise kids in. In some areas, that's a starter home, either way it's PLENTY of home to survive and do well until you're in a better position. If you need to live 30 minutes outside the city, that's fine.

The mortgage at 7% on that, a 30 year loan, 20% down, is $2,100/month.

$500/month on food.
$150/month insurance.
$2,100/month mortgage
$300/month car payment - a plenty good car
$1,000/month for fun budgets, random around the house stuff
$300/month for entertainment like TV, netflix, internet, whatever

You're at $4,350/month, totally doable.

1. This makes you a homeowner, this means a big part of that payment goes into EQUITY, aka money back in your pocket.
2. This is as a single person. Average income in 2021 was $79,000/year, more than the example above. Now, realize that you should find a partner in life. Two of you with this income? Significant life bump up, you're living fine.

I swear to god if I find out someone is making that type of money I’m going to arm rob them and rape his wife

Lol at OP's embarrassing post. Yeah, sucks that is 2023, 99.99 percent of Americans are living better than everyone in world's history, Oh no. People may have to take a bus. Or, get a roommate The average person to has access to things we could have never dreamed of 50 years ago.You have to be stupid or have an addiction to be struggling in 2023

Inflation went up, thanks Trump!, but it's back down to reasonable levels now. But why do folks not factor in the fact that wages are up quite bigly too?

I believe from '21 to now, inflation adjusted wages are like -2%. Obviously you'd like to see it positive but certainly not the catastrophe that so many miscers act like. Now housing costs and rents are up due to high interest rates to combat the high inflation Trump, Obama, and the Fed caused.

This leave no room
To neetmaxx
And take a break
30 year grind
To pay off the house
Partner in life?
Marriages dont last 30 years

So with the economy being chit, should it be easy to bag broke hoes if you're balling and got cash to splurge?

no they want it all

Make 50 an hour plus +1700x3 from a rentals. That's like 150k/year and I'm broke.


Walk into home depot and depart after spending 1k. Everything is so expensive now.
Not really. Instagram ruined women. Even 3/10's working at Mcdonalds think they're going to land some Gigachad making 500k+

it's the mindset that often takes them to 30-35+ wondering why men are so hard to deal with. some come down a little but some never do even at 40+ waiting for their prince.

This economy is absolutely brutal. I'll end up making about 160k this year, the most I've ever made in a year. That's because due to the price of everything going up I've been forced to work the most overtime I ever have before. I'm not saving up for a nice vacation or eyeing a new vehicle (which I need). Just to keep my head above water.

This has been the most financially difficult year of my life.

I just turned 49, I was hoping I could slowly start winding down with OT and all that, instead I'm having to grind harder than ever.

Those old homes though are that much. My parents bought their house for 90k in 1987. 3 bed 2 bath and It's just under 2k sq ft and are selling between 370k to 410k. On place down the street that recently sold was 389k with minimal upgrades besides a deck. Mix that with like 6-8k in property taxes every year in IL around this area. This is 45 min outside of chicago on the border of more rural IL. These are the cheapest houses in this town besides the ones that need major overhauls.

I found a house for sale around the area for 399k. The current 30 year fixed around here I believe is around a 7.825%. This is the breakdown for this house with 20% down (80k....lmao)
-Principle: 2,303
-Property taxes: $800
-Home Insurance: $140

Grand total montly payment: $3,243
Average utilities cost in IL: $330/month

Mortgage+Utilities: $3,573
Food: $500
Health Insurance: $150 a month
Average Car Payment 2023: $729 for new
Gas monthly: average around $250 (just guessing)

Just those things there cost $5,202 a month right now. No savings, losing money, no fun, nothing. Take out the car payment and it's still $4,473 a month. Zero wiggle room. That's without eating out most likely, not going out with friends for the most part, avoiding any other expenses, not including house things, yard work, maintenance, variable utility costs based on seasons/weather, gym membership, dogs/pets costs if you have them, going on dates, buying gifts, oil changes, and so on.

It's not doable.

Making $12.5k/yr.

Living well, eating like a king.

Da fuq is wrong with op at $300k/yr?

Had craving for a gyro today and it was $20. For just the gyro.

Nothxjeff.

1. There's no room for what? There was literal money left over to invest and grow your net worth. I even underestimated income.

2. 30 year grind? What does that mean? 30 years of working? Yes, people have to work until retirement. That's not a bad thing, find a career you enjoy.

3. Paying off the house is an incredible achievement. That's a positive thing, not some negative goal. You'd own the equity in the home.

4. Most marriages last for life.https://www.petrellilaw.com/divorce-...20in%20divorce.My man... those property taxes are not monthly.. I'm sorry you missed those.

Second, there are TONS of houses in Chicago under $400,000 -https://www.zillow.com/chicago-il/un...Zoom%22%3A9%7D


Third, don't buy a brand new 2023 car. That's idiotic to even use that in an argument. Nobody needs to buy a current-year car and get a $730/month payment lol. Never in history has that been normal.

Your arguments are just falling flat. Buy a car that is $12,000, you'll get PLENTY of car for that money, used, reliable, etc.


I'm looking at this again and you 100% screwed up the house cost. Here.

A $400,000 home (which is more home than a beginner needs) would have a monthly payment of $2,370. That includes the principal payment as well as interest payment.

Throughout the entire US, the average property tax on a $400,000 home is $367/month.
That's $2,737/month. Add home insurance and call it $2,900/month.

That's $2,900/month. Average American brings home over $6,000/month AFTER taxes. That means the average person has over $3,000/month to spend on everything not home related, per month. Don't go buying brand new cars.

That's SINGLE, get yourself a partner and get married and your taxes go down and you're fine. If you don't earn as much as the average person, try harder. Get clever. Find ways to make normal money, or better.

You will eat ze bugs, and you will be happy with ze bugs.

Insects really are a good source of protein

Doesn't matter where you live in the US, you shouldn't be struggling on 300k/yr. If you are, that just means you're living beyond your means.

I gross almost 200k a yr and I make way more than I can even spend. This includes vacations, splurging on things I want, and helping family. Then again, I don't have an expensive gf or a gambling problem.

fixed below

Last time I spent only $100 in a grocery store I walked out with 5 items in Xiden's economy