Anyone here making well within 5 figures?

[Anonymous]

Anyone here making well within 5 figures?

How do you stay out of increasing debt?

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and single mom. I make $87k plus a few thousand tutoring in the summer. We’ve always been frugal and gotten by fine. My DS has one more year in college.

[Anonymous]

I make five figures. I have zero debt. I don't own a car, don't drink, almost never vacation, and mostly just replace things when they wear out, rather than buy much. I worked my way through school by going very part time at night while I worked full time so graduated without debt. When I get together with friends it's often for walks or something free. If we go to dinner I just get an entree, because what's important is spending time with people, not so much the food.

Every July I start planning holiday gifts, in September I start saving for them, and I have them all bought by Thanksgiving, paid for in full.

When I get bonuses at work I stick them in savings. I use things until they are dying, like my Apple products, and then buy "new" ones that are actually refurbished. No need for the latest version of anything. I do my nails at home.

I recently had a medical emergency and my ER bill was over $4k. Insurance paid more than half, and I paid about $1700 - I was so happy to be able to pay it.

[Anonymous]

Every hour on the hour!

[Anonymous]

Me. I make in the low five figures working part time. However, my spouse makes about 700K, so not sure my situation really represents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make five figures. I have zero debt. I don't own a car, don't drink, almost never vacation, and mostly just replace things when they wear out, rather than buy much. I worked my way through school by going very part time at night while I worked full time so graduated without debt. When I get together with friends it's often for walks or something free. If we go to dinner I just get an entree, because what's important is spending time with people, not so much the food.

Every July I start planning holiday gifts, in September I start saving for them, and I have them all bought by Thanksgiving, paid for in full.

When I get bonuses at work I stick them in savings. I use things until they are dying, like my Apple products, and then buy "new" ones that are actually refurbished. No need for the latest version of anything. I do my nails at home.

I recently had a medical emergency and my ER bill was over $4k. Insurance paid more than half, and I paid about $1700 - I was so happy to be able to pay it.

So you basically live within your means and plan for emergencies by saving.

That is exactly what most should do! You shouldn't spend income you don't have, as that creates long term issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Me. I make in the low five figures working part time. However, my spouse makes about 700K, so not sure my situation really represents.

No but good humblebrag!