Does anyone here live very well on very little?

[Anonymous]

We make do on $300k. It's not that hard to live well on relatively little income. We drive a Honda, I eat out maybe once a week, and we don't splurge on fancy crap in general.
I do blow money on salmon and fish though. That shit is good.

[Anonymous]

We make 160k, dual income, and I'm not deluded into thinking that's "very little." But it isn't a ton for our area. I love our life. We own a small, cute house in NEDC. Our kids go to public school in the neighborhood. I grow a lot of our vegetables and we go out to eat less than monthly. But we do fun things and our kids aren't wanting for much--they have dance and music lessons, etc. We save for retirement and a little for college.

[Anonymous]

Low fixed expenses = low stress
Discretionary expenses are such an individual preference. I like to allow for, what I call, the luxury of forgiveness. Forgiving myself for not being perfect, for the occasional bad decision or mishap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Low fixed expenses = low stress
Discretionary expenses are such an individual preference. I like to allow for, what I call, the luxury of forgiveness. Forgiving myself for not being perfect, for the occasional bad decision or mishap.

Low fixed expenses is the secret to happiness. We have a modest mortgage of $2,500 a month, taxes included. No other debt. That's the key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you talking about trying to get by on 150K?

Yes, $150,000 or less.

[Anonymous]

I thought OP meant below 50k, even by dcum standards six figure income is not "very little".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Low fixed expenses = low stress
Discretionary expenses are such an individual preference. I like to allow for, what I call, the luxury of forgiveness. Forgiving myself for not being perfect, for the occasional bad decision or mishap.

Low fixed expenses is the secret to happiness. We have a modest mortgage of $2,500 a month, taxes included. No other debt. That's the key.

Where do you live, if I may ask, and do you have children?

[Anonymous]

Did you hear about the football player and his wife that live on $60,000 a year ?

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25265885/lions-wr-with-36-million-contract-lives-on-60000-a-year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Low fixed expenses = low stress
Discretionary expenses are such an individual preference. I like to allow for, what I call, the luxury of forgiveness. Forgiving myself for not being perfect, for the occasional bad decision or mishap.

Low fixed expenses is the secret to happiness. We have a modest mortgage of $2,500 a month, taxes included. No other debt. That's the key.

'

Agree on the fixed expenses but our mortgage is $2000 and I pay $2200 a month. One child in private school for $1000 a month. We're fine on $150,000 a year. We don't go without anything, still save and buy what we want within reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought OP meant below 50k, even by dcum standards six figure income is not "very little".

Right? I'm the one with the t-shirt from sixth grade, and I earn $73k. I don't feel miserable or pinched or anything. I grew up cutting out coupons every Sunday, and stocking up on non-perishables when they go on sale, and checking to see if the dress I liked had gone on sale yet, so this is all second nature to me.

I bought a new car once (Hyundai) before realizing how much of a waste it was and I've only bought used since. I feel zero need for a fancy car. Zero. I feel zero need for a Gucci purse or whatever rich people have. That's not what makes me feel good. A huge part of why I "live well" is my perspective. Yesterday I took a long walk along the water and took pictures for an hour. It was tons of fun! To me, THAT is living well. I don't want for spas or manicures or whatever. I want to cook with my daughter, and spend time outside, and spend time with family and friends. To me, that is living well. I save 25% of my take-home pay, at least. So I feel like I have plenty.

[Anonymous]

Our single income $130K is "very little" inside the beltway but very successful everywhere else!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We make 160k, dual income, and I'm not deluded into thinking that's "very little." But it isn't a ton for our area. I love our life. We own a small, cute house in NEDC. Our kids go to public school in the neighborhood. I grow a lot of our vegetables and we go out to eat less than monthly. But we do fun things and our kids aren't wanting for much--they have dance and music lessons, etc. We save for retirement and a little for college.

No, that actually is very little for here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you talking about trying to get by on 150K?

Yes, $150,000 or less.

Not really doable. You need at least 320k to be ok here. Not sure when it became like this. Late 90s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We make do on $300k. It's not that hard to live well on relatively little income. We drive a Honda, I eat out maybe once a week, and we don't splurge on fancy crap in general.
I do blow money on salmon and fish though. That shit is good.

Thanks,troll....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought OP meant below 50k, even by dcum standards six figure income is not "very little".

Right? I'm the one with the t-shirt from sixth grade, and I earn $73k. I don't feel miserable or pinched or anything. I grew up cutting out coupons every Sunday, and stocking up on non-perishables when they go on sale, and checking to see if the dress I liked had gone on sale yet, so this is all second nature to me.

I bought a new car once (Hyundai) before realizing how much of a waste it was and I've only bought used since. I feel zero need for a fancy car. Zero. I feel zero need for a Gucci purse or whatever rich people have. That's not what makes me feel good. A huge part of why I "live well" is my perspective. Yesterday I took a long walk along the water and took pictures for an hour. It was tons of fun! To me, THAT is living well. I don't want for spas or manicures or whatever. I want to cook with my daughter, and spend time outside, and spend time with family and friends. To me, that is living well. I save 25% of my take-home pay, at least. So I feel like I have plenty.

Peoples money is consumed by housing costs to afford short commutes (so they can take those lovely walks) and decent schools. Not purses or fancy cars. Where do you live, how long commute, and how are your public schools? That is the secret sauce and if you managed to not compromise on those you did something right.