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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Are they living within their means? Or can they not afford it because they eat out all the time, spend a ton of money on the best haircuts and clothes, drink a ton of alcohol. Do they know how to be frugal?

That would change my answer. [/quote]

Those darned youngsters and their avocado toast ways! If they are eating avocados don't you dare help them with a car![/quote]

I’m the pp and I’m laughing at the avocado toast, but you and I know it’s not just a brunch here and there. It’s a $7 coffee every day, it’s door dash 5 times a week, it’s having an expensive phone + max plan and 5 different streaming subscriptions…it’s all the things that add up. When I was first out of college I ate rice a roni and I didn’t go out like my peers did. I had plenty of fun, but I was frugal until I could afford not to be. People need to be okay with not getting what they want when they want it in order to live within their means.

I am curious about OP’s kid and how OP feels about their budgeting.[/quote]

Exactly!

When we graduated college, we got married and went to grad school.  We had ~$80K between us in undergrad loans (grad school was fully funded with 40% of our paycheck while we were attending). First thing we did was live frugally (as we had been in grad school) and pay off our student loans ASAP.  it took about 2.5 years (we both had good paying jobs and chose to live off a bit less than 1 salary in a nice but not nearly as nice apartment as we could technically afford).  Then we saved another year for a downpayment and bought a house.  During that time, we only took long weekend vacations that were within 3-4 hours drive and stayed in cheap places.  We took lunches and snacks to work 9 out of 10 days, and only went out to eat to socialize with friends every 10-14 days.  Otherwise we cooked at home.  
We also drove older cars.  Once we bought a house, we did a modest home (one we could easily afford on only one salary) and did all the work ourselves (yard work, painting, etc). And actively continued to save for retirement and in general.  
We were not dining out, doordashing, drinks 3-4 days per week, coffee out, etc.  While our colleagues were buying lunch at work in the cafeteria (large company) most days or going out for lunch, we took our own lunch and ate with them in the cafeteria, and once every 2 weeks or so would join a group for lunch out (actually out).  We were not missing anything, we still socialized, but we saved a lot.  
In today's world, lunch will run you $15-20 daily, coffee another $7-10 (if you grab a snack with it).  So $30 every day, Mon-Fri.  That's $600 per month.  That could be made at home for $50/month and a little bit of effort (not much).  Now do that for dinners, and the new iPhone every 12 months, etc.  and it all adds up.

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