LogFAQs > #975824606

Because a combined $118k isn't anything close to a safe income unless you're pretty heavily saving and investing. And, honestly, a lot of couples making a combined $200k live hand-to-mouth on a higher level.

And while living in rural Texas keeps your bills low, how able would you to be to find comparable-paying jobs? That would be my biggest concern.

MrMelodramatic posted...

On top of that, my credit score is about 770, and we have about 20k in savings not including stocks and retirement savings.

I mean, $20k in savings isn't a huge amount, although I know people want to invest over a certain amount.

MrMelodramatic posted...

So I knowwww were not in a place where I should worry constantly about the exact amount of money we have in the bank or whether I can afford a cup of coffee, but I feel like Im constantly on the brink of poverty. We dont eat out often. My car is 15 years old, hers is 8. We live in an apartment that is way too small for us. We dont really take holidays. A lot of that is because I feel like any superfluous spending will bankrupt us. I think part of it might be that most of my friends from college are making significantly more than us, and always seem to be doing cool stuff on social media.

That's not terribly frugal, honestly. One of my single cousins makes about $112k/year salary (not sure about bonuses) and rents a single room via airbnb. His car? At least 18 years old, and not a "it's holding up" 18 years old car (mine is pushing 20, but because I was working remotely for so long, my mileage is relatively low for a car that old -- in fact, my mileage is low for a TEN year-old car). He's a guy with a portfolio that might be around $400k right now, zero debt, etc, and I'm not sure he's ever taken a holiday where somebody else wasn't footing most of the bill.

If he lost his job tomorrow -- which he could -- he could probably live on what he has for decades at his current spending levels.

MrMelodramatic posted...

I think part of it might be that most of my friends from college are making significantly more than us, and always seem to be doing cool stuff on social media.

Honestly? Social media tends to exaggerate everything.

MrMelodramatic posted...

why do I constantly feel suffocated and like Im on the edge of having to move back in with my mom?

Because that's potentially a reality if things go south for you, given how fucked up society is.