patrick.net

Although I don’t think that paying cash for a house is viable up here in the northeast,

If you pay too much for a house, then that would be correct, but I paid cash.

I love how in that "article" all of the people have higher powered careers where they make really good money. If I made the money they made I'd be able to save 50% of my income too, easy.

Not everyone makes six figures or even close to it. I only manage to save about 15% on a salary that qualifies me for section 8 in Alameda County. So I think I do just fine. If I made double what I make now I still wouldn't be at six figures. However I'd be able to save the entire 50% of that doubling topping me out at 65% savings. I live frugally and I have a good quality of life.

And before people get on me about the amount I make, please consider that I'm 40, I've been consistently employed for 22 years at various careers. I work at a professional career-type job that requires a master's degree and many years of training beyond the master's degree plus state licensing. I do it at a non-profit though and I love what I do. Unfortunately what I do, while absolutely essential to our society, isn't paid very well at all.

I know I'm not alone in making what I make while living here in the Bay Area. Many make less than me at "professional" jobs requiring some sort of education. I don't see how anyone who makes less than I do can save more than me because some costs of living just aren't optional. We all have to eat, housing is essential, and most places require that you wear clothing.

So, I did quick math, and I won't tell you, LOL.

Yeah, those people in the article earn more than 100K/yr except one. They can save if they chose to. When you don't earn enough, there's no room for saving after cost of living. I enjoyed the article though, it would be way better if it showed us how average/poor people can save.

When we think about the cost of living, it depends. This worried mom complained that she can't save no matter how hard she tried. People asked her break down expenses, and her expenses were like this.

Mortage: 2800, Util: 400, TV internet: 150, Cellphone: 180, Car payment gas and insurance: 700, kids' afterschool activities: 800, Food grocery: 1500, Gym and stuffs: 200, Church donation 500 and other stuffs.

Sure, 100K/yr salary won't get her anywhere.

People gave her all sort of cost cutting idea like, move smaller house, what the kids do? Don't shop at whole food market, garden yourself, why the hell donate that much? Sell your freakin pradas and lois buttons etc. Her responses were quite typical. Can't live smaller home due to something, I am religious, kids need education, how come responsible mom can feed non-organic food? Don't have time, don't know how, no one to teach her how to etc etc.

Sure, she tried hard. She just don't know what's waste and what's not. Regardless all those spendings, she seems like a worried mom, not a happy woman she supposed to be. I can feel her pain.

Silly - anyone can save money. Take, for instance, the family with 19 kids. They've worked hard, saved by shopping at thrift stores and not going out, nor do they buy extras. Oh, and they're paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their reality show and personal appearances, plus receive perks of all types.

See, not that hard, huh?