conversation: User (eddxek): "I'm still in college right now, so I am curious as to at what age you guys stopped living paycheck to paycheck. What were the biggest changes that helped you do it?"
  Self: "Eighteen.\n\nI grew up with my great grandmother.   As someone who lived through the great depression she could stretch a dollar.  She would get about $650 a month from Social Security.  Her goal was to always have something saved at the end of the month.  \n\nI got my first job was when I was 18.  Rent was $400.  Food was $100.  Extras were $100.  Transportation averaged $200.  Because I didn't always work a full 40 hours, I saved about $200-300 a month. (Made $10 an hour).  Within 6 months I had saved up a months worth of income by being frugal as fuck.  I was still on my parents health insurance.  \n\nThere were a two instances in my life where I went fairly suddenly into 10k of debt due to failed businesses but was able to fix that situation within 18 months due to again being frugal.  Three kids, living in the Bay Area and making under 30k for almost a decade but not living paycheck to paycheck, cars paid for in full in cash felt good.  We did take advantage of food stamps and state health insurance which was probably worth an other $8-10k a year in the early years.  Now that we're making about 65k it feels incredibly luxurious.  I just got back from camping.  We have fun and eat well, travel (though mostly road trips and camping),  my husband and I like our jobs and the time off that we have.  \n\nIt has taken us longer to start saving for a house.  I just had a $4000 vehicle expense (both cars broke down the same week, rodents got in under the hood) and that didn't' break us, at all.  We have retirement savings though not as big as I'd like for our age, there's still a solid 70k in there.  \n\nTrack your expenses, learn to manage your capitalistic wants, plan for unexpected expenses.  I'm 35 now and while I am behind my peers with how much I make, I am very happy with how it's been and where it's going."
  