this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2025
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This is more or less it.
When I made 45k and rented a room I had a lot of expendable income. I could put 6% in a 401k, pay insurance, and still go out and party on weekends.
Making 125 with a mortgage and 2 kids feels kinda rough some months. I wouldn't call it a struggle. I have a lot of comforts and security. I just don't have any expendable income.
I think what's different for me now is, in the past, I could get by crashing on someone's couch if things got bad. I'm low maintenance. Today, I HAVE to have that mortgage payment. If I don't cover that Pre-K payment I've failed my family. It's not a struggle per se, but it's a different kind of stress.