If you’re NOT living paycheck to paycheck, what are you doing better than the rest of us?
September 3, 2025
If you’re NOT living paycheck to paycheck, what are you doing better than the rest of us?
38 comments
It’s just about making more money. And even with that you still see the rise in COL
Live below your means.
My husband and I are mid-50s and have been in well-established careers for many many years. We’re very well compensated and we make a concerted effort to live below our means. So: we’re old, frugal, and well-paid.
I live below my means but still live paycheck to paycheck. Those are happy days for me. If my company didn’t pay me on those days. I would quit. But it also depends on a great many things going right.
I chose to tuck my pride away for a job that averages $800 a day. Wound up loving it after a few months. Don’t live beyond my means
I’m not doing anything better than everyone else; I’m just old and fortunate enough to have a good career at this point.
I’m well along in my career in a field where I have a lot of expertise, respect, and general competence. Fortunately, I’m doing those things for a company that pays well enough and my partner is doing the same in their profession, so that means we can save something each month.
Luck. It’s 100% luck. I was lucky enough to have parents with the right income bracket to get a lot of assistance with college, but still have enough money for them to help pay the difference. So no student debt. I was just the right age so that in 2008, I was a young professional with a decent job, and I qualified for the first time home buyer’s credit in my city. I bought a small foreclosure for only $75,000 and the city covered a 5% down payment. I am also lucky enough to live in a college town and immediately got a roommate to help pay the mortgage. When I married and moved in with my spouse, we sold my house and moved into one we bought at the tail end of the housing crash, in 2014, just before prices went bat shit insane. We rented my house for a couple years, and in that time, prices skyrocketed and available stock plummeted so when I sold, we used my equity to pay off most of our shared home. We don’t have a mortgage. Two professional incomes, no student debt, no kids, no mortgage…. All luck.
I would definitely not say doing anything better than anyone. But I’m not living paycheck to paycheck because I joined the military to pay for my college, as I knew I didn’t have the means otherwise, then very intentionally sought out a high paying career and was relentless until I achieved it.
Edit: high paying career that I also happen to love, thank goodness.
Not giving into lifestyle inflation. Get the cheap cocktail, cook unless someone asks you to go out for dinner, get a toyota and drive it to the ground
Budgeting, thrifting, not sending kids to daycare/preschool, not having car payments, cooking every meal, having a husband with a stable job and handy skills.
It’s a combination of living with my father in law, inheritance and living below my means.
Literally nothing, I just had luck and knew English in a South American country, so that puts me in advantage. Also coming from crisis era Venezuela I’ve never been much of a consumer in general so most of my money goes on needs, one or other gift to myself or a friend and food delivery
Working a well paying job/career path, living beneath my means, living in a relatively cheap area, splitting bills with a roommate/partner.
I’m a sex worker, plain and simple. I hope this doesn’t get me banned or anything Im just hoping to add my perspective to the question.
No major setbacks. No major expenses. No desire to please everyone else.
Living paycheck to paycheck like everyone else for a while while I built a career in a field that pays decently. Living below my means (or, at least, what people have told me is below my means because I disagree!) budgeting on the monthly and not the weekly.
Budgeting
Well, I worked till I was 69 got things in order and then I retired. I get Social Security, a pretty big chunk cause I work so long and also I still work very part-time for my former boss and he pays me well.
You spend less than you make. That’s really it. Spending too high? Make more money or spend less. No that’s not easy, but it is that simple.
Built a career in the software industry and never had kids. 37 now and living very comfortably.
Im marrying rich
Not having kids and living in a cheap apartment
Worked my ass off during my 20s and worked full time and when to college full time. I never had a fun job – I was in banking for 12yrs. I sucked it up and did my masters while having a new born so that I could be done and not ask the question you’re asking. Oh and I studied the dullest profession, and it pays
Don’t have kids. Live below my means. Haven’t bought a new vehicle in 20 years and I’m driving my Toyota until it dies. I splurge on things but only as my budget allows. I lived for too long spending more than necessary and I didn’t like it. I’ll be completely debt free in 2 years while also paying off my house 10 years earlier than expected. Everything extra goes toward my retirement investments or paying debts. That became my goal and although it’s tighter than I had been living, being debt free and retiring in my 40s will be worth it.
I save 1000/month, pretend it doesn’t exist. Then I live paycheck to paycheck
Working two jobs, and dedicating a large amount of time, education and resources to both of them!
I’m a veterinarian. Admittedly, “go to school for eight years and work a high stress job” is probably not for everybody. Partner has an okay salary. We have no kids.
Honestly it was joining the military right out of high school and taking every financial class the Marines offered. I was also stationed overseas so no 29% interest payments on a brand new Camaro for me. After that I went right into college on Uncle Sam’s dime and lived off my little TA pay and summer jobs. And I totally lived off the free food pantry offered by the school. Also pure luck that I got a career job just 2 weeks after graduating!
I took the Jane Eyre path and married above my means. It has its benefits and its downsides as it did for her!
Focused on building a caree, rather then a job. Even though entry level was a bit financially challenging.
Left a dead beat leech of a partner and found one who is fincially literate and responsible (and amazing all around).
Didn’t have children, I can’t realistically afford them
Don’t buy on credit. Live within your means.
Effective budgeting, we have money put aside every paycheck for essentials and a contingency fund. Hell we even have a “fun money” allocation.
Set and stick to saving goals.
Live in a small unit, because that’s what we can afford.
Cost effective car that is extremely fuel efficient.
I don’t have kids.
I wouldn’t say I’m doing “better” I just made that choice in part due to financial reasons.
Budget. I use ynab. I don’t buy dumb sh*t I don’t value.
I put away the savings first. And then, with what I have left, I built a budget for expenses.
I shared a flat with a housemate for many years, long after I could “afford” an apartment of my own. I cooked all my meals at home, in bulk. A lot of beans and rice just before the next pay check hit. My hobbies were cheap, or free. I wore minimal makeup and stuck to a strict capsule wardrobe. You really don’t need more than 10% of what society and marketing tells you that you do.
I was lucky enough to have the “social privilege” to pass it off as minimalism although it was crippling poverty behind the facade.
Wasn’t easy. But I managed to start investing early, even if it was just small amounts. That allowed me to go get a masters at a very good school. Liquidated all my investments to get that degree. And haven’t looked back since. My NW is on track to FIRE in the next 5 years.
I never order delivery for anything unless it’s free—food or goods, I don’t have many subscriptions to things (streaming/apps etc), I don’t eat out a lot and cook most meals, I buy almost all of my clothes on sale, I shop at thrift stores, I don’t buy anything unless I have the money in my bank account—no credit card debt, I automatically deposit $ into my savings every month, I slowly buy high value stocks—Alphabet, Meta, Amazon etc., I drive an 11 year old Prius, I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t have kids and my rent is cheap.
I stayed home on weekends for years while I built up my savings. If I stepped out, I did things that didn’t cost money. I really enjoy hiking and can spend the entire day in the mountains. Once I had a few $1000 saved, I started investing it. Now my “savings” brings me in free money every month. It’s not touched and it continues to grow and be reinvested. I also work 3 side jobs on my own time that brings in an extra $800 a month. I’m just learning now about covered calls in the stock market and I’m looking into using some money to gain more money that way
Budgeting *for financial security as a goal*.
Budgeting only gets you halfway there. The goals you choose are important, too. Budgeting for thousands of dollars in vacation won’t make you more financially secure, but budgeting for security for your future self will.
Motivation and intention are paramount.
DINKs where we both have good incomes but also both prefer to save over spend. Before we got together and had our higher incomes we both individually focused on saving as much as possible.
Being with a partner with the same financial mindset is huge! And when we spend we spend on similar things which makes financial convos very easy
Luck and good choices. Or maybe the good choice to capitalize on luck when it arises.
I paid off my debt, so I’m not spending money on things in the past. I’m not a shopper. I have an older car that I’ll drive into the ground. My housing situation is very affordable. I spent a long time building a buffer for when expenses arise.
I have long term goals and keep them in mind when making decisions. I stay off most social media so I’m not getting ads or buying impulsively. If I want something, I don’t let myself buy it right away. I put it out of mind and if I’m still thinking about it in 30 days or the next time it goes on sale, I get it.
38 comments
It’s just about making more money. And even with that you still see the rise in COL
Live below your means.
My husband and I are mid-50s and have been in well-established careers for many many years. We’re very well compensated and we make a concerted effort to live below our means. So: we’re old, frugal, and well-paid.
I live below my means but still live paycheck to paycheck. Those are happy days for me. If my company didn’t pay me on those days. I would quit. But it also depends on a great many things going right.
I chose to tuck my pride away for a job that averages $800 a day. Wound up loving it after a few months. Don’t live beyond my means
I’m not doing anything better than everyone else; I’m just old and fortunate enough to have a good career at this point.
I’m well along in my career in a field where I have a lot of expertise, respect, and general competence. Fortunately, I’m doing those things for a company that pays well enough and my partner is doing the same in their profession, so that means we can save something each month.
Luck. It’s 100% luck. I was lucky enough to have parents with the right income bracket to get a lot of assistance with college, but still have enough money for them to help pay the difference. So no student debt. I was just the right age so that in 2008, I was a young professional with a decent job, and I qualified for the first time home buyer’s credit in my city. I bought a small foreclosure for only $75,000 and the city covered a 5% down payment. I am also lucky enough to live in a college town and immediately got a roommate to help pay the mortgage. When I married and moved in with my spouse, we sold my house and moved into one we bought at the tail end of the housing crash, in 2014, just before prices went bat shit insane. We rented my house for a couple years, and in that time, prices skyrocketed and available stock plummeted so when I sold, we used my equity to pay off most of our shared home. We don’t have a mortgage. Two professional incomes, no student debt, no kids, no mortgage…. All luck.
I would definitely not say doing anything better than anyone. But I’m not living paycheck to paycheck because I joined the military to pay for my college, as I knew I didn’t have the means otherwise, then very intentionally sought out a high paying career and was relentless until I achieved it.
Edit: high paying career that I also happen to love, thank goodness.
Not giving into lifestyle inflation. Get the cheap cocktail, cook unless someone asks you to go out for dinner, get a toyota and drive it to the ground
Budgeting, thrifting, not sending kids to daycare/preschool, not having car payments, cooking every meal, having a husband with a stable job and handy skills.
It’s a combination of living with my father in law, inheritance and living below my means.
Literally nothing, I just had luck and knew English in a South American country, so that puts me in advantage. Also coming from crisis era Venezuela I’ve never been much of a consumer in general so most of my money goes on needs, one or other gift to myself or a friend and food delivery
Working a well paying job/career path, living beneath my means, living in a relatively cheap area, splitting bills with a roommate/partner.
I’m a sex worker, plain and simple. I hope this doesn’t get me banned or anything Im just hoping to add my perspective to the question.
No major setbacks. No major expenses. No desire to please everyone else.
Living paycheck to paycheck like everyone else for a while while I built a career in a field that pays decently. Living below my means (or, at least, what people have told me is below my means because I disagree!) budgeting on the monthly and not the weekly.
Budgeting
Well, I worked till I was 69 got things in order and then I retired. I get Social Security, a pretty big chunk cause I work so long and also I still work very part-time for my former boss and he pays me well.
You spend less than you make. That’s really it. Spending too high? Make more money or spend less. No that’s not easy, but it is that simple.
Built a career in the software industry and never had kids. 37 now and living very comfortably.
Im marrying rich
Not having kids and living in a cheap apartment
Worked my ass off during my 20s and worked full time and when to college full time. I never had a fun job – I was in banking for 12yrs. I sucked it up and did my masters while having a new born so that I could be done and not ask the question you’re asking. Oh and I studied the dullest profession, and it pays
Don’t have kids. Live below my means. Haven’t bought a new vehicle in 20 years and I’m driving my Toyota until it dies. I splurge on things but only as my budget allows. I lived for too long spending more than necessary and I didn’t like it. I’ll be completely debt free in 2 years while also paying off my house 10 years earlier than expected. Everything extra goes toward my retirement investments or paying debts. That became my goal and although it’s tighter than I had been living, being debt free and retiring in my 40s will be worth it.
I save 1000/month, pretend it doesn’t exist. Then I live paycheck to paycheck
Working two jobs, and dedicating a large amount of time, education and resources to both of them!
I’m a veterinarian. Admittedly, “go to school for eight years and work a high stress job” is probably not for everybody. Partner has an okay salary. We have no kids.
Honestly it was joining the military right out of high school and taking every financial class the Marines offered. I was also stationed overseas so no 29% interest payments on a brand new Camaro for me. After that I went right into college on Uncle Sam’s dime and lived off my little TA pay and summer jobs. And I totally lived off the free food pantry offered by the school. Also pure luck that I got a career job just 2 weeks after graduating!
I took the Jane Eyre path and married above my means. It has its benefits and its downsides as it did for her!
Focused on building a caree, rather then a job. Even though entry level was a bit financially challenging.
Left a dead beat leech of a partner and found one who is fincially literate and responsible (and amazing all around).
Didn’t have children, I can’t realistically afford them
Don’t buy on credit. Live within your means.
Effective budgeting, we have money put aside every paycheck for essentials and a contingency fund. Hell we even have a “fun money” allocation.
Set and stick to saving goals.
Live in a small unit, because that’s what we can afford.
Cost effective car that is extremely fuel efficient.
I don’t have kids.
I wouldn’t say I’m doing “better” I just made that choice in part due to financial reasons.
Budget. I use ynab. I don’t buy dumb sh*t I don’t value.
I put away the savings first. And then, with what I have left, I built a budget for expenses.
I shared a flat with a housemate for many years, long after I could “afford” an apartment of my own. I cooked all my meals at home, in bulk. A lot of beans and rice just before the next pay check hit. My hobbies were cheap, or free. I wore minimal makeup and stuck to a strict capsule wardrobe. You really don’t need more than 10% of what society and marketing tells you that you do.
I was lucky enough to have the “social privilege” to pass it off as minimalism although it was crippling poverty behind the facade.
Wasn’t easy. But I managed to start investing early, even if it was just small amounts. That allowed me to go get a masters at a very good school. Liquidated all my investments to get that degree. And haven’t looked back since. My NW is on track to FIRE in the next 5 years.
I never order delivery for anything unless it’s free—food or goods, I don’t have many subscriptions to things (streaming/apps etc), I don’t eat out a lot and cook most meals, I buy almost all of my clothes on sale, I shop at thrift stores, I don’t buy anything unless I have the money in my bank account—no credit card debt, I automatically deposit $ into my savings every month, I slowly buy high value stocks—Alphabet, Meta, Amazon etc., I drive an 11 year old Prius, I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t have kids and my rent is cheap.
I stayed home on weekends for years while I built up my savings. If I stepped out, I did things that didn’t cost money. I really enjoy hiking and can spend the entire day in the mountains. Once I had a few $1000 saved, I started investing it. Now my “savings” brings me in free money every month. It’s not touched and it continues to grow and be reinvested. I also work 3 side jobs on my own time that brings in an extra $800 a month. I’m just learning now about covered calls in the stock market and I’m looking into using some money to gain more money that way
Budgeting *for financial security as a goal*.
Budgeting only gets you halfway there. The goals you choose are important, too. Budgeting for thousands of dollars in vacation won’t make you more financially secure, but budgeting for security for your future self will.
Motivation and intention are paramount.
DINKs where we both have good incomes but also both prefer to save over spend. Before we got together and had our higher incomes we both individually focused on saving as much as possible.
Being with a partner with the same financial mindset is huge! And when we spend we spend on similar things which makes financial convos very easy
Luck and good choices. Or maybe the good choice to capitalize on luck when it arises.
I paid off my debt, so I’m not spending money on things in the past. I’m not a shopper. I have an older car that I’ll drive into the ground. My housing situation is very affordable. I spent a long time building a buffer for when expenses arise.
I have long term goals and keep them in mind when making decisions. I stay off most social media so I’m not getting ads or buying impulsively. If I want something, I don’t let myself buy it right away. I put it out of mind and if I’m still thinking about it in 30 days or the next time it goes on sale, I get it.