I live a simple, frugal, yet I do a lot with my life. I make a middle class salary, and even living in a high cost state California, I'm able to get by fairly well. I have a roommate who I knew from high school, and pay $850 a month for one room in a two bedroom apartment in Southern California in a decent middle class neighborhood.
If I had a family and kids making $65,000 (my current salary) there's no way I'd be able to make it and pay for health insurance on top of my other expenses.
I take 2-3 trips per year, have a 30 minute commute which is decent for CA standards, and save the rest of my money for retirement and buying a house outside of California.
I work for a bank here and the guys I know with families making more money than me, it's quite eye opening when they're struggling to make it month to month even making six figures they aren't making it.
I'll likely never be "rich" like "fuck you rich" but I have a decent lifestyle and I'm still socking away money in a high COL area.
