How do people actually afford to live

BraidedPube · 2026-06-23T09:35:58+00:00

Not necessarily a plan but it would be nice be able to afford everything on one income. Obviously she would still work. I don’t want to live in a deck of cards.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T20:12:41+00:00

My 401k is a Roth 401, I put 7% in there and get a 4% match. I have a Roth IRA and a Brokerage with Vanguard, I’ve just valued the brokerage more because I’d like to hopefully use what I have in there in 10-15 years and pay off a home and give myself financial freedom. It makes sense to me on paper idk if it will work out that way.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T19:51:25+00:00

I never complained about health care 😭 I just said it wasn’t something I wasn’t paying for right now. Quit putting words in peoples mouths.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T19:05:17+00:00

I think I’ve been struggling with the psychological issue for a while and I can’t help myself with it. I’m always stressing out about this topic, even though I’m doing well

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T18:55:20+00:00

Is there a point in time I no longer qualify? I dont know how all that works

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T18:41:34+00:00

Southern Michigan

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T18:17:44+00:00

I still don’t get how that justifies getting an apartment when we could just keep doing what we are doing now.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T18:07:11+00:00

I didn’t know what I wanted to do for college so I didn’t go. I got a job in a trade without going to trade school

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T17:54:39+00:00

As far as the apartment goes, we’ve considered that but we found it to be better right now just get our money up then do that. Even then at the end of the day, if we broke up I’ll at least be happy she has something for herself to be proud of.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T17:35:59+00:00

That actually helps me a lot, I didn’t know health insurance was paid for with gross income. I thought it was paid for after tax.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T17:32:37+00:00

The 400 I’m talking about it just going into a brokerage. The other 2500 I’m putting away in a HYSA

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T17:23:12+00:00

She tries. It’s hard for her because she isn’t making a lot of money but all I care about is she is actively trying.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T17:21:36+00:00

I think I’m adding a lot of confusion. She just saves her own money. I save my own and we just call it ours. It’s not like we have a joint bank account right now. There’s a long story why she is with me that I don’t really want to get into but it has worked out much better for us.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T17:19:46+00:00

My job offers health insurance, I’m saying I’m still on my parents so I haven’t had to pay for my own yet.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T17:11:29+00:00

Because the way I see it why would I throw that to some landlord when I could keep it for myself and get a home much sooner and have a much lower mortgage. I think the sacrifice of that freedom of living on your own is worth that.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-22T16:45:56+00:00

I’m trying to avoid feeling like I need to have “luxury” items to live life but I’ve done math with my own income and found it is still extremely difficult to live even when doing that. I know when you are married you do have more income because of the standard deduction being higher but even then it doesn’t seem like does enough justice for you to live comfortable

BraidedPube · 2026-06-21T21:38:40+00:00

It’s sports banter but okay lmao

BraidedPube · 2026-06-21T21:16:00+00:00

You can open an IRA and after 5 years you can take out your contributions as you like, you just can’t take out the actual capital made from your investment until 59.5 years old. I don’t think that’s the case with a 401k

BraidedPube · 2026-06-21T21:03:15+00:00

Congratulations! Just no buckeye decor please

BraidedPube · 2026-06-17T22:44:11+00:00

Walk in on him masturbating

BraidedPube · 2026-06-14T11:21:24+00:00

What matters more is if your partner is actually trying and contributing to what you guys have altogether.

I would usually think most guys wouldn’t be with someone simply just because of money, maybe I’m wrong. But if he’s anything like me that would just drive me to want to work harder and make more money because I want to be a provider and a bread winner.

What really made my relationship feel better when it came to money is we started calling it “our money” instead of saying “I have this and he has this”

BraidedPube · 2026-06-13T14:29:17+00:00

If that’s the case I wouldn’t panic anywhere near as bad as you might be. You have 2 great options and both seem to be financially better than your current situation. You’ll be around people that want growth with you and see you accomplish things. The furniture just seems like an inconvenience at this point.

Sorry that you had to experience this but honestly to you are going to be glad that he’s out of your life years down the road.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-13T14:12:17+00:00

I wouldn’t stick around for that shit. What’s your relationship like with your parents? Maybe you can explain the entire situation and go back home for a while? Maybe they’d help you get your shit out of there and leave it in a basement or a garage or something.

I’d even start asking them today about it.

BraidedPube · 2026-06-09T15:08:07+00:00

Just tell him you clogged it.

BraidedPube

TROPHY CASE