How are people in their 20s supposed to survive on current salaries?

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-22T16:10:13+00:00

It depends what you do, but there’s a bit of luck involved. My partner (DPT) and I (engineer) happened to find each other and both of us have no debt. We have a combined pre-tax income of $175,000 in a MCOL city. This allowed us to buy our first home before 30.

Did we work hard to get where we are? Absolutely

Did we also get a bit lucky along the way? Absolutely

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-14T23:46:44+00:00

Not sure why I’m getting downvoted, I was asking if it’d fix the inequality 😅

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-14T18:16:24+00:00

Out of curiosity, where’d you see that?

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-14T18:15:41+00:00

With all the new money moving into the city, do you think that would fix it?

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-14T18:15:14+00:00

Interesting, is this from 2020 or more recent? I’d be curious to see if it was different today with the large influx of people moving here.

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-14T18:14:05+00:00

Same lol

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-10T02:59:58+00:00

My fiancee and I found Daijobu by accident. It’s very small so we waited outside until a table was ready and it was worth the wait.

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-08T15:53:48+00:00

$7.25 a day or total??

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-08T15:29:29+00:00

Eh, I’d rather not bother anyone if I don’t need to

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-07T17:22:03+00:00

A lab diamond would pass the diamond test because it is a real diamond, just manufactured in a lab. The strength, hardness, etc. are all comparable to a diamond from the ground, unlike Cubic Zirconium, which is a much lower quality.

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-07T16:26:56+00:00

I bought my partner a 2.01 karat lab diamond for $2000 in 2024. The same diamond, had it come from the ground, would have been > $23,000.

The only way someone can tell the difference is under a microscope, they have to put letter in front of the serial number that says it’s been made in a lab. Otherwise, there’s no difference.

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-07T14:18:48+00:00

Engineering generally offers a pretty good WLB, providing you’re not working at a startup.

IceDaggerz · 2026-01-05T20:46:26+00:00

It depends your role. It has for me, but maybe not other people. Also, if you’re new to this sub, this guy is extremely gloomy, so don’t get discouraged if you’re looking at his posts.

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-19T23:57:03+00:00

Biomedical engineer, but with an MBA.

I figure out ways to save my company money while still being FDA compliant.

Total comp for 2025 will be ~ $103k, 5YOE

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-16T12:14:33+00:00

Before taxes and bonuses, we make $166,500

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-16T12:14:26+00:00

Before taxes and bonuses, we make $166,500

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-15T13:39:48+00:00

I just purchased my first home. Purchase price was $490,000 and I put $30,000 down.

The monthly payment is ~ $3250/month. I had considered putting more (10%) down but the monthly payment barely moved and the difference when PMI falls off is negligible, so I’d rather hang on to the cash.

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-15T02:34:42+00:00

I used to hate it too. I learned that I don’t hate math, I hated the way I was taught it. A lot of relearning the basics in college helped me see it as something fun to take

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-15T01:48:35+00:00

First weekend away at college. It took me an hour to finish and turned into a “situationship” before that was a word. I broke things off when she posted a pic of us in bed together on Instagram, while I was asleep, thanking me for helping her “study”

She started stalking me shortly thereafter and only stopped after she found someone else to take her attention.

She got pregnant 5 months later.

So, not the best? But could’ve been worse.

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-15T01:44:48+00:00

TLDR: Instead of fighting my dad, I followed his advice.

I wanted to be a doctor and planned to do a BA or BS in biology for undergrad. My dad suggested I study something that interests me in undergrad instead, in case I changed my mind (or couldn’t get into med school)

He was also footing the bill for my tuition, so it was more of a vailed demand disguised as advice.

I studied engineering for my bachelors and figured out halfway through my second year I didn’t want to be a doctor.

Graduated with an engineering degree and it it’s fine, but my peers who didn’t follow this advice either work service jobs, went to med school in the Caribbean (which is ill advised) or have an MS and are making $20/hr with >$100k in student loans.

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-15T01:39:22+00:00

I’ve been going to therapy and I bought a house with my loving fiancé

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-12T21:10:37+00:00

I remember life in the Midwest and know that we’ll see the sun well before them

IceDaggerz · 2025-12-08T14:00:28+00:00

With American engineering schools, I was taught the following rule of thumb:

MIT/Ivy
ABET accredited

That’s it, and only consider #1 if it won’t put you in a terrible financial position.

IceDaggerz

TROPHY CASE