My mother died when I was 26. I married Bill when I was 27. Our combined gross income was $300/wk. Our apt.rent was $145 month. We decided to buy a house. Mtg was $135 mo., but that didn't include insurance, taxes, oil, electricity, repairs, etc., etc. We both worked a 2nd job. Never racked up debt. We sometimes ate corn flakes for dinner, and some weeks I couldn't buy tooth paste and under arm deodorant in the same week. We never fought over money. We just bit the bullet and dug in for the long haul.
We both worked hard, had a strong work ethic which helped gain a better position in the companies for which we worked. It's only been the last 20 years of our marriage that we've been able to afford more than just the necessities. We knew early on that social security wouldn't sustain us if we lived to old age. Bill joined the military reserves even after serving 6 years in the USMC. He served for 20 years and retired with a pension at 62 and supplemental health benefits to Medicare. We both stayed long at the companies for which we worked, so we'd walk away with a good retirement. We bought property that would be an investment - not ego mansions. They all turned out well.
We planned for the future, never lived outside our means - still don't - and never racked up debt. It's the best advice I can give anyone - even now. But, what do I know? I'm an 8th decade survivor living comfortable who hasn't a clue.
And I would have written, "if God lets you live as long", but I knew it would piss Som off even more.
