Households making more than $100k = 38% would have some difficulty coming up with $1000

[alarimer]

4. I am finally able to save money.

Now that I no longer live alone. But before shacking up, I could not have come up with $1000 on short notice. I didn't have many debts, but housing costs ate into my take home pay. I always rented because I thought I couldn't afford to buy (I couldn't have put any money down, that's for sure), but renters take it on the chin in some places. Shitty apartment that cost way too much, like the last town I lived in.

Now I live in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. But because I am no longer responsible for ALL the bills, I'm saving. Two incomes make a huge difference. I will get a raise, but not until next year. So I have the emergency fund; my car is paid off, and I have started a supplemental retirement account, 457 and 401K. But it took me almost 20 years of work to get here and I absolutely could not have done it on my own, which kind of sucks really.