I just checked, and we spend a little more than 70 percent of my husband's take-home pay (not the gross) on our basic needs. I make a pittance and most of it is going to help a family member right now, although I've also used some of it in good months to allow us to have a small luxury now and then, which we couldn't do until recently. (Soon I expect to be able to add my earnings into our household budget.) And then people tell me I should put back X percent and insist I won' t miss it. I wish those people had some idea of how f'ing privileged they are.

I'm grateful to live in a "cheap" area with affordable housing. I really do not know how others are spending several thousand bucks each month on rent or mortgage! I'm counting the days until my house is paid off and we'll have some breathing room!