My sister and her boyfriend pay $1,400 a month to live in an 850 square foot, two bedroom house. Together, they earn ~$27 an hour and work part-time. I imagine they don't crack $50k a year combined.

When I moved in with my girlfriend (now wife) in the Fall of '16, we earned about $64k a year combined (roughly $83k in 2024 dollars). Rent was $800, car payment was $325, and we were each carrying about $3k in credit card debt. And we were struggling to make ends meet. What with the cost of groceries these days, I don't know how my sister is keeping her nose above water at all.

[–] can 11 points 4 months ago

I don't know how my sister is keeping her nose above water at all.

I don't either, but I bet she feels like she's drowning.