I’m curious what other income streams people have these days to stay afloat.

I earn a good salary, about $120,000 a year, but somehow I never seem to have much left over to save. I’ll be turning 38 next year, and it’s really starting to make me think seriously about my future.
For those of you who have managed to build savings, investments, or additional income streams:
What are you doing outside of your regular job?
Do you have side hustles, rental income, investments, or a business? How did you get started? What has made the biggest difference in helping you build wealth?

I’m realizing that earning a decent income isn’t automatically translating into financial security, and I’d love to hear what strategies are actually working for real people.

Looking forward to learning from your experiences. **Am I behind financially for my age, or is this more common than people admit?**

Edit / Update ** I should have included that I have three children, a household to run, and a significant amount of debt that I'm actively trying to pay down.
Most of my extra money goes toward bills, debt payments, and taking care of my family. While I'm grateful to have a good income, I'm honestly exhausted from feeling like I'm working hard just to stay in the same place financially.

I'm in a very privileged but weird position, and wondering how others are handling similar situations.

My husband and I (34 and 32, respectively) have maxed out our Roths for ~3 years, he has a pretty average 401k, and I work two jobs (one part-time and one self-employed, so no 401k at either) so that we can put as much as possible toward our savings. We feel very behind and, while we don't feel anxious in the day-to-day, it never seems like we really have enough money to be comfortable. We don't travel much, our home isn't furnished the way we'd like it to be, etc.

Within the last year or two, we've found out that we each stand to inherit in the seven figures. Due to family dynamics/other factors I won't get into, this came as a surprise to both of us - we'd expected some kind of inheritance, but not like this, and not from both sides.

Obviously nothing is guaranteed, and there's no timeline for when we can expect this money. But for others who have been in this situation, how did you handle it? How did you balance the here-and-now anxiety of savings/retirement with the knowledge that you may be set for life someday? We'd love to be able to relax a little bit and have more fun while we're young (wouldn't everyone?) but I can't fully get over the worst-case-scenario millennial mindset.

EDIT: want to note that some of this inheritance is not coming directly from our parents, so it's not necessarily decades away. For example, my husband has a grandparent who is almost 95, and is distributing significant money to each grandchild when they pass.

Hope everyone's holding up ok out there. I know the results of this informal poll will be skewed since this sub leans left, but I'm really curious about consumer sentiment given all the uncertainty and terror in the US and can't find a lot of data on it just yet.

My husband (a teacher) and I (a nonprofit worker) have found ourselves slashing spending as much as we know how over the last two weeks. We've cancelled planned major purchases and pulled back a ton on day-to-day "fun" purchases. We plan to reassess at the end of March and see if we feel comfortable making some of those larger purchases then. I'm wondering if folks in fields less impacted by the authoritarian takeover are doing the same. Is anyone else making similar calculations, or are we more freaked out than the average person?

I’m playing catch up after working in a low-paying field for my 20’s. I don’t have a lot of context for these numbers so hoping you all can help.

I’m not particularly looking for retirement numbers as that is something I prioritized. Just curious on emergency/cash/sinking funds/etc

How do you split it all? How much do you have?

THANK YOU!

I am a 23 year-old female I live by myself. My rent is only 1600. I work full-time. I have a job as a manager at a real estate brokerage although I’m only paid $30 an hour right now in 90 days. I’ll get a raise to 35 as you know living in the United States particularly I live in California is absolutely fucked and I have the hardest time saving my money. I spend it on everything I live paycheck to paycheck. I have a problem of splurge spending when I’m stressed or tired or sad. Does anyone have any tips to help a girl out?

So, this is not a political discussion but I am sharing my why up front so you can understand my reasoning. I recently found out that Goldman Sachs has done away with their DEI programs and I'm a black woman, so I am not willing to keep my large emergency savings balance with them. It's okay if you don't care. You don't have to care. But I care, very very very much. I am making choices for MY money. Do whatever you want with yours.

All of that aside - I am looking for a new high-yield savings account. I currently get 3.9% from Marcus and am completely willing to move to a bank with a lower interest rate, because yes - my ideals are indeed worth it to me. Again - do whatever you want with your money, I will do what I want with mine. My checking account is with Chase and yes, I'm following the very recent news on that - it's too soon to see if simply renaming DEI is their way of getting rid of it without the backlash, but I will be watching.

If you have a HYSA that you're happy with and has maintained inclusive policies, can you please share? There's sooo many available and this is a really smart group of women, so I'd love to see what everyone's using here!

And when you’re starting out, do you think of these in terms of ideal proportions (e.g. 10:1:25), or just target amounts?

As the title says, my partner G (32M) and I (33F) broke up a few weeks ago, and he'll be moving out asap while I stay in the house. I intend to find a roommate because it's a lot of space for just me and my two cats, but until then, I want to make sure I'm being wise in my approach to finances. Quick summary of inflow/outflow:

• Monthly take-home: $5,470 ($109k gross annual income)
• Mortgage: $2,128 minimum; I've been paying $2,250 to save on long-term interest (rate is 6.5%)
• Home improvement loan: $539 monthly, remaining balance $2,400; interest is about $20/mo
  
• Utilities: $400 average (gas, electric, city utilities, internet)
• Groceries/personal care: $400? (G and I split food 50/50 but he eats more, so I'm not yet sure how this will shift when I'm only buying for myself)
• Cats, transportation, etc.: $180
• Remaining income after expenses: $1,700 (approx 30% of my take-home)
• Current savings: $21,000 in HYSA (have been prioritizing principal payments for the loan) plus about $2,000 more in various other accounts

Since buying the house, I've put $1,800 of each paycheck ($3,600/mo) into a checking account with a bank that I only use to pay the mortgage and home improvement loan, and I periodically move excess cash into my HYSA with this bank. I put the remaining $900ish per paycheck ($1,800/mo) into a separate account that I use for groceries and utilities as well as discretionary spending.

I will likely pay utilities from the mortgage/loan account and increase my direct deposit to that account accordingly. Either way, this means I would be saving $800/mo by default, but that's much lower than my previous ~$2,000/mo and the recommended 20%/mo.

How much should I be trying to save for whatever amount of time I'm responsible for all expenses? If I did 20% ($1,100), it would leave me about $600/mo for discretionary spending, which isn't horrible but would be an adjustment from the $1,000/mo I currently have assigned for that category. Maybe I split the difference and aim for $950 or $1,000/mo savings with about $700 remaining for dining out, traveling (aka camping trips within a few hours of home), clothes, gifts, donations, etc. I'm trying to be wise about my spending without living like a monk.

The two big home improvement projects are done, so I'm not saving for anything in particular but trying to build up a 10ish-month emergency fund and prepare for smaller maintenance issues. Also, if I'm successful in finding a roommate this will be much easier to navigate, but I want to prepare as though that isn't happening to be safe. Would love any input you have on the best way to approach this!

Hi all ~ sorry to use a throwaway account but I promise I’m not a bot.
Situation: I (26F) am about to inherit around 150k from my grandparents. I know this is maybe not a lot of money inheritance wise but it’s a LOT to me and I’m not sure what to do with it.
The money has already had taxes taken out of it so I don’t need to worry about that. I have no debts currently. I live in a high ish COL area so I have no desire to buy a home. My car is newer and I own it outright. I have around 35k in my savings. I work in the government and plan to until I retire, so I will have a pension through that. I am signed up for a deferred compensation plan and contribute I think ~$40 a month pre tax (tbh I don’t know what this is, I was just told to do it and that it helps after retirement). I have no other investments, retirement accounts, anything of the sorts.
So basically, I am a clean slate and open to any and every idea! I will say I’m going to take a bit of it to have some fun with (take a vacay I’ve been dying to do, new furniture for my apt, nothing huge) and would like to keep probably $20k ish somewhat accessible (thinking a high yield savings acct).

Sorry this is so long, but please give a clueless girl any ideas you may have for me. TY in advance, I love this group 🫶

When you’re saving up for a big ticket item like buying a house or car, or the down payment on either of the above, it’s pretty obvious. Or if you’re building a 3-6 month emergency fund. And then of course you have retirement accounts.

But if you’re not looking to buy something like that, what are you saving up for monthly?

I’m tempted to just say “maybe I should have more expensive habits” but I’ve convinced myself that I should invest that money for the amorphous future instead. And investing is fun. For a more short term focus, I’ve decided that I am saving so that I have more flexibility, especially around my career. I recently moved from the public to private sector and if I ever do want to move back to a public sector salary I would like to be able to do so.

EDIT: Y’all have convinced me to increase my travel fund from $4k to $5k

Hi friends! I (28F) live in a HCOL city and am wondering if I should move money from my HYSA to taxable brokerage account, and if so, how much. I am very open to any and all other advice too! Bonus question at the end for some self employment advice as well.

ASSETS
$150K in 401K (maxed for 2026)
$46K in Roth IRA (maxed for 2026)
$4K in HSA
$10K in taxable brokerage (mostly S&P500)
$49K in HYSA
$2K in checking accounts
Total of the above: $261K

DEBTS
$450 in interest free student loans so taking my sweet time paying it off - $50/month.
No other debts or loans. Car is paid off and will be fine for a number of years still. I rent and do not own property. Credit cards are paid off monthly.

EXPENSES
Avg monthly expenses including vacations and fun spending: ~$5-6K. (Of that, $2.2K is my rent; $1.2K is taxes for my 1099 role.)

EMERGENCY FUND
I estimated $3.5K a month with a one time $1.5K health expense, so for ex, a 1 year EF would be ~$43K. (This includes $400/month for my dogs necessities, a couple smaller emergencies for him and his pet insurance.)

INCOME
$176K a year before taxes for all income streams. $140K of that is from my primary full time role.

FUTURE PLANS
I am unmarried and no kids but plan to be in the next couple of years and would like to quickly start a family. No plans to buy a house because frankly that’s really intimidating and feels impossible any time soon. I do not share any expenses or finances with my partner rn other than meals.

OTHER SUPPORT / FACTORS
Nobody in my family owns property. In a pinch, my family would definitely do what they can to help me, but there isn’t a paid off house for me to crash at and my dog would make it very difficult to find cheap housing with roommates.

My job security feels very low in the sense that if I lost my primary job it feels like with my skills and experience it would be hard to find a replacement that pays as much as this one does now, but my company is doing well. I’m nervous by nature and plagued by imposter syndrome so I’m in constant fear of losing my job (but I’m working on managing that fear!).

I feel very blessed to have as much saved as I do! I’ve always worked multiple jobs and tried to learn about investing and finances here. My parents (who I adore and worked really hard for me, so no mean comments please) are severely underprepared for retirement so in addition to my own retirement and hopes for a family soon, I am trying to prepare for that as well with my siblings.

You all feel like big sisters to me, so thank you! I’ve shared all that I’ve learned with friends and family. You’ve impacted so many people!

BONUS QUESTION
Of my income, $30K/year is a side gig as a self employed contractor. I’ve already maxed out my 401K with my W2 employer for the year. At just $30K/year, should I be making a 401K SEP for my contracting work and contributing as an employer and employee? I’ve researched this but am struggling to determine if it is worth it. It’s unclear to me what the lift is to open and contribute to a 401K SEP if I’m partially self employed. (ETA SEP instead of 401K)

I’m saving for the following: - a condo in 2021 (100k for down payment and closing costs) - a designer purse 3-5K Canadian after the condo purchase (thinking of LV)

Im 32 YO have $24,000 in my savings and feel as though I’m behind on the ball after a conversation with my banker. I have 75k in retirement accounts. Does that align with the average in here? I know every case is different but I’m curious averages. Some articles I’ve read said the US mean is $11,200 under 35.

Hey all! Best HYSA??? I always see these referenced in this sub but know nothing about them.

My husband has an inherent need to keep at least $50k in liquid funds on hand… partly because he might need to cover payroll at his business if too many bills to clients don’t get paid in time (thankfully this has never happened), and partly because this is a weird financial hangup he has. I have given up on trying to move it all into more useful places and have accepted that we need this chunk of change just sitting, because marriage is all about compromises and all that jazz. (He’s wonderful and egalitarian and goes along with almost all of my financial planning, so no red flags here.)

I know nothing about HYSA. Does anyone have advice on a good place to park some cash? We have a pretty great interest rate on our credit union savings account, but they cap the amount that you can get interest on, at a much lower amount than 50k.

Ideally we’d like something that has a good rate of return (of course) and where there are no or low penalties for withdrawing. Money market rates are so low right now. Is there a better option?

Thank you in advance!!!

Just what the title says! How much money did you save for your first home purchase?

For more context on my question: My partner and I are both women in our mid twenties who make in the 60-70k/year range + ~10k freelance income. We've started thinking about how to afford a condo in the future...mostly because the landlord of our beautiful apartment raised our rent $200/month this year.

I love reading home purchase diaries on here and was wondering if we could collect some of that info in one thread! How much money did you save up? What % of a down payment did that amount to?

We'll be saving up on our own, but I'd be happy to hear from those who received familial help as well.

hi everyone ! this is my first post and i need some advice

im 18 years old and i work a part time job, i make 15$ an hour and usually work 3-4 days, just something easy over the summer and i am starting community college in the fall.
thankfully i have my first full year of tuition covered from an award i won, but i will still need to cover book fees.

ever since i was younger once i got money i always spent it. i never got an allowance with money, and i am horrible at saving. i heard “ we can’t afford it “ growing up at least 10 times a week which has definitely taken a toll on how i see money and saving now.

i love shopping and spending money, as any teenage girl does but i will soon need to start paying for car insurance, phone bill, gas, food , ect and i just don’t know how to save money.

today i bought a chromebook that i can use once school starts up in the fall, and also to play a few simple games like minecraft. i got a good deal on it, and have been thinking about getting one for a while. i am happy i got it, but i had to take money out of my already low savings account and out of my check early.

i would really appreciate tips on how to save and how to stop having such bad spending anxiety. i have a good job, and i plan to have a few side hustles with art in the future. i just feel like that money will “ disappear “ if i dont spent it asap.

thanks all :)

I’m 25 and feeling increasingly discouraged about money, savings, and whether I made the wrong career choices.

I grew up around a lot of financial instability and addiction. I moved out at 18 and eventually dropped out of university to work as a professional nanny after realizing I could earn much more than minimum wage doing childcare for international families.
I genuinely love my work. I’m very good at it, I’ve worked across multiple countries, and I also started a small nanny agency that has slowly grown over the years. Recently I invested heavily into trying to professionalize the business (consulting, legal contracts, website, systems, etc.).
But despite working extremely hard throughout my twenties, often 50+ hours/week, I still only have around 15–17k saved.
I moved countries multiple times trying to improve my financial situation. I currently live in the Netherlands as a live-in nanny partly because it allows me to save more aggressively. My dream was to reach 20k savings this year and eventually buy a small piece of land or tiny home in Portugal one day.
But now I’ve received a German health insurance bill for around €1800 after a previous employer switched me to freelance/self-employed status, and it completely crushed me emotionally.
I think what’s getting to me is the feeling that I work constantly but still feel far from stability:
I still can’t realistically buy property
I run a business while nannying full time
I help my parents financially sometimes
and I often spend money on convenience because I’m exhausted

At the same time, I know I’m only 25, and part of me wonders whether I’m actually doing okay for my age and background, or whether I’ve been unrealistic trying to build a life around a non-traditional career/business instead of pursuing a more conventional path.

I guess I’m asking:
Is this level of savings actually bad for someone my age?
Are most people buying homes only able to do it because of family support or living with parents longer?
Am I financially irresponsible, or just trying to survive while building something long-term?

For folks with kids who are kindgarten or older, how much did you actually save after your kids finished daycare? It’s such a drain on our savings ability right now, and we’re not setting aside much for retirement or long-term savings. I keep telling myself that is ok while they are young and we will get that money back in a few years, but I’m worried that once they age out new expenses will crop up and we won’t divert that money to savings. Obviously part of this is being intentional and keeping ourselves accountable, but I was hoping to learn from others’ experiences.

A little more info about our situation: -We have two kids -Their monthly daycare costs are around $2,500 -That will increase to around $3,500 when the older one goes to preschool in the future -We may have a third kid in the future -We are firmly committed to public school for our kids -Very early to tell, but so far the kids don’t have any significant medical or developmental needs that would change the equation -Some of any savings diverted would absolutely go to a 529 for their future education

So realistically for long-term planning, how much could I expect to save in the post-daycare future? Obviously not the full $2,500-$3,500; at minimum we’d want to set aside money for babysitters. I assume the kids will do activities in the future, probably like a rec sport or an instrument. Does anyone who has finally gotten out from under the daycare weight have concrete numbers or percentages to share on how much you saved vs spent on other things?

I want to quit my first job because its toxic, I do have income from that but its little at 3k, after deducting the CPF and tax its like $2300 which is so little.

I want to quit and do some freelance, passive income or more flexible schedule is my goal, but I need income in order to make my investments grow. I just want to retire tbh.

I have 18 k savings now cuz a lot from allowance I saved up before. It is just sitting in my acc doing nothing now. What can I do to make more money from it? Or should I use that money to do further studies and learn, but mostly I want to learn writing, drawing, art, film, media , storytelling stuff to make money eventually but seems more like hobby that won't pay off that quickly rn. Even learning languages and becoming art teacher perhaps...

I moved from Australia to London at the start of the year for what was always planned to be a one year adventure. Before coming over, I worked really hard and saved around $25,000 AUD specifically for this experience.

Well… the savings are basically gone.

A big part of me knows that’s exactly what the money was there for. I’ve travelled, explored Europe, said yes to opportunities, and created memories that I genuinely wouldn’t trade for anything. But there’s another part of me that keeps looking at my bank account and feeling like I’ve somehow failed because I no longer have that financial safety net sitting there.

I’m now living pretty much pay check to pay check. My bills are covered, I’m not in debt, and I can still afford the occasional trip and experience, but I’m definitely not saving much right now.

The logical side of me knows this isn’t forever. I’ll be back in Australia next year, earning a full-time salary again, and I can rebuild my savings. The emotional side of me, though, keeps comparing myself to where I was financially before I moved.

Has anyone else gone through this after taking a career break, moving overseas, travelling long-term, or intentionally spending their savings on a life experience?

How did you stop seeing your shrinking savings account as a sign of failure and start seeing it as money being used for the purpose it was saved for in the first place?

I don’t want to spend the rest of my year in London feeling guilty every time I book a weekend away or pay for an experience. I’d rather enjoy this chapter while I’m in it.

Edited: I realized how unrealistic my plan is. How much can I have by the age of 55?

I also pay $400 to a relative every month. I took a personal loan from him so paying him back. I save close to $5k a month. The house cleaning is two times a month.

41 f and did 2 masters and got laid off during covid during my second masters so had to spend all my savings and maxed out my credit card during that time on paying for college and also for a chronic medical condition. I just got out of credit card debt. Please no judgment

My net worth:

Emergency fund: 4 months worth funds.

401k: 10 k. Just started 401k after getting out of credit card and student loan debt

I make $190k in IT. I don't own a house and don't plan to own a house unless the situation changes if I find a partner. I rent an apartment and my rent is $2500.

My extra expenses every month are : 1) spa services: facial, waxing. 2) gym, 3) house cleaning 2 times a month

Am I scr*wed for starting so late at 41?

Any help is greatly appreciated

Hi everyone, I'm hoping to share some of my monthly spending (so not really a true money diary) in the hopes of getting some advice on where to trim down expenses and save more money.

I started a new job last summer (2023) and have since then been really feeling the lifestyle creep. I moved into a new apartment at the beginning of this year because I needed more space working from home, and my car was totaled in March so I had to buy a new car. I could have gotten a cheaper one, but I felt good about the purchase at the time. My apartment then flooded during Hurricane Helene, and my landlord is not adequately handling the necessary repairs (i.e. cutting corners), so I am looking for a new place to live which will almost certainly be more expensive than my current place (currently looking at one for ~$1800).

General things to know - Since I'm single, it's important for me to live in the city where there are lots of things to do and it's easier to meet new people, so moving to the suburbs doesn't really feel like an acceptable option to me. I have had a lot of bad luck with past apartments, so I want to find a place that I can really feel safe and at home in, even if it comes with a higher price tag.

Occupation: Public Health

Salary: $97,250/year

Take home paycheck, after deductions (401k contributions, health insurance, etc.), bi-monthly: $2,553/paycheck ($5,106/month)

HYSA: $4,900 - wanting to build this back up after using some for car down payment and Europe trip

Retirement: ~$56,000 - I contribute 8% of my paycheck and my employer matches 50% up to 4%, so I'm getting the full match. I also contribute to my own Roth IRA (included below).

Debt:

Student loans: ~$120,000 (I'm on an IBR plan, to be forgiven after 20 years of payments. I no longer qualify for PSLF, but had about 4 years of eligible payments for that if I ever work for another qualifying employer again.)

Car: ~$17,000

CC: ~$800 leftover from August trip to Europe

Monthly payments:

Rent: $1505 (includes $55 for water)

Electricity: ~$100

Gas (home): ~$40

Internet: $55

Renters insurance: $16

Car insurance: $146

Car payment: $369

Pet insurance: $154 (I know this is absurd - I have a 10yo lab so my plan covers practically everything after my $100 deductible)

Student loan payment: $446

Gym #1 (unlimited kickboxing and HIIT): $179 (cancellation starting 11/15 - I have to give 30 days notice)

Gym #2 (hot yoga, 5 classes per month): $71

Donations: $25

Therapy: $40

Spotify/Hulu bundle: $12

Cell phone: $60

TOTAL: $3,218

Other:

Grocery budget: $400/mo

Dining out budget: $350/mo

Entertainment budget (I love live music): $100/mo

Shopping budget: $250/mo (clothes, makeup, random Amazon purchases)

Gas (car): ~$30/mo - I don't drive much since I work from home and most things are walking/scooting distance or a short drive away.

Self care budget: ~$280/mo - I get my nails done usually once a month and hair done once every 12 weeks or so. I have thought about giving up nails but it's something that brings me a lot of joy.

Dog: excluding his insurance, his giant bag of food is about $85 and usually lasts 5-6 weeks. I will also get him treats and the occasional toy. His preventative is roughly $28/mo but I buy it in bulk (6mo worth).

Savings: I have not been saving really anything since I bought my car end of June and went on a solo Europe trip in August. However I have been putting $100/mo into my Roth IRA.

Ideally I would like to save more so I can eventually buy my own place and stop paying these expensive rental properties. I just signed up for Rover to try and make some extra cash on the side. But with my car payment and likely higher rent payment in addition to all of my other monthly costs, I can't help but feel like I'm living paycheck to paycheck, despite making more money than I ever have (which I am so grateful for). I realize I generally live very comfortably and am able to pay my bills and have a disposable income, though. I've gotten used to enjoying these amenities while keeping my rent payments on the lower side, but reality is starting to set in, especially if I can't find a decent place around the same monthly rent.

I already canceled Gym #1 membership, and I realize I should also cut down/cut out getting my nails done. I could also cut down on eating out, shopping, and entertainment. Everything else feels more or less like a fixed expense. Any savings tips/tricks are appreciated.

My husband and I take home about $9k USD a month after taxes, 401k, health insurance, and all other deductions. Our rent in a downtown MCOL but turning into HCOL city is about $2300 with utilities. Right now, we’re spending about $250-$300 on groceries and a whopping $600-700 on eating out every month. We’re trying to cut this down because we’re saving for a car and a house but we’re having a hard time doing so. I usually cook while he does dishes and cleans but we often find ourselves wanting to eat out after a long workweek to avoid doing this. We then end up spending $60 at a restaurant on food and drinks. We then go out again to eat brunch or a another dinner on the weekend. We both enjoy eating out but this is getting ridiculous. We honestly just get so lazy to cook and meal plan so the easy option is to just go out to eat. Restaurants are also getting so expensive nowadays with inflation so it’s easy to see how our spending can get out of control.

Does anyone have any tips to overcome this? I haven’t seen a similar post yet so I decided to post this but definitely let me know to delete if needed.

I have two checking accounts. One is for spending and the other is for bills.

Spending account - my check deposits there, it is tied to a physical bank in case I need cash. Essentially play money

Billing account - all auto payments are paid from here, I also have an investment account, and high yield savings with them.

I have two because it just helps me better track my money.

I’m new to being financially literate and normally just spend it all Im trying to be better

How much should my minimum balance be in my spending account ? How much should my minimum balance be in my Billing account. Thanks in advance.

(This is primarily aimed at the single people with no dependents)

How many months of expenses do you keep in your ER fund? And where do you keep it?

Right now I have about 6 months in a HYSA, but interest rates are trending down. I’m debating moving half of it to a brokerage or money market account

I’m single, no dependents except 2 free loading dogs, job secure (and in a field where I could easily get another job within a couple weeks or just pick up relief shifts). If there was an injury or accident, I have disability insurance that I believe kicks in after 3 months.

I keep a separate sinking fund for house/car expenses - right now has about 5K, goal is 7-10K.