[physcab]

Story of my life. I’ve lived in SF for almost 9 years, my wife for 15 years, and we have a toddler, 90 lb dog, and a baby on the way, making it work in 650sf apt on combined $120k. I’m immensely grateful that the only reason we have savings at all is because my wife bought a below market rate condo with the city when she was single making $40k a year.

It feels weird to make this much but feel so poor. That any hiccup in life could make you miss bills. It’s been fine so far but as our family grows there will be no choice but to leave. Childcare is just too expensive.

I love this city, but over time I’ve felt I’ve gotten less out of it in exchange for more.

[Gibbon1]

> making it work in 650sf apt on combined $120k.

Ten years ago I announced to my GF at dinner that I was going to write a book. Flat fucking broke in San Francisco on only $250 a day.

[mamcx]

Reading about histories like this, not worry. Is everywhere.

Living paycheck-by-paycheck is far more common than most imagine.

In my country, Colombia, is the same not matter where you ask, or if are poor, middle or almost rich.

[cylinder]

Prevailing wage data indicates you should really be making north of $110k as a database analyst or administrator with over a decade of experience...

[physcab]

I used to be an analyst, and used to make atleast double that. But to earn that kind of salary you often sacrifice work life balance and experience all consuming stress. I decided being poor was more healthy and quit.

[hkai]

Some clarification would be helpful for nonamericans. Is 650 sq ft considered small?

[physcab]

In an expensive city like SF, its not small. It's a 1 bedroom. Most single people live in a 1bd or studio apt. But to raise a family with multiple kids, it feels tight. My wife and I live in the living room off the kitchen and our kids will take the bedroom. For the same (market) price of our unit, you can get 10x more space in the "country", but then finding work and interacting with friends will be harder. Lots of trade-offs