<prompt> Human: Im still trying to get a career. I am able to live and get by with 1100 a month. It isnt comfortable but it is decent.Id imagine 30-35k a year would be plenty even with a child as your partner would be bringing some income too.Am I missing some huge cost in life? Or the lifestyle I live is perhaps a lot cheaper?  <response>: The less you make the less you can save for retirement. Its not possible to max retirement accounts or save much money on 30k a year. Its just not.By being frugal and in the right part of the country you can certainly live on 30k a year. You wont thrive long-term financially on 30k though, and youll have absolutely no margin for any major life disruptions health, car, family etc. 