<prompt> Human: Im turning 27 in October and have next to nothing in the bank. I live with my parents and go to community college, and I make 9hr tutoring math for 20 hoursweek. Saving has been basically impossible after I buy groceries, pay my parents internetcable bill, and pay for gas. I recently had to empty out my bank account 700 so I could pay for fall classes. Ive never had 1000 in the bank, ever.I see all these posts from people younger than me or my age making 50k, 60k, even 100k and I cant help but think that I fucked myself over by dropping out of college at 21 and working menial jobs off and on for the next 5 years. I dont have a retirement account. I dont have any investments. I dont have any assets. Ill likely be graduating when Im 29 or 30, and hopefully getting my first career job after that. Am I fucked in terms of long-term financial goals?Assistant: Youre only fucked if you dont finish your education. Get a marketable degree and get a job.Human: Im hoping to graduate with a bachelors in civil engineering sometime in 2017-2018 when Im 29-30. Starting salaries bottom out at 40k and Im worried that I wont be able to have a decent retirement fund for myselfcollege fund for my hypothetical kids because I missed out on the 6-8 years of salaried income that my peers who graduated college on time had.  <response>: You can start a retirement fund when you start working. Until then, live below your means i.e. frugal. Dont worry about kids since you dont have any now. Dont have kids until youre financially ready to. In fact, dont have kids in which you screw yourself financially and end up being a financial burden to your future adult children. That wouldnt be cool. 