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Saving When You Don't Make Bank
Saving money can feel impossible when you’re not making a huge salary, especially with rising costs and everyday expenses. In this episode, we talk about how to save when money feels tight, why traditional budgeting rules don’t always fit real life, and how to build better habits without guilt or perfection.
We cover practical strategies like tracking your spending, paying yourself first, adapting the 50/30/20 rule, managing debt, and finding small ways to create breathing room, even if saving 20% feels out of reach. This episode is all about realistic expectations, progress over perfection, and building a system that works for you.
If you’re trying to save, live your life, and not feel behind all at once, this one’s for you.
SOURCES
The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) Family Budget Calculator provides detailed estimates of what it actually costs to live modestly in U.S. metro areas. EPI Family Budget Calculator Overview & Documentation
Independent analyses using data inspired by EPI estimate that a single adult in the U.S. might need roughly ~$106,000-$107,000 per year before taxes to livecomfortably by the 50-30-20 standard. Study: Income Needed to Live Comfortably in Every U.S. City(2025)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports median weekly earnings — which can be multiplied by 52 to estimate annual wages. For example, the median weekly earning for full-time workers was roughly $1,159 in recent data. BLSMedian Weekly Earnings of Full‑Time Workers (2024)
Historical rental data show that U.S. median rents have risen sharply from 2015 to 2025, with estimates of around a 54% increase over that period — meaning average rent costs are up well over half from ten years ago. Rent Inflation & U.S. Median Rent Data (2015–2025)
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By Casey Bettencourt, CFP®Saving money can feel impossible when you’re not making a huge salary, especially with rising costs and everyday expenses. In this episode, we talk about how to save when money feels tight, why traditional budgeting rules don’t always fit real life, and how to build better habits without guilt or perfection.
We cover practical strategies like tracking your spending, paying yourself first, adapting the 50/30/20 rule, managing debt, and finding small ways to create breathing room, even if saving 20% feels out of reach. This episode is all about realistic expectations, progress over perfection, and building a system that works for you.
If you’re trying to save, live your life, and not feel behind all at once, this one’s for you.
SOURCES
The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) Family Budget Calculator provides detailed estimates of what it actually costs to live modestly in U.S. metro areas. EPI Family Budget Calculator Overview & Documentation
Independent analyses using data inspired by EPI estimate that a single adult in the U.S. might need roughly ~$106,000-$107,000 per year before taxes to livecomfortably by the 50-30-20 standard. Study: Income Needed to Live Comfortably in Every U.S. City(2025)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports median weekly earnings — which can be multiplied by 52 to estimate annual wages. For example, the median weekly earning for full-time workers was roughly $1,159 in recent data. BLSMedian Weekly Earnings of Full‑Time Workers (2024)
Historical rental data show that U.S. median rents have risen sharply from 2015 to 2025, with estimates of around a 54% increase over that period — meaning average rent costs are up well over half from ten years ago. Rent Inflation & U.S. Median Rent Data (2015–2025)