I owe my life to Jesus.

I fit that bill. After my divorce around age 30 I never wanted to be as broke and ruined as I was following it again. So I spent next to nothing and lived insanely below my means in a dump for much of a decade. For years in there I basically didn't buy food and lived off of work coffee and pastries, and Virginia Gentlemen (extremely cheap whiskey).

One day after kicking alcoholism and depression I realized that by being a lonely, depressed, but cheapskate drunk I had saved enough cash to buy a pretty nice house practically in cash.

It's fantastic now, but I don't recommend it. I have years of my life where I literally could not tell you one thing I did other than work or be drunk on the cheapest booze available alone in an extremely dive apartment. I doubt there is a version that would be less terrible even if you weren't a lonely drunk.

I would not recommend going full monk to save money. You only have so much time on Earth and denying all enjoyment just to save money isn't worth it.

I would recommend one piece of advice though that is a habit I've kept:

Never spend a single extra penny on something that won't upgrade your life in any noticeable way.

Here's examples of what I mean by it:

If you don't feel like cooking, don't go buy takeout just because it's dinner time. Go get some fruit or eggs or something. You'll be healthier and save money, you won't miss the meal you don't care about; you just won't be hungry. Go enjoy a meal at resturant from time to time when you want to enjoy it. But it amazes me how much money people spend on food they don't care about just because.

You don't need a fancy hotel for routine travel. You don't have to stay at a fleabag, but if you're just there to sleep enroute a clean bed in a decent location is just a good as a fancy place. Save the nice hotel for a trip you're going to remember.

That bigger purchase probably doesn't need to be that big. "Wow I'd feel really great in that designer suit." Do you wear a suit regularly? Cause if you don't why are you spending that kind of money on one? And if you do that suit you feel real cool in on day one will feel like routine wear in a few weeks. Unless it's your wedding or something for you to look back on pictures for years just get a well made no name. Whatever upgrade in look the fancier gets you won't be noticed let alone remembered.

Maybe you can tell the difference between brand name and store brand soda pop. But do you care that much on a day to day basis? Get the one you really like for the big bbq you're hosting. You won't care on some random saturday. It's half the price. Frankly just drink more water. As soon as you break the habit, most of the time cold and wet is just a good as cold, wet, and fizzy for routine thirst.

These are of course just examples. But you get the idea. Will you remember this experience? Are you actually trying to enjoy something or just going the routine of life? If it's the latter you don't need to spend any extra money on it.

Both houses paid for (one in a village of my families origin), cars paid for, low credit card debit (less than two months wage), no medical needs. Gen Xer, never expected society to last this long. Prepared for the fall when it happens.

I am.

That is me.

I like it because I can tell jobs to fuck off.

*I'm also probably an old fuck compared to most of you. This doesn't happen overnight.

My house and car are fully paid off and I don't use credit cards. So I guess I'm debt free.

Bills pile up sometimes, but the only real debt in out family is from a fucked up credit card thing. They are (((willing to settle))) for 1500, but we have more pressing expenses most of the time.

We own a house free and clear in a 700 person 99% White town in Maine. We have had a lot of financial help from the state and from family.

Debt free here. It greatly improves my morality by removing carrots and sticks to violate universal principles. "Do something unethical or you're fired" is an easy "GFY" when you're debt free. Oh noez, I'll have to sit on my deck and write another book? Or go hiking? Totally impressive threat you have there.

I am 44 and completely debt free. I will never be able to buy a house and have that debt just because they have become stupidly unaffordable. I rely on myself. I used to be able to regularly toss money into savings, but inflation has killed that. My rent has nearly doubled even though I haven't moved since 2015. It's not a large apartment, but if I want to pay a reasonable amount I will have to downsize and that's just sad. I've been working since I was 14 and will be working until the day I die. No retirement for me, if I even live that long.

Yes, and will stay that way.

Everything I earn I invest for my family.

14 words.