[aioprisan]

I don't know what housing costs you must be talking about then. $40k/year pre-tax is close to $2648/month after state and federal taxes, and you're saying that with Bay area housing prices, you're not starving? I'm guessing that's also with no school loans or trying to work and pay your way through school, which probably applies to a very small fraction of the population.

[dpark]

It's easy. You just live in a small 2-bedroom apartment with 3 other people. $40K goes a long way if you're willing to have no space to yourself.

[imtringued]

>which probably applies to a very small fraction of the population.

If you consider Walmart and McDonalds employees then that's a large part of the us population.