[da02]

Except for most musicians, actors, actors turned prostitutes, lawyers who are waiters, near-homeless programmers who read HN, startup employees who got screwed by finance people, etc.

;) I'm just saying there might be other factors: like the industry you work in, your interests, govt subsidization of your industry, saturation/supply/demand, etc. Someone interested in makeup is going to have a different life than someone interested in nuclear physics. There are some poor physics graduates who worked for 10 years in research VS. upper-middle class make-up artists.

[jordanb]

> near-homeless programmers who read HN

You have to screw up pretty hard to be near-homeless as a programmer in this environment.

[jacquesm]

It is surprisingly easy to end up like that, no matter what your qualifications. Go to a homeless person and ask them to tell you their story for some food and coffee, prepare to have your worldview shattered.

[mahmud]

It's very easy to become homeless when you get the 1-2 punches of illness and divorce. A friend of mine went from riches to rags within a year that way.

[kidgorgeous]

Well I guess I screwed up royally

[mikecane]

Hang in there. I hope you will have better days.