Not rich, but not in poverty either, single income, supporting my spouse and I in a rented apartment, able to squirrel away about 200 or so per month, but it largely goes when an unexpected expense occurs.
We're very frugal with the water and power though - to the point that we keep it above freezing but far colder than I'm personally comfortable with during winter, store the "warm-up" water from the shower in a bucket for watering plants or washing once reheated with a kettle.
Oh and most of our food budget is spent on finding either things that store well in bulk for a long time (savings from quantity):
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They still managed to squirrel away enough over time to consider getting a valve index on launch.
Focus on all the little things you can be doing too, it's basically a case of the little trickles that build up into rivulets and then a stream over time.
Yes - caveat being that even then, expenses will creep up, I started the year with double the savings I have currently and that could easily half again if things take a turn for the worse.
Although, to be fair, we have a fuck of a lot more social safety nets here in the EU than most places in the States, so - small mercies, even if it doesn't always feel like it!
Also, don't worry too much about whether or not you can contribute financially at the moment, everyone is at different levels of financial stability at any given moment, this time 4 years ago (less 3 weeks) I'd have loved to have been able to spare €5 for some frivolous web community.
As it was, Good Game Studios downsized abruptly, a few weeks into my start and had to let all the new employees go first, then about half of the rest of the staff.
I was bussing to job interviews in Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium, etc, whilst living off friends' sofas a few months from Lychee and I's planned marriage.
A marriage that ended up being "Vegas style" rushed through in a Danish Town Hall with my Dad, Uncle (his older brother) and Lychee's parents to skirt the prior months to years of living together at the same address.
(Denmark is more relaxed about that thing, but still EU-recognised)
Had to be completed though, since otherwise their visa would have expired and they would have been deported.
(Worth noting here that we opted to move in and marry there, since GGS assured me that they could help with the paperwork.
As much as I hated the role, I was initially reticent to leave the infosec job I had in the UK - since after the end of year adjustment, I'd meet the requirements for Lychee to come over on an engagement visa.)
Basically, what I'm getting at, is don't feel bad about it, life fucks us over at different times in different ways. The Legion won't vanish from you not being able to spare a few coins, it will vanish if you and the other members disappear.
So focus on getting yourself to where you want to be in life's ups and downs and know that you're contributing, just by being a Lock.
