Congrats on your upcoming marriage. In addition to the prenup, I'd recommend you consider a revised estate plan. For example, is your fiancé planning to take legal guardianship of your child, or would your parents be the primary guardians if you passed away? I'd also recommend looking into how much life insurance coverage you get from your employer, as you may need to supplement it with an additional term life policy. These are all questions that an estate attorney can help you answer.
What an inspirational post! I'm in a different phase of life (60, retired,) but I would have LOVED to read this when I was in my 20's. The writer is doing such a great job, she should be very proud!
I do wish you had some stories from people living on less — WAY LESS — than $100,000.
These are all fantasy stories to me. Very interesting, but nothing like my life. We earn just a fraction, yet pay way more for utilities and usually for home insurance.
I suspect people are embarrassed to be featured because they feel bad that they make $30K per year and have no savings and high debt. But I promise many of us really do want to read those stories.
I want the same thing, Michelle! I think there are a few reasons why we don't have people with lower incomes submitting. A big one is readership: The Purse's audience is still small, and I imagine the readers are higher in income (though I don't have the data to back up that claim). Another is time: If you're living on $30k a year, you probably don't have a lot of time to spend filling out a form like this.
But a big goal for 2026 is to make sure these generally feel more diverse! We are working on it!
I’m curious if you’d consider offering a paid membership in return for filling out the form if you make under a certain amount a year? Could be a way to get a more diverse sample and account for someone not having free time to spend on filling out the survey. I personally make under $30k a year, have student debt, a child and non traditional ways of making money and also can not afford a paid membership to the purse and would gladly fill out a survey in exchange. It’s a big stress to fill out a survey like this if you don’t feel good about your finances (one reason I haven’t), which is why I’m sure you mostly get submissions from people who are excited to share how they’ve made it work out
Hi! I actually do offer a free 6-month subscription to everyone who participates in Home Ec! It started out as a way for those whose edition is behind a paywall could see the comments, and then I started extending it to everyone as a thank you for their time.
Alicia and I have also been discussing how to make the initial form a lighter lift. We hope to roll something in the first quarter of the new year. It's long overdue!
Oh my goodness! Yes, reading the comments above, I must say there is some shame in where I am compared to those I have read so far. But I have come a long way since my divorce 13 years ago and I do endeavor to help others if/when asked. But it does feel like a big ask when you aren't where you want to be and then you read these and think wow, they are literal rock stars and have it all figured out! But thank you for saying that. I really do appreciate your interest.
I am making 40k (after a few years in the 50 - 60k range), with 20k in CC debt, plus loans and a car loan and my spouse is at about $53k pre tax after taking on crazy overtime. We will make about $70k this year all told and are rebuilding our... lives? So, I'm with you Michelle! Just thought I would share some numbers in the instance of transparency.
Wow, this is SO impressive! To be able to do all this and build this solid foundation as a single mom is really incredible.
I have a random numbers question about this one - cash flow is something we think about a ton in our budget and try to get a handle on, so money in vs. money out is always top of mind for me. I notice the monthly income is lower than the average monthly expenses here - but she’s still been able to build up a really impressive amount of savings. Curious how the writer (or others) makes sense of that? Is that just because all of the “savings” are already accounted for in that monthly income amount?
Yes, the monthly income figure represents her paycheck amount after taxes and other deductions, while the monthly expenses includes contributions to her retirement account (she also gets that bonus which is not accounted for in the monthly income).
"I also just learned about high-yield savings through this newsletter. I moved my savings over at the beginning of last year."
I have nothing profound to say, I'm just adding same-sies." I knew about it (HSA, to be specific), but I took it more seriously when I saw that almost everyone featured had a substantial amount in their HSA accounts!
I loved reading this story, as a fellow single mom raising a daughter. It's difficult, and we are showing them what's possible. With the added help we all need and deserve from friends and family, and it's no small feat!
Wow! Lots of happy times ahead - all the best to the author! I'm really struck by the long-term financial benefit of starting a career at age 22/23 and (then) having some good, reputable employers. I'm thinking about things like investment accounts, employer contributions, real bonuses/raises, meaningful health insurance payments (by employers). In my field, many of us spent our entire 20s and maybe into our 30s earning very little and having no retirement funding, health insurance coverage, etc. There's...a hidden bonus to being able to start a career when young. The money really compounds! (I've been earning since around age 33, and I am 57 now. I've never taken money out of my employer retirement funds, and I only have about $450K in them, in part due to low salaries, no matches for some years, and low or no raises. I wish I'd known about compounding when I was 21!)
I don’t see any child support payments. Despite not wanting to be involved, the father still has a legal obligation to support his child. And I feel the mom has a moral obligation to collect child support on behalf of her child. The money is for the child so if mom really doesn’t need it in her daily budget, she could save and invest it for her daughter. Put it in her 529 account. Go file now and get the back child support too. And mom definitely needs more life insurance and an estate plan that covers her daughter’s guardianship as someone else has pointed out. Also don’t get too heavily invested in the company stock. Pursue diversification and a balanced allocation to protect your overall portfolio.
Enjoyed reading this! I am math challenged, but the total monthly take home pay seems way less than her 120k salary plus bonus! Am I missing something obvious here? I guess it’s the amount after her retirement and company stock amounts?
Extremely distraught we've never featured anyone from Michigan. Fellow Michiganders, please fill out the Home Ec form!!
https://thepurse.co/want-to-participate-in-home-economics/
I am from Michigan and will do this soon! Grand Rapids area!
Yay!
Congrats on your upcoming marriage. In addition to the prenup, I'd recommend you consider a revised estate plan. For example, is your fiancé planning to take legal guardianship of your child, or would your parents be the primary guardians if you passed away? I'd also recommend looking into how much life insurance coverage you get from your employer, as you may need to supplement it with an additional term life policy. These are all questions that an estate attorney can help you answer.
What an inspirational post! I'm in a different phase of life (60, retired,) but I would have LOVED to read this when I was in my 20's. The writer is doing such a great job, she should be very proud!
I do wish you had some stories from people living on less — WAY LESS — than $100,000.
These are all fantasy stories to me. Very interesting, but nothing like my life. We earn just a fraction, yet pay way more for utilities and usually for home insurance.
I suspect people are embarrassed to be featured because they feel bad that they make $30K per year and have no savings and high debt. But I promise many of us really do want to read those stories.
I want the same thing, Michelle! I think there are a few reasons why we don't have people with lower incomes submitting. A big one is readership: The Purse's audience is still small, and I imagine the readers are higher in income (though I don't have the data to back up that claim). Another is time: If you're living on $30k a year, you probably don't have a lot of time to spend filling out a form like this.
But a big goal for 2026 is to make sure these generally feel more diverse! We are working on it!
I’m curious if you’d consider offering a paid membership in return for filling out the form if you make under a certain amount a year? Could be a way to get a more diverse sample and account for someone not having free time to spend on filling out the survey. I personally make under $30k a year, have student debt, a child and non traditional ways of making money and also can not afford a paid membership to the purse and would gladly fill out a survey in exchange. It’s a big stress to fill out a survey like this if you don’t feel good about your finances (one reason I haven’t), which is why I’m sure you mostly get submissions from people who are excited to share how they’ve made it work out
Hi! I actually do offer a free 6-month subscription to everyone who participates in Home Ec! It started out as a way for those whose edition is behind a paywall could see the comments, and then I started extending it to everyone as a thank you for their time.
Alicia and I have also been discussing how to make the initial form a lighter lift. We hope to roll something in the first quarter of the new year. It's long overdue!
I wanna read your story, Tessa!
Me, too, Tessa! I want to read your story as well! It helps to know there are "others" of us out there!
Valid point. That would be helpful as I find myself in a similar position.
Heidi, I’d like to read your story, too. (I’m not affiliated with The Purse, just an enthusiastic reader!)
Oh my goodness! Yes, reading the comments above, I must say there is some shame in where I am compared to those I have read so far. But I have come a long way since my divorce 13 years ago and I do endeavor to help others if/when asked. But it does feel like a big ask when you aren't where you want to be and then you read these and think wow, they are literal rock stars and have it all figured out! But thank you for saying that. I really do appreciate your interest.
Well, not on the high debt but regarding a low income and no savings.
I am making 40k (after a few years in the 50 - 60k range), with 20k in CC debt, plus loans and a car loan and my spouse is at about $53k pre tax after taking on crazy overtime. We will make about $70k this year all told and are rebuilding our... lives? So, I'm with you Michelle! Just thought I would share some numbers in the instance of transparency.
Thank you for sharing!
I want to read those lower income stories too. For me shame gets in the way of sharing my story... I'll think about whether I can get over this :)
I like reading the high income ones too for inspiration but sometimes it's demoralizing.
Way to go mom! You're crushing it. It seems like I need to move to Idaho to offset some COL expenses. :)
Ha, I had the same thought!
SAME! What I would give for $600-$700 monthly childcare costs!
Wow, this is SO impressive! To be able to do all this and build this solid foundation as a single mom is really incredible.
I have a random numbers question about this one - cash flow is something we think about a ton in our budget and try to get a handle on, so money in vs. money out is always top of mind for me. I notice the monthly income is lower than the average monthly expenses here - but she’s still been able to build up a really impressive amount of savings. Curious how the writer (or others) makes sense of that? Is that just because all of the “savings” are already accounted for in that monthly income amount?
Yes, the monthly income figure represents her paycheck amount after taxes and other deductions, while the monthly expenses includes contributions to her retirement account (she also gets that bonus which is not accounted for in the monthly income).
Ah gotcha! Thank you Alicia!
I'm so impressed! WOW
This was a fascinating read! Go, you!!! Best wishes on your future marriage!
"I also just learned about high-yield savings through this newsletter. I moved my savings over at the beginning of last year."
I have nothing profound to say, I'm just adding same-sies." I knew about it (HSA, to be specific), but I took it more seriously when I saw that almost everyone featured had a substantial amount in their HSA accounts!
Love this so much! ❤️
I loved reading this story, as a fellow single mom raising a daughter. It's difficult, and we are showing them what's possible. With the added help we all need and deserve from friends and family, and it's no small feat!
Wow! Lots of happy times ahead - all the best to the author! I'm really struck by the long-term financial benefit of starting a career at age 22/23 and (then) having some good, reputable employers. I'm thinking about things like investment accounts, employer contributions, real bonuses/raises, meaningful health insurance payments (by employers). In my field, many of us spent our entire 20s and maybe into our 30s earning very little and having no retirement funding, health insurance coverage, etc. There's...a hidden bonus to being able to start a career when young. The money really compounds! (I've been earning since around age 33, and I am 57 now. I've never taken money out of my employer retirement funds, and I only have about $450K in them, in part due to low salaries, no matches for some years, and low or no raises. I wish I'd known about compounding when I was 21!)
I don’t see any child support payments. Despite not wanting to be involved, the father still has a legal obligation to support his child. And I feel the mom has a moral obligation to collect child support on behalf of her child. The money is for the child so if mom really doesn’t need it in her daily budget, she could save and invest it for her daughter. Put it in her 529 account. Go file now and get the back child support too. And mom definitely needs more life insurance and an estate plan that covers her daughter’s guardianship as someone else has pointed out. Also don’t get too heavily invested in the company stock. Pursue diversification and a balanced allocation to protect your overall portfolio.
Came here to say this! Just because he doesn’t want to “be involved” doesn’t mean that he’s not legally required to pay!
Enjoyed reading this! I am math challenged, but the total monthly take home pay seems way less than her 120k salary plus bonus! Am I missing something obvious here? I guess it’s the amount after her retirement and company stock amounts?
Very inspiring story. I love my HYSA with Ally - I have made so much money just by keeping my emergency fund there.
Here is a sign up link if anyone’s interested! https://ally.com/referral?code=5Z2Z8B2T8M&CP=MobileAppReferFriend
Nuuly is such an interesting tip! Will be checking it out
14. Ally bank does this!