Rarest

switched to a “totally free” checking account to save money first month: $19 overdraft fee second month: $12 “maintenance fee” because i didn’t keep the minimum third month: random $7 paper statement fee even though i went digital they don’t charge you for the account they charge you for existing

went on a “normal” date night last weekend dinner + drinks + uber both ways = $187 she said it was cute i smiled while doing the math in my head my parents used to do the same thing for $22 and still had money left for gas they call it “date inflation” now feels more like paying rent on a relationship

POV: you finally get that promotion they bump your salary 8% then inflation hits 3.3% and your rent goes up 12% in the same quarter you do the math and realize you’re actually taking home less buying power than before the raise congrats, you leveled up… but the game nerfed you harder

my house is paid off. no mortgage. nothing owed. got the new property tax bill today. if i don’t pay it, armed men show up and take the house i “own.” i already pay 35%+ in income tax, sales tax, gas tax, capital gains… but apparently that wasn’t enough. so do i actually own anything? or am i just renting from the government with extra steps?

the average household in america now needs to make $121k+ just to afford a normal house without being house poor. median household income? around $84k. so the average american is 30-40% short of the “american dream” baseline… and they still act surprised when nobody can buy.

$11.47 for a dozen eggs this week. not a typo. my grandma used to feed the whole block with what i just spent on breakfast for two. they keep saying “inflation is cooling” while my cart rings up like i’m buying gold bars. cooling for who exactly?

POV: You finally negotiate a 12% raise at work Inflation: +9% Rent increase: +18% Groceries: +14% Your new ‘raise’ money: immediately eaten by the system But hey, at least the billionaires got their stock buybacks funded 👍

My buddy’s uncle passed away owing $120k on credit cards. Family freaking out thinking they’d inherit the debt. Called the bank: ‘Account closed. Debt dies with him.’ No co-signers = banks eat it. Nobody teaches you this. They’d rather you stay scared and keep paying minimums forever.

@MD4CEO nothing thats why i said most people spend more than that…

@0xRarest what do you even get at Starbucks for $3.84

saving $3.84 a day = $1,400 a year $1,400 a year invested at 8% for 30 years = $163,000 most people spend more than $3.84 on one starbucks run and then say they “can’t save”

we grew up being told “work hard and you’ll be able to afford the same life your parents had” turns out they bought a house on one income, had two cars, went on vacation every year… all while making half what we do now we didn’t get lazy the math just got evil

$625k house 20% down $500k mortgage at 7% for 30 years you pay $697k+ in interest. total cost: $1.447 million. that’s like paying $4,021 a month in rent… except you also pay for the roof, the AC, the broken water heater, and the bank still owns it until you’re dead. most people think mortgages help you “own” a home. banks know they help you rent money forever.

My wife’s hospital bill for a simple procedure came in at $14,200. She called them and asked for an itemized list. They sent a new bill the next day for $6,900. No explanation. Just lower. We paid it because fighting it felt more expensive. So you’re telling me they just make the number up and hope you don’t push back?

Friend of mine has been pulling three remote jobs for two years now. Total take home around $310k. He paid off the house, both cars, all the debt. Told me the other day the only thing he’s scared of is getting caught. Not because it’s illegal. Because if one company finds out, he loses everything and goes right back to being broke like the rest of us.

My dad called me yesterday asking if I could help him figure out his phone bill. It was $187 this month. He said “I only use it for calls and the weather app.” Turns out they added three random “protection plans” he never asked for. He just sighed and said “I miss the days when you paid for the phone and that was it.”

Took my nephew to his first baseball game last weekend. Tickets were $87 each. Hot dog and a soda for him: $18. Parking: $35. He was so hyped the whole drive home… until I did the math out loud and realized I just spent more on one afternoon than my dad spent on our whole little league season in the 90s.

a friend hit me up saying he’s “done with the 9-5.” quitting next month to go full time on his side thing. i asked how much he had saved. he said $2,800. told him good luck and meant it. we’re all just one bad month away from being in the same spot anyway.

drove this old cab driver last night. he asked how old i was then shook his head. “my son is 31, makes good money, still lives in my basement. rent out here is insane.” then he laughed real quiet and said “i bought my first house at 23 on $19k a year.” didn’t know what the fuck to say to him.

Girl I went to high school with just posted her wedding photos. Beautiful. She told me the total cost was $187k. They saved for four years, took out a loan for the rest. Her parents helped with $12k. In 1998 their parents paid for the whole wedding with one paycheck and a barbecue in the backyard.