I was thinking the same thing--especially the "no kids" part. You don't get this much ahead just by driving a modest car and shopping at KMart and living in a rundown neighborhood...They're selling a false hope.
Not to mention that he's an academic and probably has posh benefits.
"Don't date or get married either, live in a studio apartment and eat nothing but oatmeal."
Probably the one thing that the journalist didn't write is that these people use every discount coupon that comes their way. My wife cuts our food bill by an easy 40% every month using them.....steaks and prime rib aren't uncommon in our home either. Rundown neighborhoods weren't our style, but neither are the classy ones.
I bought used everything (except bed mattresses) when we were married 26 years ago. I still do but now they're called antiques. LOL
Last month I bought two used, one year old, SUV's, value 60k for 40k, cash. Our crerdit card balances are zero every month. Neither of us ever earned more than $25hr. We always took homemade luches to work. We sent two daughters to college and managed to retire ten years ahead of schedule. Both of us dress reasonably well, no need to look like hobos.
I've never tried to keep up with anyone else's ideas of what good living involves. We always lived within about the 80% level of our take home income and kept the rest invested.
Believe in yourself, not the other guy and you'll be a winner.
My first thought reading this was how different life without children would be. Those poor people.
We have three wonderful children, the youngest now almost an adult. Braces, camps, tuition, not to mention the clothes and the long showers have cost us a pretty penny. Kids aren't cheap, but they are worth every cent.
No he isn't. Go back and re-read.