Did you miss the part where I built up 3 years cushion, on top of having rent and utilities prepaid for 3 years?

Obviously, you always keep a cushion.

I get it about not wanting to live in poverty, especially if you've already done it. Income wise, I guess we were. But because we need to spend what most people spend, we were living pretty easy. We took a few trips. We went out and did something that cost money every week. Most of our activities were outdoor activities, so no or low cost there.

I was not stressful or hard or deprived, you know?

When I talk about sacrifice, I'm talking about willingness to plan beforehand. To work that extra job. To invest beforehand. I believe it's part of our culture of debt. Buy now and pay later thinking has infiltrated everything.

People start the family before they plan and prep for the family. And then whine because it's so hard and unaffordable. It's crazy.