It's one thing to cut back on Starbucks. It's another thing entirely when your grocery budget vanishes and you're surviving by skipping meals — not for weight loss, but to make rent.
That's the reality one Reddit user summed up with brutal clarity in a post that's now making the rounds after linking to a MoneyWise article:
"I developed depression and stopped eating a lot and noticed I was earning a lot of money! Then I stood up and saw stars and get anxiety or panic attacks. Anyway not eating rly does save a lot of money."
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They weren't exaggerating. According to the article, nearly a quarter of people earning under $50,000 a year are skipping meals just to afford a roof over their heads. Redfin data cited in the piece showed:
- 24% have skipped meals
- 23% have sold belongings
- 21% have delayed or skipped medical care
And this isn't just theoretical. The comments came flooding in — not just with agreement, but with shared stories that make it clear: $50,000 isn't cutting it anymore.
"I was skipping meals and selling stuff, making 30k back in 2002," one user wrote. "Some things never change, I guess…"
Another added, "50k makes you ineligible to live alone where I live… $58k is studio apartment money."
And the math backs them up. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median full-time weekly income in Q1 2025 was $1,194, or about $62,088 per year. That means anyone making under $50K is now significantly below the national median — and likely struggling with every expense that's risen faster than their paycheck.
Rent's still climbing — and with low inventory keeping competition tight, there's not much relief in sight. Thinking of buying instead? Here's what that looks like: the average home price in Q1 2025 was $503,800, with a median of $416,900, per the latest Fed data. So, someone earning $50,000 a year — already below median income — would need to fork over eight to ten times their salary just to land a modest, middle-of-the-road home.
One user summed up the shift in a single, painful flashback:
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"Back then was fun. Rent $500, use the rest to drink and club. My Corolla was paid off that I bought new for 12k in 2003… I can't imagine 20-year-olds trying to do that now. That same house costs $1,500 per person now."
See Also: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement — How do you compare?
Another commenter took aim at job expectations:
"And the audacity of job postings asking for 5–6 years of exp minimum for an entry level job paying 18/hour near me."
Even babysitters are making more than some full-time professionals, according to one reply:
"Entry-level McDonald's for high schoolers is $18/hour by me… most babysitters make 25+."
And then there's the teacher making $16 an hour:
"Hurray for preschools paying their teachers $16/h. That's $33,280 annually. Good times to be a teacher!"
Some folks are working full time, skipping meals, downsizing everything — and still can't afford basics.
"Whatever. I shouldn't grab a quick beverage at a store and pull out a $10 bill," one user vented.
If there's one throughline here, it's not just frustration — it's that people are doing everything "right" and still falling behind. There's no avocado toast in sight, no careless spending to blame. Just a generation staring down $5 groceries and $1,500 rent, trying to figure out how $50,000 turned into a survival wage.
Read Next:
- If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here’s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now
- Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they’re on pace — here’s a breakdown on what’s behind this formula.
Image: Shutterstock
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