Simplifying savings

[Nika]

I agree with all of this. NYC is a very high cost of living area and does seem to have it's own set of financial "norms". I make a lot for my area of Ohio, but I would be considered middle class in NYC. Can you move out of the NYC area?

Maybe I could, but I don't want to. Any place I would want to move to (Singapore, Japan, maybe HK) cost of living would not be lower, and who knows about salary.

I like the above-mentioned food. It may be expensive, but it is so yummy and varied. And I cook a lot and can get any ingredient for any ethnic cuisine, often in fresh form. I cook Indian, and Japanese, and Thai, and Russian, and Chinese... I really like the access to goods and foods, and restaurants and everything else.

I adjust to accommodate financial reality of living in NYC and forego other things to make this work. Not to mention I have family here, which is no small thing when you have a toddler and need last minute child care to go on a business trip.