Full time job + part time job = travel and nice living accommodations.
How does he have time to travel, working that much?
His full-time job allows him to travel as part of the job and gives him credit for the time he spends traveling, so he builds vacation time. He has figured out a nice work/life balance and I admire it. His part-time job he fits in where and when he wants to, so he manages to do it even when he travels.
I’m not suggesting all people can do what he does but just that different folks have different ways of striking a balance between work/leisure and the standard of living they desire.
Older S lives like a grad student. Has two roommates. Doesn’t drive. Does travel. Donates 10% to charitable organizations. Has a very tidy 401k and savings account. Has some student loans left, but has them on autopay and doesn’t worry about the balance.
He is fortunate to have a very great job and to be naturally thrifty (he got that from us, as we started with nothing). I’m glad he is aware of his privileges and has done something with that.
I’d just point out that life can throw a lot of curve balls – a car that breaks down and needs to be replaced, an unanticipated injury or illness that impacts ability to work as well as unanticipated medical expenses beyond what insurance can pay for, marriage, kids, kid-related expenses, casualty loss (theft, fire, etc.). Not to mention student loan debt for the many, many students who would not have been able to attend college or grad school in the first place without taking on such debt. It’s nice for young people who come from families that provide them with a backstop of financial support through college and beyond, including a fallback source of support when emergencies arrive – but a lot of that is simply a matter of good fortune. I am sure there are also many young people who are faced with the need to provide financial help and support to help their parents – rather than having the parental backstop.
I think everyone agrees that life isn’t necessarily fair nor a level playing field.
I don’t think families should be blamed for trying to help their kids have the “best” start they can. For many of us, that means trying to minimize their debt load.
Living below whatever income a person has from all sources allows the person to have more flexibility about what to do when inevitable curve balls come their way.