> So they don't have disposable income, arent saving for retirement, and can't go to eat at restaurants? There's a lot you can do when other expenses aren't ea

> So they don't have disposable income, arent saving for retirement, and can't go to eat at restaurants? There's a lot you can do when other expenses aren't eating up your take-home pay. For instance, they mention not having to own a vehicle or drive. Car ownership is a substantial expense in the US[0]. Were it not for Seattle's mostly-passable transit system, my wife and I would be a lot deeper in bills (neither of us drives). Plus, if everyone around you is earning approximately the same thing, wealth-display-competition just isn't a thing. I know people will scoff at it--"that's what you get for trying to keep up with the Joneses"--but humans are social creatures. We want to be like people who are around us and we want to be around people who are like us. Not having that added stress is freeing. This also makes more room for social and leisure activities that don't involve going out to eat and spending a bunch of money as a result. Thus, society is more geared to providing those activities, instead of a plethora of semi-public spaces that cost money to be in. 0 - Just under $1,000/month, on average: https://www.bts.gov/content/mile-costs-owning-and-operating-automobile https://www.bts.gov/content/mile-costs-owning-and-operating-...