here's my
I think the key is to think long term, most of us are in our twenties and we're already making great money. If you can double your salary every 10 years and double your investments every 10 years as well, you will retire at 55 with several million or hundred million dollars. Plus most of us are workaholics so we'll still be making 50k a year working part time till we're 75, teaching or doing public service or running a small business, just cuz work is something we enjoy.
If you invest at least some of what you make every month (10% minimum is what i allocate, usually closer to 40%), be it stocks, real estate, money market account, domain names or scripts or whatever investments you think you can get a return on, then you're opening yourself up for lots of potential return and you've diversified your portfolio. I make $30 a month just from my money market account, in 10 years, i'll be up to $300 a month and in 30 years, $3000 a month. My stocks bring in dividends and an increase in value and real estate will always go up more than down.
It takes money to make money, but you're in the right industry to make money you can invest with. With your income increasing every single year and those investments paying off, bit by bit, by the time you're fifty, you will be filthy rich. By the time you're 80 and the compounding of your millions really starts kicking in, you'll be a gazillionair. I'm only 28 and started with negative 35k in school loans, and so far, i've managed to pay those off, double my income every 4 years and i'm just starting to work on the investment part of my long term plan. it takes money to make money but time, smarts and compound interest are all on your side. I know how smart and resourcefull you guys all are, invest more than you spend!!! Just keep in mind what's really important. Family, friends and leisure. Having money helps make life more pleasant but it's definitely not everything!