But you would not really know anything about my earnings, would you?
Why do you assume that my working life started when I got my doctorate?
I will admit one thing: I could not save any money for the first 1 1/2 years of rural practice, when the worst drought in 70 years nearly bankrupted me.
Thereafter $26-$30K was not a lot of dough as a Navy dentist even in 1985. Yet I managed to pay off most of my practice debt, support my wife, and fully fund my IRA, which had a $2000 a year max at the time. I kept both of our old cars running.
It was $30K to $35K working for others for four years after that, and I still managed to tithe, fully fund the IRA each year, AND put money away in an annuity. I still drove early 1970s cars and lived in a two bedroom bungalow.
With most people, it is not the lack of income, but the self-discipline with money management that makes the difference. I know plenty of immigrants who are secure with a house, paid-off car, and sometimes a business because they had a good work ethic and had self-discipline with money.
On the other hand, I see plenty of patients with good incomes who complain about not being able to afford health care, yet have no trouble paying lease payments on an expensive car, weekly hair care, eating out a lot, manicures and pedicures, eyelash extensions, tattoos, and care for their pets.
As I said, self-discipline is the quality most lacking in human beings.