If you and some of your classmates are able to pinch your pennies to get $60+ on portfolios... Congrats, that's good on you dude. Seriously, keep saving whenever you can, it's a very wise thing for anyone to do, especially at your age.

My grandfather had a home, a summer home, and 10 kids. Was able to work one job his whole life & retire at age 40.

My father had a home, three kids, and hopes to retire from his job at 65.

I am the first in my family to have a college education, and I work for the US Government currently. I have college debt, (though not as much as many others for which I'm very thankful), and I live with my boyfriend and a roommate to be able to afford our apartment rent. I do not plan to have children, mostly, I know I won't be able to afford them, but it's a completely personal choice. For retirement and saving for a house, though I am able to do it, it's painfully slow, and will take a very long time.

It's just interesting seeing the differences, it's certainly not impossible to have what you want in life, especially if you work hard. I'm not trying to discredit your hard work, I'm sure you gave up a lot of things to be able to go to school while also saving toward some investments. BUT does it not seem like we have to give so much to get so very little?

Also, of that 36% you mentioned, is that by all US households, or was there a particular income brackett for that?