I've spent 412.6 minutes learning how to manage money. /s

Not all of us can pay off a 30 year mortgage in 12 like you did.

My student loan payments, despite using an IBR plan, are so high I can't even refinance my vehicle, never mind acquire a mortgage. You mention a simple vehicle. Awesome. I'd love one in lieu of a car payment. I truly would. But to do so I have to sell my current car for less than the balance, come up with the cash to make up for negative equity, and come up with the cash to buy a used vehicle.

Speaking of vehicles, I should note that I slept in my car for the month of December, btw. Winter is lovely shivering in a back seat, let me tell you.

I live hand to mouth kiddo, and I do it on one income. My monthly savings is on the order of $20-30 a month, I don't eat out, I don't have Netflix, I don't drink alcohol or smoke. I have a cell phone, internet, electric, etc.

The mistake I made wasn't a mismanagement of money- it was moving to an area where my old intern payrate is what they pay people in the 3-5 years of experience crowd.