No kidding - I put $11k in retirement, bought a used car with cash, and had a few thousand left over my first year. Obviously others on here do better but for a first year regional FO that isn't too bad.

The key is to cut your spending back to a minimum that first year. Second year income is much, much better. Almost like having a "real" job, ha ha.

I do however only make minimum payments on my student loan. No sense paying that down with a 2.75% fixed interest rate.

It's good you are thinking ahead coming in to it with savings. I agree, paycheck to paycheck living is hard.