Minimalist Millionaire: A Meta Engineer’s $300K Year, No Car or Couch

A 24-year-old Meta software engineer in the SF Bay Area earns about $306,500 a year (plus stock) but lives with almost nothing: no car, no couch, and no TV. He rents a $2,600/month one-bedroom, prioritizes investments and experiences over possessions, and keeps expenses tight (roughly $300 for groceries, $400–$500 on travel). He saves between $5,000 and $20,000 monthly, maxes out his 401(k), Roth IRA, and HSA, and uses a DIY budgeting system to model future wealth—targeting more than $2 million invested by age 30 and potentially over $7 million by 40—reflecting a FIRE-inspired approach centered on financial independence rather than consumer goods.