Meta Employee Makes Over $300,000 a Year, Doesn't Own Car, Couch or TV

Key Points:

• Raymond Zeng, a 24-year-old Meta software engineer earning $306,500 annually, lives a deliberately minimalist lifestyle in the San Francisco Bay Area, prioritizing investments, travel, and hobbies over material possessions.
• He spends $2,600 monthly on a one-bedroom apartment near public transit and keeps living expenses low by forgoing a car, TV, and extensive furniture, instead focusing on essentials and quality-of-life upgrades like a bidet.
• Zeng allocates $400 to $500 monthly on travel and hobbies, notably engaging with the furry community, and uses credit card points strategically to offset travel costs, including booking expensive flights for family.
• He rigorously tracks his finances using custom spreadsheets, maxes out retirement accounts annually, and invests primarily in U.S. and international stocks, projecting over $2 million in investments by age 30 and $7 million by 40.
• Zeng actively shares his financial journey and seeks community feedback via Reddit, Discord, and YouTube, emphasizing transparency and continuous learning in his retirement planning.