I dropped out of college and now earn $159,000 as a software engineer. Lifestyle creep left me $30,000 in debt.

Devonte Duncan, a 27-year-old software engineer based in Brooklyn, New York, embodies a modern narrative of career transition and financial navigation in an expensive urban environment. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Duncan’s story diverges from the traditional college-to-career path, as he departed from City College after three years as a physics major to pursue a software engineering fellowship.

Initially struggling with academic pressures and financial strain, Duncan lost his merit scholarship and accrued a $2,000 loan, prompting him to reconsider his educational trajectory. Without disclosing his decision to his immigrant parents—a common source of pressure for children striving to meet familial expectations—he enrolled in the Marcy Lab School, a one-year intensive program focusing on software engineering skills.

Upon completing the fellowship, Duncan secured a position as a software engineer with a base salary of approximately $159,000 annually. Despite this substantial income, his experience highlights the challenges of sustaining financial health amidst New York City’s rising costs. His two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in Brooklyn, shared with his fiancée, costs $3,450 monthly, a stark contrast to his family’s first apartment rent of $900 years prior. With his fiancée contributing a fixed $1,000, Duncan covers the remaining rent and utilities, underscoring the high living expenses even for dual-income households.

Duncan’s income translates to a monthly gross salary of $13,250 and a net take-home of around $7,752 after taxes. Supplementing his earnings is a modest side venture: his YouTube channel "Dose of Devy," which, while once generating up to $400 monthly, currently yields about $100 due to less frequent content production. This side income, however, does not substantially offset his living costs.

His financial journey is marked by lessons in managing lifestyle inflation. Early in his career, Duncan frequently covered large social bills, sometimes paying for groups exceeding ten people—practices he now curtails to prevent excessive spending. This pattern contributed to accumulating nearly $30,000 in debt, which he addressed through a debt consolidation loan carrying a lower interest rate than his prior credit cards, with a repayment schedule of two years.

Duncan’s approach to money management reflects a pragmatic adaptation. Recognizing his challenges with financial discipline, he automates savings by allocating 10% of each paycheck—approximately $700—to a savings account treated as untouchable. He also directs 10% of his income to his 401(k), maximizing the employer’s 4% match, cumulatively saving nearly $16,000 annually. Despite these efforts, he acknowledges the limitations of saving in the face of inflation outpacing wage growth.

Transportation expenses include financing a 2019 Subaru Outback following a trade-in of a 2021 Tesla Model 3 at a loss, with a monthly car payment of $450, insurance costs of $208, and fuel expenses around $90. Additionally, he opts for a $50 monthly MTA pass to avoid congestion pricing and parking fees when traveling into Manhattan.

Food expenses average about $600 monthly, divided between groceries and dining out. Transitioning from solo living to sharing meals with his fiancée has allowed Duncan to economize by preparing meals lasting multiple days. His discretionary spending encompasses hobbies and projects, notably his civic technology initiative OpenBorough.NYC, which costs up to $300 monthly, and video gaming, which has seen expenditures of a similar amount over three years.

Travel remains a significant part of Duncan’s lifestyle, evidenced by a recent $3,000 trip to Japan and attendance at a major concert in Brazil. Fitness expenses include a Planet Fitness membership he rarely uses due to having access to a gym in his residence.

Duncan’s reflections on living in New York City are nuanced. While the financial demands are formidable, he values Brooklyn as home and sees his efforts as a fight to remain connected to his roots. He plans to continue investing in his self-development and ideas, aiming to transform them into sustainable ventures beyond traditional employment. His story, as reported by businessinsider.com, illustrates the complexities of success and financial stability in one of America’s most expensive cities, especially for those forging unconventional career paths.