Bankrate: You were earning a six-figure salary in advertising. You didn’t save anything?
Augusten Burroughs: I always lived paycheck to paycheck. After 15 or 16 years in advertising, making six-figure incomes, at the end when I finally left I had $300 to my name. No pension, no 401(k). I have to chalk it all up to, “Oh well, it was research for ‘Dry’ I guess.” It’s the only way I can bear to look at it.
Lesson learned:
Don’t live beyond your means; put a percentage of your salary into savings.
