I work in a union shop. What everyone makes is open knowledge because of the contract.
We have 5 people in my department.
The guy I'm thinking of is desperate to work 12 to 14 hours per day, 6 days per week and sometimes 7. He's making 50 bucks an hour on straight time. He showed me his take home for two weeks on one check, it was $5000.34. That check went to a huge house on the hill that he lives in by himself. The mortgage is nearly 5k per month.
He says that the OT is killing him, he doesn't know how much longer he can do it, etc etc. He's shopping for a new SUV, preferably a Lexus or BMW or Audi.
He puts 8k into 401k each year to get the matching 6k. He needs a new roof, new paint on the house, some outside work, his hot water tank just rusted out. It just keeps coming. His daughter declared she won't take the car he drives now for her first car when he buys his new one.
She must have a new car. She's 16 and has an image to protect.
I told him to sell that house, buy a camper and live at work. Shower in the locker room. Put 10k per month into 401k. Do that for 5 years and you are through.
He said no way he's selling that house. And he's got to keep working to pay for that roof, outside paint job, and the new vehicle he's soon to buy.
It hurts to watch!