Mid 30s with a kid and car.
About 85k per annum.
Save 800 monthly. 500 to parents, 500 to car(remaining paid by spouse). 300 to kiddos enrichment. I don’t keep track of grocery spendings but if there are any spare, I save.
Have more than a year’s worth of savings.

Do feel that I am earning quite little though compared to people my age😟

It's only little compared to what people claim they make on this forum

What’s a research reporter about? Reporter can earn 6k+? What company is that?

Folks, I doubt the salaries here are real.

Well then this is mine. ://imgur.com/gallery/12srLYq

Add to the front.

Yep. Niche reporting on loans, debt, IPOs. Bloomberg reporters starting pay is around $6k. Commodity reporters at Platts around $5k. Not uncommon to see senior reporters around 27-28 year old earning $7-8k.

LMAOO jokes

Huh, why? As in what’s laughable about the salary?

Male in late 20s with no kids yet.
Gross monthly salary around $5k in a US MNC.
Take home around $4k.
Parents $800, savings $2k, transport (including cab) around $200.
Rest goes into food / entertainment.

Company offers voluntary employee stock purchase plan at 15% discount on US-listed company shares up to 10% of our gross salary. Any thoughts whether I should maximise it?

Depends on the prospects of your company. On a separate note, $5k in your late 20s is pretty decent! How many years of experience do you have? In what field/job?