re: Live comfortably on $55,000 per year?

Yea, it's pretty absurd. I don't make much money by any means, but I'm also a full time student and chose to take a current pay cut to pursue my graduate degree. I get by just fine and have a new car with a very reasonable note. Mainly because I was able to put half down when I signed the papers.

If you can't survive on 55k with no kids, you should just off yourself.