She received several raises in the years following, and by the end of her career, Livingston was making mid-six figures.
After seven years of stashing more than 70 percent of her income, she built a nest egg of $2.25 million, 40 percent of which came from investing and 60 percent from saving.
They live off a modest $65,000 per year, which allows them to maintain a high savings rate.
"To achieve a high savings rate, start viewing your purchases in terms of units of your time rather than dollars," she tells CNBC Make It.
"To buy a home with an extra bedroom or one with fancier finishings might cost you $50,000 or $100,000.