Im sure this has been mentioned before, but barney salary made little sense, he got paid had few expenses yet lived like a poor college kid.
had no car didnt buy clothes or jewelery didnt travel had no house expenses
or hobbies.He didnt have an expensive illegal habit???

Well, let's see. He was paying Mrs. Mendelbright $6/wk for that room in her boarding house. What else? Eating at the diner. Having salt & pepper suit cleaned by Fred Goss periodically. Getting haircut by Floyd every couple weeks. Entertaining Thelma Lou (and sometimes Juanita - wink wink). Vacations at the Y. And he had a subscription to a girlie magazine. It adds up.