NYC law partner w/ kids: "$850K gross is not enough to live on"

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This thread is so stupid. I make $150,000 a year and I feel very rich (though with no kids). That doesn’t mean I have no limitations on my spending, and someone who makes $850,000 a year we also have limitations on their spending.

I’m Republican but threads like this pull me somewhat more leftward. Above a relatively moderate income/net worth, money just becomes, at best, about these trivialities or, worse, about greed and status-chasing.

Did you read the lady’s post? You cannot provide a strong education and a room for every kid in a safe part of NYC on 850k. She’s not asking for a private jet and house on Jupiter Island, more just the bare minimum.

That’s not rue about not being able to find a safe neighborhood. The majority of neighborhoods are safe in NYC. Just don’t move into the projects.

Not everyone can afford a separate room for each kid. If she can’t it’s not a big deal.

The education part is trickier but research will help.

One example is Astoria Queens. She can buy a nice home in Astoria on her salary and easily afford a 3-4 bedrooms. It’s safe. I have a feeling she’s not really feeling the diversity over there.

It’s all about what she thinks she’s entitled to.

I think highly intelligent people working long hours in boring work and getting paid 850k to do so are entitled to more than Astoria Queens. It’s a dumpy place with ugly houses.

It’s a huge assumption to call someone who is anonymous on a board “highly intelligent”.

You get what your income allows you to get. It’s doubtful you know much about Astoria but there are some areas that are really nice. Astoria Park area on the edge of the East River with a huge park and walkways around the river, public tennis, playgrounds, largest pool in The city. The area would meet her income level with $2 million dollar houses. The new skyscrapers are about $1 million.

Who do you think is living there anyway? Half of Manhattan has become really foul, even some of the expensive neighborhoods. Mayor Adams has been an unqualified disaster for over three years. No one can rely on what they knew from ten years ago.

It’s Queens. It may have new builds and not a complete war zone but it’s queens. I would never let my kids tell their friends they are from such a foul place. The view from East End Avenue isn’t all it’s chalked about to be because blight across the river.

People like you, wanna be something you’re not, will never be happy. It’s a sad statement to teach your children to be ashamed of where they grow up. What a way to live.

I don’t “wanna be” (proper English, please) something I’m not. I live the life in NYC that the Reddit lady aspires to. My children are proud to be from where they are growing up. Hint, it’s not Queens and their friends don’t live or go there (except for the U.S. Open or on the way to the East End).

Funny to hear a striver brag about pissing their money away.

I cannot think of anything more gauche, new money and striving than bragging about how rich you are.

No one is bragging. All they are saying is 850k a year isn’t rich in NYC.

It's a damn good lifestyle, many would argue UMC.

Pew would agree OP is UMC for NYC.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/16/are-you-in-the-american-middle-class/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:This thread is so stupid. I make $150,000 a year and I feel very rich (though with no kids). That doesn’t mean I have no limitations on my spending, and someone who makes $850,000 a year we also have limitations on their spending.

I’m Republican but threads like this pull me somewhat more leftward. Above a relatively moderate income/net worth, money just becomes, at best, about these trivialities or, worse, about greed and status-chasing.

Did you read the lady’s post? You cannot provide a strong education and a room for every kid in a safe part of NYC on 850k. She’s not asking for a private jet and house on Jupiter Island, more just the bare minimum.

That’s not rue about not being able to find a safe neighborhood. The majority of neighborhoods are safe in NYC. Just don’t move into the projects.

Not everyone can afford a separate room for each kid. If she can’t it’s not a big deal.

The education part is trickier but research will help.

One example is Astoria Queens. She can buy a nice home in Astoria on her salary and easily afford a 3-4 bedrooms. It’s safe. I have a feeling she’s not really feeling the diversity over there.

It’s all about what she thinks she’s entitled to.

I think highly intelligent people working long hours in boring work and getting paid 850k to do so are entitled to more than Astoria Queens. It’s a dumpy place with ugly houses.

It’s a huge assumption to call someone who is anonymous on a board “highly intelligent”.

You get what your income allows you to get. It’s doubtful you know much about Astoria but there are some areas that are really nice. Astoria Park area on the edge of the East River with a huge park and walkways around the river, public tennis, playgrounds, largest pool in The city. The area would meet her income level with $2 million dollar houses. The new skyscrapers are about $1 million.

Who do you think is living there anyway? Half of Manhattan has become really foul, even some of the expensive neighborhoods. Mayor Adams has been an unqualified disaster for over three years. No one can rely on what they knew from ten years ago.

It’s Queens. It may have new builds and not a complete war zone but it’s queens. I would never let my kids tell their friends they are from such a foul place. The view from East End Avenue isn’t all it’s chalked about to be because blight across the river.

People like you, wanna be something you’re not, will never be happy. It’s a sad statement to teach your children to be ashamed of where they grow up. What a way to live.

I don’t “wanna be” (proper English, please) something I’m not. I live the life in NYC that the Reddit lady aspires to. My children are proud to be from where they are growing up. Hint, it’s not Queens and their friends don’t live or go there (except for the U.S. Open or on the way to the East End).

Funny to hear a striver brag about pissing their money away.

I cannot think of anything more gauche, new money and striving than bragging about how rich you are.

No one is bragging. All they are saying is 850k a year isn’t rich in NYC.

It's a damn good lifestyle, many would argue UMC.

Pew would agree OP is UMC for NYC.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/16/are-you-in-the-american-middle-class/

UMC in Staten Island is not what most people think of when they read UMC for NYC, but sr 850k that’s what you get

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$860k is nothing. It is worse than an insult. Expecting someone to try to eek out an existence on that is simply not realistic.

I am praying that this is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$860k is nothing. It is worse than an insult. Expecting someone to try to eek out an existence on that is simply not realistic.

I am praying that this is a joke.

It is. Its not a joke to say working 90 hour weeks to make 850k in nyc while raising 3 kids is no life worth leading and worse than an insult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She says her monthly take home is 21k, how is that possible???

Summary of Estimated Annual Taxes and Deductions:

Federal Income Tax: $272,712.50
NY State Income Tax: $55,832.35
NYC Income Tax: $32,809.17
FICA Taxes: $28,628.20
NY SDI: $31.20
Total Estimated Annual Deductions: $272,712.50 + $55,832.35 + $32,809.17 + $28,628.20 + $31.20 = $390,013.42

Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay:
$850,000 (Gross) - $390,013.42 (Total Taxes & Deductions) = $459,986.58

Estimated Monthly Take-Home Pay:
$459,986.58 / 12 months = $38,332.21

$38k minus retirement, insurance, etc equals actual take home pay

[Anonymous]

I live in this neighborhood which 25 plus years ago was a working-class Italian neighborhood that has now gentrified. And while NYC is expensive, I can tell you that anyone who thinks they can't make it here on 850k is not only entitled af but a f--ing idiot to boot. Yes, it takes a little planning and research to get your kid into something other than the school for which you're zoned, but there are plenty of good NYC public elementary schools, and once the kids hit 6th or 8th grade, they can test into the city's most competitive high schools (Hunter College High School starts in 7th grade). Especially if you're an aspiring actor/dancer/musician, there is no reason to go anywhere except for LaGuardia--if in fact you can get in.

I also don't understand why people feel so entitled to spawn and then complain when their finances can't cover everything for which they want to pay. Why is this person having a third kid? And what if the baby ends up with the kind of special needs that means having to put all of one's resources into therapies, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in this neighborhood which 25 plus years ago was a working-class Italian neighborhood that has now gentrified. And while NYC is expensive, I can tell you that anyone who thinks they can't make it here on 850k is not only entitled af but a f--ing idiot to boot. Yes, it takes a little planning and research to get your kid into something other than the school for which you're zoned, but there are plenty of good NYC public elementary schools, and once the kids hit 6th or 8th grade, they can test into the city's most competitive high schools (Hunter College High School starts in 7th grade). Especially if you're an aspiring actor/dancer/musician, there is no reason to go anywhere except for LaGuardia--if in fact you can get in.

I also don't understand why people feel so entitled to spawn and then complain when their finances can't cover everything for which they want to pay. Why is this person having a third kid? And what if the baby ends up with the kind of special needs that means having to put all of one's resources into therapies, etc.?

+1

Key point: if you are not happy with your lifestyle with X kids, WTH would you add one and make it X+1?!?!?! 99% of kids do not happen accidentally, so plan and be reasonable. Heck with working such long hours, why would you want to keep adding kids as well.

And the special needs is a definite concern. You should always have a plan for "what if my kid requires more services"---I had my kids well before 35, and one required years of ST/OT/tutoring that had we not done (schools didn't think they "needed it") they might not be the success they are today. But it was not cheap.

[Anonymous]

The reddit poster basically wants a suburban lifestyle in the most expensive city in the U.S. that is possible but you need a lot more than $850K. That said you can definitely live well in NYC with 3 kids on what she makes - but you need to make sacrifices (space, commute) that she seems unwilling to make. Really she should just move to Greenwich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in this neighborhood which 25 plus years ago was a working-class Italian neighborhood that has now gentrified. And while NYC is expensive, I can tell you that anyone who thinks they can't make it here on 850k is not only entitled af but a f--ing idiot to boot. Yes, it takes a little planning and research to get your kid into something other than the school for which you're zoned, but there are plenty of good NYC public elementary schools, and once the kids hit 6th or 8th grade, they can test into the city's most competitive high schools (Hunter College High School starts in 7th grade). Especially if you're an aspiring actor/dancer/musician, there is no reason to go anywhere except for LaGuardia--if in fact you can get in.

I also don't understand why people feel so entitled to spawn and then complain when their finances can't cover everything for which they want to pay. Why is this person having a third kid? And what if the baby ends up with the kind of special needs that means having to put all of one's resources into therapies, etc.?

+1

Key point: if you are not happy with your lifestyle with X kids, WTH would you add one and make it X+1?!?!?! 99% of kids do not happen accidentally, so plan and be reasonable. Heck with working such long hours, why would you want to keep adding kids as well.

And the special needs is a definite concern. You should always have a plan for "what if my kid requires more services"---I had my kids well before 35, and one required years of ST/OT/tutoring that had we not done (schools didn't think they "needed it") they might not be the success they are today. But it was not cheap.

Most children are “accidents” even if the sex was planned. Not everyone procreates like an attorney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reddit poster basically wants a suburban lifestyle in the most expensive city in the U.S. that is possible but you need a lot more than $850K. That said you can definitely live well in NYC with 3 kids on what she makes - but you need to make sacrifices (space, commute) that she seems unwilling to make. Really she should just move to Greenwich.

“Living well in NYC” does not mean making those sacrifices. Greenwich isn’t that great, lots of small tract houses and the schools aren’t as good as the better Westchester ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in this neighborhood which 25 plus years ago was a working-class Italian neighborhood that has now gentrified. And while NYC is expensive, I can tell you that anyone who thinks they can't make it here on 850k is not only entitled af but a f--ing idiot to boot. Yes, it takes a little planning and research to get your kid into something other than the school for which you're zoned, but there are plenty of good NYC public elementary schools, and once the kids hit 6th or 8th grade, they can test into the city's most competitive high schools (Hunter College High School starts in 7th grade). Especially if you're an aspiring actor/dancer/musician, there is no reason to go anywhere except for LaGuardia--if in fact you can get in.

I also don't understand why people feel so entitled to spawn and then complain when their finances can't cover everything for which they want to pay. Why is this person having a third kid? And what if the baby ends up with the kind of special needs that means having to put all of one's resources into therapies, etc.?

There isn’t (or shouldn’t be) anything special about having a third child. That it’s such a financial burden is an indictment of NYC policy and quality of life. That so many think the Redditor shouldn’t have children says a lot about their values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reddit poster basically wants a suburban lifestyle in the most expensive city in the U.S. that is possible but you need a lot more than $850K. That said you can definitely live well in NYC with 3 kids on what she makes - but you need to make sacrifices (space, commute) that she seems unwilling to make. Really she should just move to Greenwich.

“Living well in NYC” does not mean making those sacrifices. Greenwich isn’t that great, lots of small tract houses and the schools aren’t as good as the better Westchester ones.

I mean, it does if you think your are entitled to a suburban lifestyle in the middle of one of the most affluent cities in the US …

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in this neighborhood which 25 plus years ago was a working-class Italian neighborhood that has now gentrified. And while NYC is expensive, I can tell you that anyone who thinks they can't make it here on 850k is not only entitled af but a f--ing idiot to boot. Yes, it takes a little planning and research to get your kid into something other than the school for which you're zoned, but there are plenty of good NYC public elementary schools, and once the kids hit 6th or 8th grade, they can test into the city's most competitive high schools (Hunter College High School starts in 7th grade). Especially if you're an aspiring actor/dancer/musician, there is no reason to go anywhere except for LaGuardia--if in fact you can get in.

I also don't understand why people feel so entitled to spawn and then complain when their finances can't cover everything for which they want to pay. Why is this person having a third kid? And what if the baby ends up with the kind of special needs that means having to put all of one's resources into therapies, etc.?

There isn’t (or shouldn’t be) anything special about having a third child. That it’s such a financial burden is an indictment of NYC policy and quality of life. That so many think the Redditor shouldn’t have children says a lot about their values.

Um ok … look, if you want to have 3 kids and live in NYC, you just need to accept it looks different from being in the burbs. There is nothing to “indict” about NYC. the poster can have a nice life there but it doesn’t suit her.

[Anonymous]

I just got back from NYC where I was helping my DD move in. We went grocery shopping and the bill came to $260, which is more than I usually spend for our family of 4 for a week! A pound of Starbucks coffee cost $22. Here it is $12.
This morning we went out for breakfast, bill came to $75 for 2 people, we each had eggs. She also had a lemonade.
My point is that absolutely everything in NYC is super expensive. I can totally see where she is coming from. But yes, don’t have 3 kids if you can’t afford to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in this neighborhood which 25 plus years ago was a working-class Italian neighborhood that has now gentrified. And while NYC is expensive, I can tell you that anyone who thinks they can't make it here on 850k is not only entitled af but a f--ing idiot to boot. Yes, it takes a little planning and research to get your kid into something other than the school for which you're zoned, but there are plenty of good NYC public elementary schools, and once the kids hit 6th or 8th grade, they can test into the city's most competitive high schools (Hunter College High School starts in 7th grade). Especially if you're an aspiring actor/dancer/musician, there is no reason to go anywhere except for LaGuardia--if in fact you can get in.

I also don't understand why people feel so entitled to spawn and then complain when their finances can't cover everything for which they want to pay. Why is this person having a third kid? And what if the baby ends up with the kind of special needs that means having to put all of one's resources into therapies, etc.?

There isn’t (or shouldn’t be) anything special about having a third child. That it’s such a financial burden is an indictment of NYC policy and quality of life. That so many think the Redditor shouldn’t have children says a lot about their values.

Um ok … look, if you want to have 3 kids and live in NYC, you just need to accept it looks different from being in the burbs. There is nothing to “indict” about NYC. the poster can have a nice life there but it doesn’t suit her.

So make the kids share bedrooms and send them to public schools with feral ghetto youth. Understood.