Income 100k for 35 year old is working poor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe he means that "Internet, TV, Student loans, VA Dominon Power, Cell Phone" are $500/monthly total, and that he uses his credit card to pay for "FOOD, GAS, Metro, Drinks, going out, Door Dash" which totals $2K/month.

What's not clear is whether he's using the credit card to get points or some other rebate, etc and paying it off each month, or if those are actually costs he's carrying month to month on his credit card.

Is that a correct interpretation, OP?

Pretty sure the credit card is for gas, groceries, entertainment etc. Not carrying cost on a balance. I pay for everything by credit to to get the points and pay off the balance every month. I also pay my utilities and phone bills by credit. As a single I easily spend 2,000 a month on the card just for everyday living.

Assuming that , $2K does not include rent/mortgage, that's great for you, but you are a rich spender. It's certainly not essential to having a rewarding middle class life as a single.

This is the poster you're responding to. Out of the 2k a month on credit card this is how it breaks down, typically:

800ish for groceries etc
300 for gas / commuting costs / parking on the days I go into the office
170 for internet + phone
100 for utilities, higher in winter, lower in summer, so 100 is average
100 for pet expenditures, either pet food or a once / twice yearly pet vet visit averaged out
100 a month for social F&B, the rare lunch out with a friend, a takeway one night because I've been busy/tired, a drink at a happy hour after work once in a blue moon. I rarely eat out specifically to save money.
70 for gym membership

That's up to about 1650. But there's always something else every month, like this month is a plumber's bill. Next month is installing a new kitchen fan to replace the one that broke. Little things that come up and which can't be planned for but still happen.

You seem pretty clueless if you think this is "rich spending."

$800 on groceries for one person a month? Stop going to Whole Paycheck? Also yes, obviously if OP is renting they are doing home maintenance. The OP and you both seem pretty clueless about what working poor means.

I'm not the OP and I wouldn't say OP is "working poor" which clearly raised some hackles. At the same time OP isn't living extravagantly either.

800 a month for groceries inclusive of cleaning supplies is not wildly unrealistic either. Now, I do have the option of spending 800 a month on groceries and household supplies because I am not poor like some of you must be. Which is great. But I definitely watch what I spend and do not eat extravagantly. So I have sympathy for OP. There is only so much he can scale back on to save extra money without life becoming unbearable. He needs to find a higher paying job to keep up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I rounded your take home to $5400. Here's what you are going to do:
Get a studio with all utilities included. Found one in lovely area and building in NWDC for under $1500 all utilities included. I'm sure there's one in VA cheaper than that.
Phone.internet, Netflix can be had for
$100 a month.
Get rid of the car and invest the money.
$200 for commuting now that the car is gone.
Our lovely building has a gym, pool, and trails - all free.
$100 student loans.
$500 for groceries which is generous for one person.
All else:going out, eating out,clothes, toiletry,haircuts-,$600.
You would have $2400 left every month.
You had no business getting a pet. Pet is a luxury.
Also, don't save, you invest. Stock market was up last year, a lot. The $400 a month you saved, should be $6600 right now.
All stocks I have doubled this year alone. You are clearly not in the market so you don't know what's happening. I'm not convinced not knowing/being in it is a plus. I learned a lot even when I lost some.
Can you see that you concentrate on things that take money instead of things that make money. You chose it and I don't know why. You are not getting younger.
You are getting a second job in a restaurants at nights from 5/6-10pm or two brunches. The second job gives you extra $1000 a month at minimum. They also feed you and keep you from spending money because you are too busy working two jobs.
You are going to invest in S and P ETF long term and learn to manage your own money.
There is so much money to be made while you are talking about the credit card points you get. Did you know that some utilities charge you for using credit card for payment. More than the 2% you get back.
You didn't tell us if yours do or don't. Look them up, please.
I have made over $40k twice in my life. I never had the luxury to upgrade my life. I had to learn to make my money work for me. I don't have to work anymore at the age of 46. Being working poor making $100k is a choice.

Your life sounds pretty miserable. Some people thrive off living like they're dirt poor. I don't find virtue in it. OP probably works 45 hours a week for his 100k and telling him to find a second job on weekends? Ok. Easier said than done.

I do agree OP can be a bit smarter about some of his budgeting choices but screaming that he's living "rich" isn't going to help, because he really is not. And some of you need to read more carefully as it's another poster who has the pet, not OP.

[Anonymous]

Plenty of people work second jobs. The OP had no reason not too. No kids. I’m assuming no other responsibilities. I work a second job and my life is far from miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe he means that "Internet, TV, Student loans, VA Dominon Power, Cell Phone" are $500/monthly total, and that he uses his credit card to pay for "FOOD, GAS, Metro, Drinks, going out, Door Dash" which totals $2K/month.

What's not clear is whether he's using the credit card to get points or some other rebate, etc and paying it off each month, or if those are actually costs he's carrying month to month on his credit card.

Is that a correct interpretation, OP?

Pretty sure the credit card is for gas, groceries, entertainment etc. Not carrying cost on a balance. I pay for everything by credit to to get the points and pay off the balance every month. I also pay my utilities and phone bills by credit. As a single I easily spend 2,000 a month on the card just for everyday living.

Assuming that , $2K does not include rent/mortgage, that's great for you, but you are a rich spender. It's certainly not essential to having a rewarding middle class life as a single.

This is the poster you're responding to. Out of the 2k a month on credit card this is how it breaks down, typically:

800ish for groceries etc
300 for gas / commuting costs / parking on the days I go into the office
170 for internet + phone
100 for utilities, higher in winter, lower in summer, so 100 is average
100 for pet expenditures, either pet food or a once / twice yearly pet vet visit averaged out
100 a month for social F&B, the rare lunch out with a friend, a takeway one night because I've been busy/tired, a drink at a happy hour after work once in a blue moon. I rarely eat out specifically to save money.
70 for gym membership

That's up to about 1650. But there's always something else every month, like this month is a plumber's bill. Next month is installing a new kitchen fan to replace the one that broke. Little things that come up and which can't be planned for but still happen.

You seem pretty clueless if you think this is "rich spending."

$800 on groceries for one person a month? Stop going to Whole Paycheck? Also yes, obviously if OP is renting they are doing home maintenance. The OP and you both seem pretty clueless about what working poor means.

I'm not the OP and I wouldn't say OP is "working poor" which clearly raised some hackles. At the same time OP isn't living extravagantly either.

800 a month for groceries inclusive of cleaning supplies is not wildly unrealistic either. Now, I do have the option of spending 800 a month on groceries and household supplies because I am not poor like some of you must be. Which is great. But I definitely watch what I spend and do not eat extravagantly. So I have sympathy for OP. There is only so much he can scale back on to save extra money without life becoming unbearable. He needs to find a higher paying job to keep up.

$800/month for groceries including cleaning supplies for one person is certainly a lot. He has a lot to scale back on from his casual mention of Door Dash. You both need a reality check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe he means that "Internet, TV, Student loans, VA Dominon Power, Cell Phone" are $500/monthly total, and that he uses his credit card to pay for "FOOD, GAS, Metro, Drinks, going out, Door Dash" which totals $2K/month.

What's not clear is whether he's using the credit card to get points or some other rebate, etc and paying it off each month, or if those are actually costs he's carrying month to month on his credit card.

Is that a correct interpretation, OP?

Pretty sure the credit card is for gas, groceries, entertainment etc. Not carrying cost on a balance. I pay for everything by credit to to get the points and pay off the balance every month. I also pay my utilities and phone bills by credit. As a single I easily spend 2,000 a month on the card just for everyday living.

Assuming that , $2K does not include rent/mortgage, that's great for you, but you are a rich spender. It's certainly not essential to having a rewarding middle class life as a single.

This is the poster you're responding to. Out of the 2k a month on credit card this is how it breaks down, typically:

800ish for groceries etc
300 for gas / commuting costs / parking on the days I go into the office
170 for internet + phone
100 for utilities, higher in winter, lower in summer, so 100 is average
100 for pet expenditures, either pet food or a once / twice yearly pet vet visit averaged out
100 a month for social F&B, the rare lunch out with a friend, a takeway one night because I've been busy/tired, a drink at a happy hour after work once in a blue moon. I rarely eat out specifically to save money.
70 for gym membership

That's up to about 1650. But there's always something else every month, like this month is a plumber's bill. Next month is installing a new kitchen fan to replace the one that broke. Little things that come up and which can't be planned for but still happen.

You seem pretty clueless if you think this is "rich spending."

$800 on groceries for one person a month? Stop going to Whole Paycheck? Also yes, obviously if OP is renting they are doing home maintenance. The OP and you both seem pretty clueless about what working poor means.

I'm not the OP and I wouldn't say OP is "working poor" which clearly raised some hackles. At the same time OP isn't living extravagantly either.

800 a month for groceries inclusive of cleaning supplies is not wildly unrealistic either. Now, I do have the option of spending 800 a month on groceries and household supplies because I am not poor like some of you must be. Which is great. But I definitely watch what I spend and do not eat extravagantly. So I have sympathy for OP. There is only so much he can scale back on to save extra money without life becoming unbearable. He needs to find a higher paying job to keep up.

$800/month for groceries including cleaning supplies for one person is certainly a lot. He has a lot to scale back on from his casual mention of Door Dash. You both need a reality check.

Maybe if you are poor, which you must be. In my case I don't need to nickle and dime myself into a miserable life so I can shave $100 off the food budget and eat nothing but rice and beans.

You're telling OP to save money by acting as if he is poor. I suppose that's one way of doing it but it is pretty miserable. But I guess he does have the option.

But it will be easier to find a better paying job than being miserable in a basement studio eating rice and beans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you need a roommate

Or get married.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a second job. Why is the rent so high? Shared housing is the way to go to bring down that expense.

In what world is $2,100 a month rent high?

So much whining. Poor me, poor me. Being miserable isn’t going to change your situation. It’s just showing immaturity and inability to do something if you’re unhappy.

[Anonymous]

Why is your CC bill so high? You can eat for less than $500 a month if you try. And if you have a car why so much on Metro?

Stop going out so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe he means that "Internet, TV, Student loans, VA Dominon Power, Cell Phone" are $500/monthly total, and that he uses his credit card to pay for "FOOD, GAS, Metro, Drinks, going out, Door Dash" which totals $2K/month.

What's not clear is whether he's using the credit card to get points or some other rebate, etc and paying it off each month, or if those are actually costs he's carrying month to month on his credit card.

Is that a correct interpretation, OP?

Pretty sure the credit card is for gas, groceries, entertainment etc. Not carrying cost on a balance. I pay for everything by credit to to get the points and pay off the balance every month. I also pay my utilities and phone bills by credit. As a single I easily spend 2,000 a month on the card just for everyday living.

Assuming that , $2K does not include rent/mortgage, that's great for you, but you are a rich spender. It's certainly not essential to having a rewarding middle class life as a single.

This is the poster you're responding to. Out of the 2k a month on credit card this is how it breaks down, typically:

800ish for groceries etc
300 for gas / commuting costs / parking on the days I go into the office
170 for internet + phone
100 for utilities, higher in winter, lower in summer, so 100 is average
100 for pet expenditures, either pet food or a once / twice yearly pet vet visit averaged out
100 a month for social F&B, the rare lunch out with a friend, a takeway one night because I've been busy/tired, a drink at a happy hour after work once in a blue moon. I rarely eat out specifically to save money.
70 for gym membership

That's up to about 1650. But there's always something else every month, like this month is a plumber's bill. Next month is installing a new kitchen fan to replace the one that broke. Little things that come up and which can't be planned for but still happen.

You seem pretty clueless if you think this is "rich spending."

$800 on groceries for one person a month? Stop going to Whole Paycheck? Also yes, obviously if OP is renting they are doing home maintenance. The OP and you both seem pretty clueless about what working poor means.

I'm not the OP and I wouldn't say OP is "working poor" which clearly raised some hackles. At the same time OP isn't living extravagantly either.

800 a month for groceries inclusive of cleaning supplies is not wildly unrealistic either. Now, I do have the option of spending 800 a month on groceries and household supplies because I am not poor like some of you must be. Which is great. But I definitely watch what I spend and do not eat extravagantly. So I have sympathy for OP. There is only so much he can scale back on to save extra money without life becoming unbearable. He needs to find a higher paying job to keep up.

$800/month for groceries including cleaning supplies for one person is certainly a lot. He has a lot to scale back on from his casual mention of Door Dash. You both need a reality check.

We track our monthly expenses, $700-750 is what we spend for a family of 4 with two teens and a dog and whatever household supplies we buy at the grocery store. We're not trying to be frugal and we eat healthily--it's just what the budget comes out to be.

[Anonymous]

Some of these PPs are obtuse. Sounds like OP, like most people, is trying to live a basic life. He/she is not poor, i.e. dumpster diving, but we can all admit, that barring the gazillionaires that inhabit DCUMLandia, it’s a struggle of daily budgeting and decision making to keep it together. Is it worth “getting a second job” so that you are barely home for your $2100/month apartment? Can you eat rice and beans for a solid month before it’s okay to pony up the extra 10 bucks for some takeout? Perhaps. One can feel like a working poor even if technically you are middle class.

OP, best advice - stop using the CCs, take a year of rice-and-bean eating to pay off your debt; find a new job, and stop surfing DCUM.

(I’m going to take my own advice.)

[Anonymous]

Yes OP, to save money here you have to live like you are lower middle class or working class in most other places.

We are able to save money by not eating out, not having a costly pet (cats cost less than dogs), not doing doordash, and trying to find as much free entertainment as possible.

It's more like the middle class lifestyle of my parents in the 1970s than what's touted as a middle class lifestyle now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe he means that "Internet, TV, Student loans, VA Dominon Power, Cell Phone" are $500/monthly total, and that he uses his credit card to pay for "FOOD, GAS, Metro, Drinks, going out, Door Dash" which totals $2K/month.

What's not clear is whether he's using the credit card to get points or some other rebate, etc and paying it off each month, or if those are actually costs he's carrying month to month on his credit card.

Is that a correct interpretation, OP?

Pretty sure the credit card is for gas, groceries, entertainment etc. Not carrying cost on a balance. I pay for everything by credit to to get the points and pay off the balance every month. I also pay my utilities and phone bills by credit. As a single I easily spend 2,000 a month on the card just for everyday living.

Assuming that , $2K does not include rent/mortgage, that's great for you, but you are a rich spender. It's certainly not essential to having a rewarding middle class life as a single.

This is the poster you're responding to. Out of the 2k a month on credit card this is how it breaks down, typically:

800ish for groceries etc
300 for gas / commuting costs / parking on the days I go into the office
170 for internet + phone
100 for utilities, higher in winter, lower in summer, so 100 is average
100 for pet expenditures, either pet food or a once / twice yearly pet vet visit averaged out
100 a month for social F&B, the rare lunch out with a friend, a takeway one night because I've been busy/tired, a drink at a happy hour after work once in a blue moon. I rarely eat out specifically to save money.
70 for gym membership

That's up to about 1650. But there's always something else every month, like this month is a plumber's bill. Next month is installing a new kitchen fan to replace the one that broke. Little things that come up and which can't be planned for but still happen.

You seem pretty clueless if you think this is "rich spending."

$800 on groceries for one person a month? Stop going to Whole Paycheck? Also yes, obviously if OP is renting they are doing home maintenance. The OP and you both seem pretty clueless about what working poor means.

I'm not the OP and I wouldn't say OP is "working poor" which clearly raised some hackles. At the same time OP isn't living extravagantly either.

800 a month for groceries inclusive of cleaning supplies is not wildly unrealistic either. Now, I do have the option of spending 800 a month on groceries and household supplies because I am not poor like some of you must be. Which is great. But I definitely watch what I spend and do not eat extravagantly. So I have sympathy for OP. There is only so much he can scale back on to save extra money without life becoming unbearable. He needs to find a higher paying job to keep up.

$800/month for groceries including cleaning supplies for one person is certainly a lot. He has a lot to scale back on from his casual mention of Door Dash. You both need a reality check.

Maybe if you are poor, which you must be. In my case I don't need to nickle and dime myself into a miserable life so I can shave $100 off the food budget and eat nothing but rice and beans.

You're telling OP to save money by acting as if he is poor. I suppose that's one way of doing it but it is pretty miserable. But I guess he does have the option.

But it will be easier to find a better paying job than being miserable in a basement studio eating rice and beans.

OP is spending $800 on food and groceries and then going out to get drinks AND doing doordash on top of all that. They won't have to eat "rice and beans" to save money, or get a roommate, they just need to quit doing doordash and cut down on drinking.

Doordash is super expensive. Drinking out in DC is super expensive. And $800 in groceries and cleaning supplies for one persona month?

We spend about that for two people in a sfh, eating grass fed beef and organic produce.

[Anonymous]

Obviously cut out the subductions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe he means that "Internet, TV, Student loans, VA Dominon Power, Cell Phone" are $500/monthly total, and that he uses his credit card to pay for "FOOD, GAS, Metro, Drinks, going out, Door Dash" which totals $2K/month.

What's not clear is whether he's using the credit card to get points or some other rebate, etc and paying it off each month, or if those are actually costs he's carrying month to month on his credit card.

Is that a correct interpretation, OP?

Pretty sure the credit card is for gas, groceries, entertainment etc. Not carrying cost on a balance. I pay for everything by credit to to get the points and pay off the balance every month. I also pay my utilities and phone bills by credit. As a single I easily spend 2,000 a month on the card just for everyday living.

Assuming that , $2K does not include rent/mortgage, that's great for you, but you are a rich spender. It's certainly not essential to having a rewarding middle class life as a single.

This is the poster you're responding to. Out of the 2k a month on credit card this is how it breaks down, typically:

800ish for groceries etc
300 for gas / commuting costs / parking on the days I go into the office
170 for internet + phone
100 for utilities, higher in winter, lower in summer, so 100 is average
100 for pet expenditures, either pet food or a once / twice yearly pet vet visit averaged out
100 a month for social F&B, the rare lunch out with a friend, a takeway one night because I've been busy/tired, a drink at a happy hour after work once in a blue moon. I rarely eat out specifically to save money.
70 for gym membership

That's up to about 1650. But there's always something else every month, like this month is a plumber's bill. Next month is installing a new kitchen fan to replace the one that broke. Little things that come up and which can't be planned for but still happen.

You seem pretty clueless if you think this is "rich spending."

$800 on groceries for one person a month? Stop going to Whole Paycheck? Also yes, obviously if OP is renting they are doing home maintenance. The OP and you both seem pretty clueless about what working poor means.

I'm not the OP and I wouldn't say OP is "working poor" which clearly raised some hackles. At the same time OP isn't living extravagantly either.

800 a month for groceries inclusive of cleaning supplies is not wildly unrealistic either. Now, I do have the option of spending 800 a month on groceries and household supplies because I am not poor like some of you must be. Which is great. But I definitely watch what I spend and do not eat extravagantly. So I have sympathy for OP. There is only so much he can scale back on to save extra money without life becoming unbearable. He needs to find a higher paying job to keep up.

$800/month for groceries including cleaning supplies for one person is certainly a lot. He has a lot to scale back on from his casual mention of Door Dash. You both need a reality check.

We track our monthly expenses, $700-750 is what we spend for a family of 4 with two teens and a dog and whatever household supplies we buy at the grocery store. We're not trying to be frugal and we eat healthily--it's just what the budget comes out to be.

So 1 person should be able to do this for $400 easily. Cook a meal for 2-3 people, then have it again the next night or 2 nights later and freeze one meal. $800 for 1 person is ridiculous and can easily be cut in half. Then use the extra $400 to pay off that car faster. Then save the $350 car payment, so you will have money for your next car, and use the other $400 saved (from groceries) to invest/build emergency fund.
They are Not poor, but they are not budgeting well and likely spending a lot of extraneous $$ on wants not needs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plenty of people work second jobs. The OP had no reason not too. No kids. I’m assuming no other responsibilities. I work a second job and my life is far from miserable.

+1 use the 2nd job to finish the student loans (which should already be gone at age 35). Then use it to pay off your car and build a 6 month emergency fund. Combine that with spending less on food/eating out and you will be well on path to saving more. Ideally, this should have been done 10 years ago, but if you are still single at 35 you have the time to work another 5-10 hours on the weekends/evening at something