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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]TOTALLY depends on when/if you bought a house and student loans and number of children and where you live.

If you bought a house in 2012, have no student loans, two pre-schoolers, and work from home, you can live in Clarksburg or Manassas and have a nice life on $150K, maybe less. (And don't give me $#&^ about "bUt ThEn YoU HaVe To LiVe iN....." because that is rude and elitist.)

If you have yet to purchase a home, have student loans, two pre-schoolers, and work in downtown DC, you are going to want to make $300 to feel like you aren't treading water most months. Maybe more. [/quote]

I think $300k is still very high... "reasonable" is subjective, though.  I could reasonably stay at a Super 8 while others would scoff and say that's totally unreasonable.  I don't have tons of money, but I prioritize what is important to me and I am never stressed about money.

- $250k, own townhouse close in, work downtown, full pay for private school (which is as much as two daycares), paid off loans, still have plenty for domestic travel and dining out[/quote]

It is high but check this out:

In 2023, a 300K salary will take home 212K. That's 17K a month

Monthly:
$5-6,000 housing (including tax, insurance, repairs)
$1,500 student loans
$3,500 daycare
$2,000 on food and household items, including restaurants (this isn't a lot of takeout or restaurants)
$500 on car payment and insurance and any transit like Uber or Metro
$750 on utilities and tv etc...
Reasonably for two working professionals, $1,500 on miscellaneous (kids need shoes, new brakes for the car, Christmas tree, new shirt for party, vet visit, etc..)
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That leaves $2,500 - $3,500 for savings (which this family should be direct depositing), travel, miscellaneous, and BIG emergencies like a new roof or a new furnace or unexpected medical expenses.

It's a comfy middle class life but not without stress.

You can trade off by living far out or renting an apartment or choosing a less-than house or a less-than school district. But that's also not without stress.

Having a $3,000 mortgage or no childcare expenses or no students loans are all A HUGE GAME CHANGER. 
[/quote]
 
A few things that jump out. A middle class person is not spending that on a mortgage. Also a middle class person is not YOLO their money, 300k gross , minus 40k in retirement savings, minus 11k in health insurance brings it to 15k/mo net.[/quote]

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