This is a super simple fix. Stop all eating out and all door dash and drinks. Cook at home. Perhaps budget $100 a month for going out. You're not poor, you're entitled and undisciplined.

Anonymous wrote:Income 100k for 35 year old is working poor
Earnings
$8,333.33 After taxes and 10% for 401k is Take Home pay is $5,440.21

RENT $2100
After paying all subductions, Internet, TV, Student loans, VA Dominon Power, Cell Phone $500
Car issuance $180
CAR Payment $350
credit card $2000 (FOOD, GAS, Metro, Drinks, going out, Door Dash, )

I am only able to save about $300 dollars a month. Last year in 2023 I only saved $4000 dollars.
In January and February I was only able to saved $500. I can't start a family

OP - break out the credit card bill for an average month. 2k for everything doesn’t tell us much.

Anonymous wrote:PP- What does your spouse do and how much does he/she make? Not an equal comparison unless you are spouse doesn't bring in any money.

DP: it doesn't matter. They don't eat out much/door dash at all/likely are not bar hopping every weekend. Their student loans are paid off. It's the concept of paying off debt in a timely manner (not so if you are 35 with loans), not wasting money on food when you cannot really afford it. Sure at $110K you can afford to eat out sometimes. You can door dash some, but you will be eating out less if you do that as you will be spending $10-20+ for privilege of door dash. Pick up your takeout and then you can do it a 2nd day for the same amount total.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$500 for your phone!!?

NO,


$100 for Dominion Power, $100 phone, $100 student loan , $129 FIOS TV, $44 for FIOS Internet. about $500

All these expenses are very high, except student loans, if you live alone. Drop the FIOS TV. And at 35 you should have student loans anymore. What is your profession?

$100 for cell service?? Really? Or does that include the price of the phone? I pay $25/month with TMobile and that includes Netflix. And my new iPhone was “free” when I switched over from ATT.

**shouldn’t have student loans anymore.

Agreed. However if he's only paying $100/month he likely isn't working to actually pay them off in a timely manner. That should be his first concern---get rid of that debt.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. OP saved $10k in 401k and saved $4k on top of that.

$14k of savings on $100k of salary seems about right. Sure you could stretch that some more if you wanted.

What’s the problem?

He thinks he's "working poor". he's not. He simply isn't budgeting well and likely wasting money on entertainment/bars/eating out/door dash. However he's 35 and still has student loans. But doesn't appear to be a lawyer or doctor, so there is not reason his student loans are not paid off at age 35. Stop the door dash/bar hopping and put the extra $200-400/month towards the loans and make them disappear.
Simply put, he has the ability to save much more and still "live well". At 35, have friends over to your apartment/their homes every other weekend and skip the bars, that will be much cheaper and you can still socialize.