BTW it is even much worse to scrap by in your 50s on 350K.

I know 55 year old folks two kids in college, one in HS and sick parents they are helping out on or living with them.

And home prices over one million is a function of where you live and state in life.

My current home is from when I relocated to DC. I could not live that far out as started new job with a lot of hours, I still had two of my three kids in school so needed a good school district. Now that moving to a place where if folks visit me they have to stay overnight so need a spare bedroom and now I had three drivers in house soon to be four drivers I needed a big driveway. Moving to a new town where I know no one and having to unload an old home needed a house in good shape.

Guess what My three month house search started at 900K and quickly went to 1.2 million as that was min for what I needed, from there it went to 1.325 million.

Guess what, no pool, no huge plot, kinda a regular looking street.

Now add in two college tuition's coming up while still dong 529 plan for youngest and 401K and medical and car insurance 375K is a break even salary if lucky.

A Pharmacist and a Nurse dont as stated above dont cut it. Both jobs have good starting salaries but long term the pay sucks. My brother in law is a pharmacist and stands at counter in Giant Supermarket and if his wife was a nurse sitting at the minute clinic at CVS hardly high paying jobs.

It would take a Doctor married to a Nurse Practitioner to afford a house in 2020 that a Pharmacist married to a regular nurse could afford in the year 2000.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible that 2 college-educated professionals in there late 30’s or older cannot make $350k. I don’t think I know a family that makes less than $350k.

Seriously. My brother who is a pharmacist married to a nurse? SUCH A BUNCH OF LAZY LOSERS.

And not being able to afford homes that cost a mare 1mil. Seriously, such idiots!!!

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible that 2 college-educated professionals in there late 30’s or older cannot make $350k. I don’t think I know a family that makes less than $350k.

Seriously. My brother who is a pharmacist married to a nurse? SUCH A BUNCH OF LAZY LOSERS.

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible that 2 college-educated professionals in there late 30’s or older cannot make $350k. I don’t think I know a family that makes less than $350k.

I know! Do you think that people who work in non-profits or are teachers even went to college? I know a doctor and he is married to a teacher. They make 200K. Such losers!! And what's with college professors and fed workers? Why are they such losers to make so less? Did they even go to college?

Don't even start me on the military or law enforcement!

How is it possible that 2 college-educated professionals in there late 30’s or older cannot make $350k. I don’t think I know a family that makes less than $350k.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Subsisting on ramen for a couple years is a penny wise, pound foolish strategy anyway. Really high in sodium and fat. No wonder this country has an obesity problem. You can eat a pretty nutritious diet with a little more money and effort- beans, rice, pasta with vegetables, eggs. Also going back to the original article, there is a lot of space for this family to reduce their food budget ($70 per day?!) without resorting to extreme measures. With those numbers they are almost certainly eating out for lunch every day.

You are missing the point. No one is suggesting you need to subsist on Ramen Noodles. You can cut down on your food costs significantly by cooking yourself and cooking rice, beans, lentils, chicken and veggies etc. The less processed food, the cheaper it will be for you. Also, have you heard of terms like sales, coupons, seasonal foods and buying from warehouse clubs with other families to get good rates? Ramen Noodles is a suggestion for the cost of what you pay for the food, not the food itself.

However, how many people know how to cook from scratch? There is such a lack of adulting that is missing from the post above. Anybody who is scraping by on 350K is stupid and entitled.

What is shameful in the family budget shown is that they are incredibly tone-deaf. They save for college and retirement - huge amounts, they have homes, cars, expensive daycares, vacations, dinners and date nights, huge amount of insurance....and then they say they have no money left? There should be no money left after spending on a luxurious lifestyle and then saving huge amounts for college and retirement.

Hey dimwit - You have MONEY LEFT over after a very comfortable, luxurious, convenient lifestyle that very few people in the world can afford. That money is what you are putting for your retirement and college.

You are spending an inordinate number of hours and mental bandwidth hunting sales and coupons to save what, a couple thousand a year? A high earner does not have the time or the mental bandwidth to do that. And yes, rice and beans an lentils is what the poor eat in the poorest countries. It's called belly filling food. It's fine that your vision is a race to the bottom where people make do with less and less, but personally I am with the $350K guy who sets stands for himself above the poverty line.

Yes. You are correct. You do you! Eventually, the student loans will be forgiven. It is not as if the govt or bank can come after you if you do not pay off your loans or under debt, right?

Plus, if your house of card collapses, it will be an opportunity to others to swoop in and buy your assets at low cost. Your loss will be someone else's gain. That is how capitalism works. Carry on. You are scraping by on 350K. Poor you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Subsisting on ramen for a couple years is a penny wise, pound foolish strategy anyway. Really high in sodium and fat. No wonder this country has an obesity problem. You can eat a pretty nutritious diet with a little more money and effort- beans, rice, pasta with vegetables, eggs. Also going back to the original article, there is a lot of space for this family to reduce their food budget ($70 per day?!) without resorting to extreme measures. With those numbers they are almost certainly eating out for lunch every day.

You are missing the point. No one is suggesting you need to subsist on Ramen Noodles. You can cut down on your food costs significantly by cooking yourself and cooking rice, beans, lentils, chicken and veggies etc. The less processed food, the cheaper it will be for you. Also, have you heard of terms like sales, coupons, seasonal foods and buying from warehouse clubs with other families to get good rates? Ramen Noodles is a suggestion for the cost of what you pay for the food, not the food itself.

However, how many people know how to cook from scratch? There is such a lack of adulting that is missing from the post above. Anybody who is scraping by on 350K is stupid and entitled.

What is shameful in the family budget shown is that they are incredibly tone-deaf. They save for college and retirement - huge amounts, they have homes, cars, expensive daycares, vacations, dinners and date nights, huge amount of insurance....and then they say they have no money left? There should be no money left after spending on a luxurious lifestyle and then saving huge amounts for college and retirement.

Hey dimwit - You have MONEY LEFT over after a very comfortable, luxurious, convenient lifestyle that very few people in the world can afford. That money is what you are putting for your retirement and college.

You are spending an inordinate number of hours and mental bandwidth hunting sales and coupons to save what, a couple thousand a year? A high earner does not have the time or the mental bandwidth to do that. And yes, rice and beans an lentils is what the poor eat in the poorest countries. It's called belly filling food. It's fine that your vision is a race to the bottom where people make do with less and less, but personally I am with the $350K guy who sets stands for himself above the poverty line.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Subsisting on ramen for a couple years is a penny wise, pound foolish strategy anyway. Really high in sodium and fat. No wonder this country has an obesity problem. You can eat a pretty nutritious diet with a little more money and effort- beans, rice, pasta with vegetables, eggs. Also going back to the original article, there is a lot of space for this family to reduce their food budget ($70 per day?!) without resorting to extreme measures. With those numbers they are almost certainly eating out for lunch every day.

You are missing the point. No one is suggesting you need to subsist on Ramen Noodles. You can cut down on your food costs significantly by cooking yourself and cooking rice, beans, lentils, chicken and veggies etc. The less processed food, the cheaper it will be for you. Also, have you heard of terms like sales, coupons, seasonal foods and buying from warehouse clubs with other families to get good rates? Ramen Noodles is a suggestion for the cost of what you pay for the food, not the food itself.

However, how many people know how to cook from scratch? There is such a lack of adulting that is missing from the post above. Anybody who is scraping by on 350K is stupid and entitled.

What is shameful in the family budget shown is that they are incredibly tone-deaf. They save for college and retirement - huge amounts, they have homes, cars, expensive daycares, vacations, dinners and date nights, huge amount of insurance....and then they say they have no money left? There should be no money left after spending on a luxurious lifestyle and then saving huge amounts for college and retirement.

Hey dimwit - You have MONEY LEFT over after a very comfortable, luxurious, convenient lifestyle that very few people in the world can afford. That money is what you are putting for your retirement and college.

So don't suggest ramen noodles if you don't really mean it, then you won't have to waste your time explaining what you REALLY meant.

Anonymous wrote:

Subsisting on ramen for a couple years is a penny wise, pound foolish strategy anyway. Really high in sodium and fat. No wonder this country has an obesity problem. You can eat a pretty nutritious diet with a little more money and effort- beans, rice, pasta with vegetables, eggs. Also going back to the original article, there is a lot of space for this family to reduce their food budget ($70 per day?!) without resorting to extreme measures. With those numbers they are almost certainly eating out for lunch every day.

You are missing the point. No one is suggesting you need to subsist on Ramen Noodles. You can cut down on your food costs significantly by cooking yourself and cooking rice, beans, lentils, chicken and veggies etc. The less processed food, the cheaper it will be for you. Also, have you heard of terms like sales, coupons, seasonal foods and buying from warehouse clubs with other families to get good rates? Ramen Noodles is a suggestion for the cost of what you pay for the food, not the food itself.

However, how many people know how to cook from scratch? There is such a lack of adulting that is missing from the post above. Anybody who is scraping by on 350K is stupid and entitled.

What is shameful in the family budget shown is that they are incredibly tone-deaf. They save for college and retirement - huge amounts, they have homes, cars, expensive daycares, vacations, dinners and date nights, huge amount of insurance....and then they say they have no money left? There should be no money left after spending on a luxurious lifestyle and then saving huge amounts for college and retirement.

Hey dimwit - You have MONEY LEFT over after a very comfortable, luxurious, convenient lifestyle that very few people in the world can afford. That money is what you are putting for your retirement and college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a 350K HHI, 50+ Single income family this is where we are at and we feel very wealthy-
1) Great retirement (200K after taxes yearly, not counting social security)
2) Good enough college (4 years of state school each kid + 1/2 million each for other costs and higher learning)
3) Insurance (Life and disability insurance that will be enough for the SAHM to never go back to work, downsize etc)
4) No debt (except the 2K in monthly mortgage).
5) Great medical coverage - presently and after retirement
6) Services at home (cleaners, yard maintainence)
7) Vacations (twice a year, international)

We live in a low COL area in DCUM, new SFH over 3000sq ft, no student debt, no other costs. What kind of moron cannot be set for life with a 350K HHI or even 200K HHI? The entitlement on DCUM is amazing.

Well, while still not poor by any means, a dual-income $200k HHI household in the DMV with a couple kids in daycare and some student loans (pretty common these days) is a bit different than a single income $350k HHI. But hey if it makes you feel better about yourself to call names, have at it!

+1. PP is living in another world. A $350k HHI on one salary in a low COL area and no student loans is a different story than the same income with $5-6k of daycare costs each month living in a HCOL area. HUGE HUGE difference.

No, no. These guys are morons.
No apologies. At their age, we were making a lot less than this couple and we made some financial decisions - moving to low COL area, paying off student loans by living in a one bedroom apartment and living on 35K a year, buying second hand cars and having kids after our student loan was paid off. We did not go on vacations, we did not eat out. We staggered our work hours so that we did not have to pay so much for the shared nanny, we did not get a pet.
In short, we made every financial decisions to get out of student debt, save like crazy, and we economized until we were at a financial place where we wanted to be. We are making in our 50s what this couple is making while they are still a whole lot younger. This is an enormous amount of money and if they cannot create wealth out of it then they are not very smart people.

BTW, we were saving as much as was allowed in our retirement vehicles and enough to get the full employer match. But it was not a cushy life. These people are spending and living large, and they are saving quite a bit too. There is no way this is a MC life style. This is all a bunch of BS.

Again, you’re clueless. Most dual income families in DC can’t stagger schedules so that they do NOT require childcare. Our jobs don’t work like that. Besides the fact most dual income couples making 350k or more can’t pick up and move to a LCOL area and make the same salaries.

You lived in a one bedroom apartment when you had kids? Because that’s what you’re implying people should do in DC.

I agree people should wait until student loans are paid off but many people don’t. Some people have so much owed in loans that it takes years (even paying a lot!) and eventually you can no longer have kids due to age.

Again, you’re totally clueless.

Nope. These are the type of people who need instant gratification. The idea that they have to subsist on Ramen Noodles for 2 years to pay off their student debt is galling to them. They cannot imagine buying clothes and baby gear from GoodWill. They cannot imagine not going out for drinks and dinner. These people did not live frugally as students and they will not live frugally even when making $350. Driving an hour to live in a low-cost area is a decision that is not acceptable to them.
Besides, they are not struggling. They are saving for retirement, living large, paying for everything that they need - homes to drycleaning, daycare to vacations. So, this is not a MC life style.

You're right. I'm not living off Ramen Noodles for 2 years or driving an hour each way to work so I never see my kids. If that's what it takes to be set for life off a $350k HHI, then I'll happily live closer to the edge. Quite frankly, living off Ramen Noodles and Goodwill isn't even a MC lifestyle.

If you are in debt, you are poor. Does not matter what you earn. If you cannot pay off your debt for years (except mortgage)., you are actually in line for more than 2 years of ramen noodles and goodwill. Probably, your kids will also have student debt and the circle will continue. Wanting more for your children mean getting out of student debt as fast as you can, building wealth, making sure that they finish college and professional education without crippling student debt. You model the financial behavior that your kids will follow. Good luck to them.

So your argument is that to get out of modern day feudalism one must live on the edges of poverty.

Subsisting on ramen for a couple years is a penny wise, pound foolish strategy anyway. Really high in sodium and fat. No wonder this country has an obesity problem. You can eat a pretty nutritious diet with a little more money and effort- beans, rice, pasta with vegetables, eggs. Also going back to the original article, there is a lot of space for this family to reduce their food budget ($70 per day?!) without resorting to extreme measures. With those numbers they are almost certainly eating out for lunch every day.

Anonymous wrote:350,000 is the 99th percentile of American wage earners. If they’re barely “scrapping” by, then who is doing well? Is this one of those black is white, white is black Orwellian things? Where we are somehow to believe that the poor have it better than the rich?

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a 350K HHI, 50+ Single income family this is where we are at and we feel very wealthy-
1) Great retirement (200K after taxes yearly, not counting social security)
2) Good enough college (4 years of state school each kid + 1/2 million each for other costs and higher learning)
3) Insurance (Life and disability insurance that will be enough for the SAHM to never go back to work, downsize etc)
4) No debt (except the 2K in monthly mortgage).
5) Great medical coverage - presently and after retirement
6) Services at home (cleaners, yard maintainence)
7) Vacations (twice a year, international)

We live in a low COL area in DCUM, new SFH over 3000sq ft, no student debt, no other costs. What kind of moron cannot be set for life with a 350K HHI or even 200K HHI? The entitlement on DCUM is amazing.

Well, while still not poor by any means, a dual-income $200k HHI household in the DMV with a couple kids in daycare and some student loans (pretty common these days) is a bit different than a single income $350k HHI. But hey if it makes you feel better about yourself to call names, have at it!

+1. PP is living in another world. A $350k HHI on one salary in a low COL area and no student loans is a different story than the same income with $5-6k of daycare costs each month living in a HCOL area. HUGE HUGE difference.

No, no. These guys are morons.
No apologies. At their age, we were making a lot less than this couple and we made some financial decisions - moving to low COL area, paying off student loans by living in a one bedroom apartment and living on 35K a year, buying second hand cars and having kids after our student loan was paid off. We did not go on vacations, we did not eat out. We staggered our work hours so that we did not have to pay so much for the shared nanny, we did not get a pet.
In short, we made every financial decisions to get out of student debt, save like crazy, and we economized until we were at a financial place where we wanted to be. We are making in our 50s what this couple is making while they are still a whole lot younger. This is an enormous amount of money and if they cannot create wealth out of it then they are not very smart people.

BTW, we were saving as much as was allowed in our retirement vehicles and enough to get the full employer match. But it was not a cushy life. These people are spending and living large, and they are saving quite a bit too. There is no way this is a MC life style. This is all a bunch of BS.

Again, you’re clueless. Most dual income families in DC can’t stagger schedules so that they do NOT require childcare. Our jobs don’t work like that. Besides the fact most dual income couples making 350k or more can’t pick up and move to a LCOL area and make the same salaries.

You lived in a one bedroom apartment when you had kids? Because that’s what you’re implying people should do in DC.

I agree people should wait until student loans are paid off but many people don’t. Some people have so much owed in loans that it takes years (even paying a lot!) and eventually you can no longer have kids due to age.

Again, you’re totally clueless.

Nope. These are the type of people who need instant gratification. The idea that they have to subsist on Ramen Noodles for 2 years to pay off their student debt is galling to them. They cannot imagine buying clothes and baby gear from GoodWill. They cannot imagine not going out for drinks and dinner. These people did not live frugally as students and they will not live frugally even when making $350. Driving an hour to live in a low-cost area is a decision that is not acceptable to them.
Besides, they are not struggling. They are saving for retirement, living large, paying for everything that they need - homes to drycleaning, daycare to vacations. So, this is not a MC life style.

You're right. I'm not living off Ramen Noodles for 2 years or driving an hour each way to work so I never see my kids. If that's what it takes to be set for life off a $350k HHI, then I'll happily live closer to the edge. Quite frankly, living off Ramen Noodles and Goodwill isn't even a MC lifestyle.

If you are in debt, you are poor. Does not matter what you earn. If you cannot pay off your debt for years (except mortgage)., you are actually in line for more than 2 years of ramen noodles and goodwill. Probably, your kids will also have student debt and the circle will continue. Wanting more for your children mean getting out of student debt as fast as you can, building wealth, making sure that they finish college and professional education without crippling student debt. You model the financial behavior that your kids will follow. Good luck to them.

So your argument is that to get out of modern day feudalism one must live on the edges of poverty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a 350K HHI, 50+ Single income family this is where we are at and we feel very wealthy-
1) Great retirement (200K after taxes yearly, not counting social security)
2) Good enough college (4 years of state school each kid + 1/2 million each for other costs and higher learning)
3) Insurance (Life and disability insurance that will be enough for the SAHM to never go back to work, downsize etc)
4) No debt (except the 2K in monthly mortgage).
5) Great medical coverage - presently and after retirement
6) Services at home (cleaners, yard maintainence)
7) Vacations (twice a year, international)

We live in a low COL area in DCUM, new SFH over 3000sq ft, no student debt, no other costs. What kind of moron cannot be set for life with a 350K HHI or even 200K HHI? The entitlement on DCUM is amazing.

Well, while still not poor by any means, a dual-income $200k HHI household in the DMV with a couple kids in daycare and some student loans (pretty common these days) is a bit different than a single income $350k HHI. But hey if it makes you feel better about yourself to call names, have at it!

+1. PP is living in another world. A $350k HHI on one salary in a low COL area and no student loans is a different story than the same income with $5-6k of daycare costs each month living in a HCOL area. HUGE HUGE difference.

No, no. These guys are morons.
No apologies. At their age, we were making a lot less than this couple and we made some financial decisions - moving to low COL area, paying off student loans by living in a one bedroom apartment and living on 35K a year, buying second hand cars and having kids after our student loan was paid off. We did not go on vacations, we did not eat out. We staggered our work hours so that we did not have to pay so much for the shared nanny, we did not get a pet.
In short, we made every financial decisions to get out of student debt, save like crazy, and we economized until we were at a financial place where we wanted to be. We are making in our 50s what this couple is making while they are still a whole lot younger. This is an enormous amount of money and if they cannot create wealth out of it then they are not very smart people.

BTW, we were saving as much as was allowed in our retirement vehicles and enough to get the full employer match. But it was not a cushy life. These people are spending and living large, and they are saving quite a bit too. There is no way this is a MC life style. This is all a bunch of BS.

Again, you’re clueless. Most dual income families in DC can’t stagger schedules so that they do NOT require childcare. Our jobs don’t work like that. Besides the fact most dual income couples making 350k or more can’t pick up and move to a LCOL area and make the same salaries.

You lived in a one bedroom apartment when you had kids? Because that’s what you’re implying people should do in DC.

I agree people should wait until student loans are paid off but many people don’t. Some people have so much owed in loans that it takes years (even paying a lot!) and eventually you can no longer have kids due to age.

Again, you’re totally clueless.

Nope. These are the type of people who need instant gratification. The idea that they have to subsist on Ramen Noodles for 2 years to pay off their student debt is galling to them. They cannot imagine buying clothes and baby gear from GoodWill. They cannot imagine not going out for drinks and dinner. These people did not live frugally as students and they will not live frugally even when making $350. Driving an hour to live in a low-cost area is a decision that is not acceptable to them.
Besides, they are not struggling. They are saving for retirement, living large, paying for everything that they need - homes to drycleaning, daycare to vacations. So, this is not a MC life style.

You're right. I'm not living off Ramen Noodles for 2 years or driving an hour each way to work so I never see my kids. If that's what it takes to be set for life off a $350k HHI, then I'll happily live closer to the edge. Quite frankly, living off Ramen Noodles and Goodwill isn't even a MC lifestyle.

If you are under massive student loans then you pay it off as soon as you can. For that you choose to economize. Not wanting to economize for anuthing and then bitching about scrapping by on $350K HHI is hilarious.

I cannot afford my cocaine habit on my 500K HHI. Woe is me!!!

I think the hidden point about ramen is that how dare anyone think that because they worked hard, they deserve to afford nutritious food for their family. What will they want next, good schools and paved roads! The gall!

Ramen and Goodwill is lower middle class to poor in a third world country. I know, I come from one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With a 350K HHI, 50+ Single income family this is where we are at and we feel very wealthy-
1) Great retirement (200K after taxes yearly, not counting social security)
2) Good enough college (4 years of state school each kid + 1/2 million each for other costs and higher learning)
3) Insurance (Life and disability insurance that will be enough for the SAHM to never go back to work, downsize etc)
4) No debt (except the 2K in monthly mortgage).
5) Great medical coverage - presently and after retirement
6) Services at home (cleaners, yard maintainence)
7) Vacations (twice a year, international)

We live in a low COL area in DCUM, new SFH over 3000sq ft, no student debt, no other costs. What kind of moron cannot be set for life with a 350K HHI or even 200K HHI? The entitlement on DCUM is amazing.

Well, while still not poor by any means, a dual-income $200k HHI household in the DMV with a couple kids in daycare and some student loans (pretty common these days) is a bit different than a single income $350k HHI. But hey if it makes you feel better about yourself to call names, have at it!

+1. PP is living in another world. A $350k HHI on one salary in a low COL area and no student loans is a different story than the same income with $5-6k of daycare costs each month living in a HCOL area. HUGE HUGE difference.

No, no. These guys are morons.
No apologies. At their age, we were making a lot less than this couple and we made some financial decisions - moving to low COL area, paying off student loans by living in a one bedroom apartment and living on 35K a year, buying second hand cars and having kids after our student loan was paid off. We did not go on vacations, we did not eat out. We staggered our work hours so that we did not have to pay so much for the shared nanny, we did not get a pet.
In short, we made every financial decisions to get out of student debt, save like crazy, and we economized until we were at a financial place where we wanted to be. We are making in our 50s what this couple is making while they are still a whole lot younger. This is an enormous amount of money and if they cannot create wealth out of it then they are not very smart people.

BTW, we were saving as much as was allowed in our retirement vehicles and enough to get the full employer match. But it was not a cushy life. These people are spending and living large, and they are saving quite a bit too. There is no way this is a MC life style. This is all a bunch of BS.

Again, you’re clueless. Most dual income families in DC can’t stagger schedules so that they do NOT require childcare. Our jobs don’t work like that. Besides the fact most dual income couples making 350k or more can’t pick up and move to a LCOL area and make the same salaries.

You lived in a one bedroom apartment when you had kids? Because that’s what you’re implying people should do in DC.

I agree people should wait until student loans are paid off but many people don’t. Some people have so much owed in loans that it takes years (even paying a lot!) and eventually you can no longer have kids due to age.

Again, you’re totally clueless.

Nope. These are the type of people who need instant gratification. The idea that they have to subsist on Ramen Noodles for 2 years to pay off their student debt is galling to them. They cannot imagine buying clothes and baby gear from GoodWill. They cannot imagine not going out for drinks and dinner. These people did not live frugally as students and they will not live frugally even when making $350. Driving an hour to live in a low-cost area is a decision that is not acceptable to them.
Besides, they are not struggling. They are saving for retirement, living large, paying for everything that they need - homes to drycleaning, daycare to vacations. So, this is not a MC life style.

You're right. I'm not living off Ramen Noodles for 2 years or driving an hour each way to work so I never see my kids. If that's what it takes to be set for life off a $350k HHI, then I'll happily live closer to the edge. Quite frankly, living off Ramen Noodles and Goodwill isn't even a MC lifestyle.

If you are under massive student loans then you pay it off as soon as you can. For that you choose to economize. Not wanting to economize for anuthing and then bitching about scrapping by on $350K HHI is hilarious.

I cannot afford my cocaine habit on my 500K HHI. Woe is me!!!

I think the hidden point about ramen is that how dare anyone think that because they worked hard, they deserve to afford nutritious food for their family. What will they want next, good schools and paved roads! The gall!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They can cut down - food expenses, social expenses, vacations, car. Go with a 2nd hand prius instead.

Their mortgage was not that high, and they have no student debt. They are saving for college and for retirement and have a 4 Mil insurance policy. This is a cushy lifestyle and not that of MC.

$70 bucks a day for food? They need to pack their lunch and brew their own coffee.

For real. Preschool that costs half the median wage in this country?
A separate category for entertainment and travel?
400 dollars a month on clothes? What do they do, wear something 2-4 times then throw it away?
70 dollars a DAY on FOOD?! 25k a year?
38k put in a 401k? That’s MORE THAN TWICE the yearly salary of someone making the federal minimum wage.
Spending close to 60k on school+childcare for two kids? That’s about what the median family EARNS in one year!

And then still having 1,456 left over at the end of the year?! Unbelievable how clueless some of you are. Absolutely unbelievable. I actually hope those of you posting “oh 200k isn’t much, oh 300k isn’t that much” are trolling, because if not then I’m just speechless.


And y’all wonder why the rest of the country either wants to either tax the hell out of you (‘cause I guarantee you when all the dems talk about raising taxes on the rich, they’re talking about you ), or holds you in such disdain that they voted for Trump. Smfh.

So what should I do about preschool? There isn’t a preschool less than 25k for a full day program within an hour of my house.

Most of us “poor” (the median wage earners) people don’t do preschool, much-less full day preschool. If you can afford it though go for it, more power to ya! It just pisses me off that so many on here consider it a required expense for the MC.

What county are you in? If you are low income, you might qualify for head start or one of the other subsidized pre-K programs. I also think that in this thread “preschool” and “daycare” have been used interchangeably. Obviously households with two working parents need some sort of childcare and if there is no grandparent etc. around to provide for free a full day program is still usually cheaper than a nanny.