Anonymous wrote:No person making $150,000 is also spending $12,000/year on health and car insurance for one person. If you’re making $150k, odds are pretty good that your employer is paying for your health insurance.

That stuck out to me, too. $1000/mo. for car and health insurance seems extreme for someone making $150k unless they're self employed.

Reading this thread, it's fascinating to me what people choose to focus on: the $1340/mo. for food, the total lack of savings, the combined discretionary budget (entertainment, gambling, misc.) of $1650/mo., or the $200/mo. on clothes. So many options to choose from—I think what we identify as the biggest problem says a lot about ourselves. For example, the clothes seem like the least extravagant of the OP's "budget." And I can sort of see spending $540/mo. eating out and ordering in, but I don't understand how someone who spends that much on food from restaurants could also end up spending $800/mo. on groceries.

But the big thing I take away from OP's post is that they're complaining about "barely making it" when they have $1650 to "play with" each month after paying for housing, food, and clothing—and that's even with the fairly luxurious food budget. OP's example isn't "barely making it" at all. They aren't spending wisely, but they also aren't just eking by.

Anonymous wrote:Clearly you are single. Wait until childcare, youth sports, bigger food, housing and health care budget REALLY eats up your money.

this! and now i no longer spend $200/mo on clothes. bc kids. lol

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's just say you have a $150k salary in DC:
- After taxes, your net pay is $98,826
- After rent ($2k p/month) you're at $74,826
- After Utility (~$110) & Wifi ($54.99) you're at $72,826
- After car & health insurance you're at $60,826
- After car payments, you're at $57,226
- after food $800 a month $47,626
- after ordering out $300 a month $44206
- after eating out(2x week) $240 a month $41326
- buying new clothes $200 a month $38926
- Nexflix, Hulu etc… $200 a month $36526
- vacation twice a year $3000. $33526
- gambling and entertainment. 6000yr $27526z
- miscellaneous. 500 month 6000 year.$21000
Tell me again how we are rich?????

wasting so much money. how can one person spend 1350 per month (16000 per year) and another 16000 a year on vacation, entertainment?? That's 32000 right there. it's not your earning, it's your spending dummy.

+1 we don't spend that much and we're a family of 4 with a higher income and much higher savings

Except it actually said $3k per year for vacation not $16k

No person making $150,000 is also spending $12,000/year on health and car insurance for one person. If you’re making $150k, odds are pretty good that your employer is paying for your health insurance.

Anonymous wrote:Everybody freaking out about the food cost needs to take a chill pill.

Some people are happy to pay for convenience - the convenience of not having to meal plan and prep, wash a sinkful of dishes, go to Aldi for this and the Asian store for that, etc. I am also single and spend about what OP does on food, but I still save at least $7K per month because I don't spend much on anything else. Money is supposed to be spent in ways that add value to your life, and value will mean different things to different people.

With all the food you are eating, you should take a weight loss pill.

Anonymous wrote:Who spends $200 a month on clothes?!

Not OP, but it really isn't that much if you include shoes, handbags, sunglasses, etc.

I add a couple of work outfits to update my look each spring and fall. I buy a couple of summer dresses each year. I splurge on a designer bag and sunglasses every few years. Buy new dress shoes, sandals and sneakers each year. New workout clothes and undergarments as needed. Dress for a wedding or cocktail party as needed.

Anonymous wrote:Who spends $200 a month on clothes?!

It’s not very much

Anonymous wrote:Everybody freaking out about the food cost needs to take a chill pill.

Some people are happy to pay for convenience - the convenience of not having to meal plan and prep, wash a sinkful of dishes, go to Aldi for this and the Asian store for that, etc. I am also single and spend about what OP does on food, but I still save at least $7K per month because I don't spend much on anything else. Money is supposed to be spent in ways that add value to your life, and value will mean different things to different people.

And you are saving enough that you can choose to spend that much on food if you want. But for someone who is saving little to nothin, they should not be doing that! They simply cannot afford to do that.

Anonymous wrote:Everybody freaking out about the food cost needs to take a chill pill.

Some people are happy to pay for convenience - the convenience of not having to meal plan and prep, wash a sinkful of dishes, go to Aldi for this and the Asian store for that, etc. I am also single and spend about what OP does on food, but I still save at least $7K per month because I don't spend much on anything else. Money is supposed to be spent in ways that add value to your life, and value will mean different things to different people.

Ok but I am genuinely curious how you spend $45 a day EVERY day. It would be SO much food. Even if you ordered 2.5 factor meals a week it would only be $30 a day. Most people could not eat all that. Is it mostly expensive delivery fees? Alcoholic drinks?

Anonymous wrote:I can’t get past the $1340/mo on food. We have a family of 3. We cook or eat leftovers 5 nights a week, go to a restaurant 1 night, and order take out 1 night. Our food budget for the month is about $800. For 3 people. And we still go out. OP is spending almost twice that on one person. She probably throwing away a ton of food.

I bet the "eating out" involves a lot of drinking as well---with $15-20/glass/drink

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everybody freaking out about the food cost needs to take a chill pill.

Some people are happy to pay for convenience - the convenience of not having to meal plan and prep, wash a sinkful of dishes, go to Aldi for this and the Asian store for that, etc. I am also single and spend about what OP does on food, but I still save at least $7K per month because I don't spend much on anything else. Money is supposed to be spent in ways that add value to your life, and value will mean different things to different people.

OP was a troll. And you're a moron who can't build wealth because of your lack of willpower.

We all know (I think) but it's been fun so why stop?

Anonymous wrote:Everybody freaking out about the food cost needs to take a chill pill.

Some people are happy to pay for convenience - the convenience of not having to meal plan and prep, wash a sinkful of dishes, go to Aldi for this and the Asian store for that, etc. I am also single and spend about what OP does on food, but I still save at least $7K per month because I don't spend much on anything else. Money is supposed to be spent in ways that add value to your life, and value will mean different things to different people.

OP was a troll. And you're a moron who can't build wealth because of your lack of willpower.

Anonymous wrote:Everybody freaking out about the food cost needs to take a chill pill.

Some people are happy to pay for convenience - the convenience of not having to meal plan and prep, wash a sinkful of dishes, go to Aldi for this and the Asian store for that, etc. I am also single and spend about what OP does on food, but I still save at least $7K per month because I don't spend much on anything else. Money is supposed to be spent in ways that add value to your life, and value will mean different things to different people.

OP can spend his money however he wants. But then he can't complain that he doesn't have enough.

Spending money is OP's hobby.I'm surprised there's anything left.

Everybody freaking out about the food cost needs to take a chill pill.

Some people are happy to pay for convenience - the convenience of not having to meal plan and prep, wash a sinkful of dishes, go to Aldi for this and the Asian store for that, etc. I am also single and spend about what OP does on food, but I still save at least $7K per month because I don't spend much on anything else. Money is supposed to be spent in ways that add value to your life, and value will mean different things to different people.