[Socal2Bham]

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate....?mod=oneclick

Labeling a state "poor" or "rich" based solely on the median income seems a little skewed to me if you don't also take into account the cost of living for that area, no?

I mean it seems to me most people can live just fine on $38-39K in Alabama. Sure that would be poverty level back home in Santa Barbara but I wouldn’t consider that poverty level here??

56K in most southern California cities wouldn’t get you squat!

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by Socal2Bham

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate....?mod=oneclick

Labeling a state "poor" or "rich" based solely on the median income seems a little skewed to me if you don't also take into account the cost of living for that area, no?

I mean it seems to me most people can live just fine on $38-39K in Alabama. Sure that would be poverty level back home in Santa Barbara but I wouldn’t consider that poverty level here??

56K in most southern California cities wouldn’t get you squat!

Please show me how to live just fine for 39k in Birminhgam? Thank you.

[Socal2Bham]

You don't think an idividual can get along just fine in Birmingham on 39K?
My entire staff all make less than that and they get along just fine. Only one of them is married.
Sure it's not ideal and you won't be living in Mountain Brook of Forest Park on that kind of money but I wouldn't consider it "poor" for here.

[amr501]

I think it depends. A single person could do fine with $39K in Bham if they aren't trying to live beyond their means. A family of 4 trying to live on the same salary would be a completely different story though.

[Criss1956]

We moved from Birmingham to Panama City Beach, FL, where it is more expensive. We make a good bit less than $39K and make it just fine.
Now, we don't go out to eat often (my wife likes my cooking better than any restaurant's) or waste money on going out to clubs.
We don't need to spend much money on clothes - I am always in cutoff shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops!
We live within our means.
People that cannot live on $39K in Birmingham needs to cut back and live within their means.