$115,000 / year - Decent?

[Ace Rock]

Originally Posted by Hamza

You're making a real mistake moving to Manhattan. You could pay much less in rent, get more space and have many fewer expenses living in Brooklyn or Queens. For $2500, you could get a beautiful home in many wonderful areas in Brooklyn.

I'm revising your last sentence:

For $2500, you could get an APARTMENT in many OVERPRICED areas in Brooklyn.

For $500,000, you could get a SHABBY home (or ONE BEDROOM) in many RUN DOWN areas in Brooklyn

[fbf2006]

Originally Posted by analyticalkeys

I honestly don't think you should be paying that much in rent if you only make that amount of money.. I know people who make the same amount, and pay less ($1,200 - $1,600), and still have a bit of a tough time getting by. You shouldn't push yourself to your limits; there should be excess money.

I personally would also look outside of Manhattan for the lower priced apts but that's just me.

I don't think the people who are making $120K and living in $1200 - $1600 apts are necessarily struggling because of the cost of living but probably because they have huge student loans and/or credit card debt and/or are living outside of their means/keeping up with the Jones'. If they don't have those and are living in $1200 apts, they really shouldn't be having such a tough time.

[analyticalkeys]

Originally Posted by fbf2006

I personally would also look outside of Manhattan for the lower priced apts but that's just me.

I don't think the people who are making $120K and living in $1200 - $1600 apts are necessarily struggling because of the cost of living but probably because they have huge student loans and/or credit card debt and/or are living outside of their means/keeping up with the Jones'. If they don't have those and are living in $1200 apts, they really shouldn't be having such a tough time.

Oh no, I definitely agree, I wasn't really insinuating that it was the cost of living, but so many things come up that cost a lot of money.. a lot of them may be things out of your control, but yes, maybe I shouldn't have said struggling per se, but they're still not able to walk around spending their money everywhere.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by ndheah

Dining Out $250.00

I think you are going to find this to be very low.
That is 2-3 meals out for 2 people in Manhattan at decent places, just FYI.

Oh you are bringing your wife, where is the impromptu shopping budget ?

[page3000]

Here you go:
Grocery Store $500.00 (800.00)
Dining Out $250.00 (It's about 75-100 each dine out_
Drinks for Home $50.00
Drinking Out $150.00 (don't waste money lol)
Coffee $150.00 (make coffee at home )
Rent / Mortgage $2,500.00 (3500 is more like it.)
Upkeep $100.00 (are we talking maintenance fees? those are much more than that)
Electric Bill $75.00 (try 250.00 if you wanna run your A/C during the summer)
Home Telephone $75.00
Cellular Telephone $100.00
Internet $100.00 (this is good)
Laundry $100.00 (yep if you wash your own at the mat)
Pet Costs $50.00 (yeah this pays for food)
Train / Bus $160.00 (If you buy unlimited cards..smartest idea )
Taxi $50.00 (If taken RARELY)

[quelinda]

I support a baby and a husband (who's going back to work in a few months but has been staying home with the baby) on $137K. My rent is $1800. We have a car, cable, order out when we want, buy clothing, travel etc. We have no problems with money. And we dont have a budget either. I'm not an extravagant person by nature, but I like to have my luxuries like my highlights every six weeks ($140 w/ tips), my hair blown out once a week ($30 w/ tip), weekly manicures/pedicures etc. LOL. Yeah, and I'll buy purses for around $150 to $200. I drive a 2002 Mercedes that I bought used. So I live well, but I dont have to have the latest car or $500 shoes or purses. You can live well on that money, though you'll probably end up spending more on a decent apartment than I pay. But I also pay for a baby and all her clothes and toys. So yeah, you should be fine. However, like someone else noted, throw that under-budget out the window. You'll still do fine regardless.