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I would like to share some words with you that I learned over the years.
Wage Slave - (aka YOU and ME)
NUT - (nope not crazy, or a type of hard shelled fruit, but your monthly minimum income needed to pay all bills)
DIVORCE - that which will make you nuts, reduce your status, deny your children a father, and introduce you to abject slavery (DO NOT CONSIDER IT), often this is a mirage that looks like the only way out of wage slavery, do not be fooled.
There ya go, your experience is not unique, welcome to the first world human condition circa 2014. The trick is to make the best of it.
Last I saw figures a couple of years ago, New York City had the highest cost of living of any U.S. city, followed by Honolulu and San Francisco. The cost of housing is probably the largest single component of cost of living.
And the one thing missing from the information that the OP has shared with us is his housing situation - how big of a place does he have and what is the monthly rent or mortgage payment? Perhaps he has "splurged" on housing? There is no way to know until he tells us.
There's your answer, as several people have noted. You live in NYC. So, yes, you do just work to pay the bills and the taxes. Cost of living is incredibly high in NYC and the taxes are also incredibly high. Your income would be great in most places, but is average there. Your best bet would be to move to a state with lower taxes, if possible. Don't feel badly about it, either. Lots of people are fleeing liberal cities -- including the liberals who voted for their taxes, indirectly, by electing Democrats.
No, $175k/year is not even close to average, especially not for a single earner. The perceptions some people have about life in big cities are ludicrous.
No, $175k/year is not even close to average, especially not for a single earner. The perceptions some people have about life in big cities are ludicrous.
You should probably look into salaries in New York City. Here's a hint: they're not comparable to what you get in Memphis.
I make just over $175k and wife stays home to raise our 3 kids. It seems the last 3-4 years with more tax hike I'm working harder and not making any gains. We pay more taxes, higher insurance, higher expenses and not getting more with our money these days. I don't have 3 cars to maintain just 2 and send my kids to public school with no free lunches. Costs for just about everything has gone up, property taxes, and my wife can get a job but wouldn't do much good and end up going into daycare.
We cut back some of our expenses and delayed buying another car and focused on saving for the retirement and kid's college but nothing else is left for us to spend on to enjoy much. I think the government wants to know why the economy is still not doing well. Maybe because people like me just can't splurge on goods like people were doing in 2004.
If my salary jumps over to $200k I don't think it will make a big difference. Maybe one extra vacation a year and eat and dress better but no real big gains as taxes will eat 1/2 the gains while my work responsibilities will likely increase dramatically.
Which is leading me to think perhaps it's better to just make less and have less to use and less taxes to be paid. But there is no comfortable living number that is just about right in terms of living decently well and not being over taxed.
oh boo freaking hoo. Some of us don't have any "extra" vacations, let alone an additional one, or even any vacations at all to begin with.
Move out of NYC and stop complaining. I can't stand you guys complaining about your 6 figure salaries. Give me a break. Jesus.
Easier said than done depending where he works in NYC.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ncole1
Property tax is controllable - downsize your home!
Not really. I've watched it double on people over a few years.
It's one of the biggest regressive taxes in the country. People shouldn't be forced to moved out of their homes because some putz at city hall decides to double their assessed values.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ncole1
I think what it all comes down to is, what are your priorities and why? If you don't want to move, then you simply think that your location, etc. is more important than the size of your bills. While I can't say that isn't appropriate for your situation, I can point out that it's still a choice.
I'm guessing you've never lived in NYC, let alone the state of NY.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rburnett
Complaining about $175k a year? Poor baby.
I wish I had your "problems"
Because you live in Louisiana. His taxes help float your state.
You should probably look into salaries in New York City. Here's a hint: they're not comparable to what you get in Memphis.
Census Bureau reports average income for a household in Manhattan is 68k year. 175k is more than 2 and a half times that. You're entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. In any case, if you're going to make things up, I'd suggest you make up plausible things. As it happens, population growth in Manhattan is also slightly higher than in the US as a whole.
Census Bureau reports average income for a household in Manhattan is 68k year. 175k is more than 2 and a half times that. You're entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. In any case, if you're going to make things up, I'd suggest you make up plausible things. As it happens, population growth in Manhattan is also slightly higher than in the US as a whole.
Here's another hint for you: nobody cares what the Census Bureau says. Why don't you ask the people on the New York forum how much a studio apartment in Manhattan costs? Then come back here and let us know.
Census Bureau reports average income for a household in Manhattan is 68k year. 175k is more than 2 and a half times that. You're entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. In any case, if you're going to make things up, I'd suggest you make up plausible things. As it happens, population growth in Manhattan is also slightly higher than in the US as a whole.
The average apartment in Manhattan is almost $4000 a month.
Those making 68k a year in Manhattan qualify for public housing assistance.
Quote:
Originally Posted by smalltownblues
Here's another hint for you: nobody cares what the Census Bureau says. Why don't you ask the people on the New York forum how much a studio apartment in Manhattan costs? Then come back here and let us know.
First ask how many of them actually answered the unnecessary questions.
If you had first hand knowledge of the Census Bureau collecting info, you'd question why they even bother.
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