A Tampa Family earning over 100K and feeling poor (credit rating, hotels)

[algia]

Since we lived in Tampa, I have to tell you that when I read it, It made me sick!

The nerve...what should the rest of us who can't make over $50k say to that? those of us who can't save a dime for retirement?! or college....It is INSULTING...flat out. These people are truly out of touch with the realities many others are facing.

There are 6 of us, and we never spend over $400 a month on food. I have to assume these ppl buy like pigs! Unreal!

I wished they did not mention Tampa considering that there is only a small patch that makes that kind of money there! Who said that if you make $100k you should splurge on Mai Tai!?? or a bigger house? and then complain you don't have enough? OMG our house there was 2600 square feet and we need an issue with the utilities! on $40k!!!! If we had an 1800 sqf house, our utilities would have been a joke, and affordable on a $17k income!

I am going to safely assume these articles are written purposely by people related to the medical industry to promote coronaries, and more clients for the medical facilities. Otherwise...these people need a salary decrease, and a reality check.

[roadtrip75]

I'm not offended by this article at all. The title says "How to Earn $100,000 and Still Feel Poor" but the tone of her article is more like "How to Earn $100,000 and Not Feel Rich". She remembers a time when $100K was a rich man's salary. I remember that time as well. $100K used to mean the wife could stay home and raise the children, you could live in a great neighborhood, and your finances were never in doubt. The fact is that the dollar has been steadily devalued. Inflation is real. Housing, gas, education, groceries, etc. all cost much more than they used to.

[Tim Tim Tim]

Originally Posted by FloridaKash

Going to let you in on a little secret. If you are able to afford saving for retirement, carry full coverage and pay for kids' tuition... you are not poor.

First off, if you have a cash car that is worth less than $5K you should not carry full coverage (comp/coll). The numbers don;t make sense when you look at what you pay for it and what you would get paid if you total your car.

I'm not saying they shouldn't plan for their retirement. But you sure as heck shouldn't complain about it and state that you are poor because you are paying extra on your mortgage and putting money away for the future.

In my family the kids always had to pay for their own college. The trade here is, if you go to college you can stay living at home for free.

I think this guy needs to count his blessings on what he is able to do and realize he is in a much better position than the vast majority of America.

After re-reading, I guess I missed your point originally. not that they SHOULDNT do that but that poor people CANT do that, makes sense and I agree.

I agree that they poorly manage their money but I see their point as well that 100k doesnt get you as far as it used to. When I was growing up, my family had a lot more money to blow than we do now and were making about the same amount.

[goodlife36]

Sounds like they are middle-class to me.

[bavariantransplant]

I dont see how $1000 a month for groceries is ludicrous. We are a family of 5 and we spend 200-250 (depending on if its a diapers, laundry detergent, etc week) a week. We rarely eat out and make all our meals at home including lunches. Last time we had fast food was over 2 years ago. We do not cook any processed stuff so its all fresh vegetables, never frozen meats, etc. We buy lots of fruits and shop healthy and try to eat as clean as we can. No matter what we do its rare our weekly grocery store bill is less then $200.

$1000 / 5 people / 30 days / 3 meals a day: $2.22 a meal!

This doesnt include snacks, drinks, toiletries, etc ... just 3 healthy meals per day.

[tinytrump]

some one needs a budget ... I just put my youngest on one, he earns a decent wage but wifey spends all he makes and more,,, 2 bank accounts. automatic pays for bills.. and wifey on a bi-weekly allotment straight to her account for food etc... what a difference. I was in banking for 25 plus years, many peopel have NO clue how to handle finances,,, and not uneducated folks I am talking about.

[floridagirl777]

Originally Posted by bavariantransplant

I dont see how $1000 a month for groceries is ludicrous. We are a family of 5 and we spend 200-250 (depending on if its a diapers, laundry detergent, etc week) a week. We rarely eat out and make all our meals at home including lunches. Last time we had fast food was over 2 years ago. We do not cook any processed stuff so its all fresh vegetables, never frozen meats, etc. We buy lots of fruits and shop healthy and try to eat as clean as we can. No matter what we do its rare our weekly grocery store bill is less then $200.

$1000 / 5 people / 30 days / 3 meals a day: $2.22 a meal!

This doesnt include snacks, drinks, toiletries, etc ... just 3 healthy meals per day.

We spend about $200 per week on groceries, so the $1000 didn't raise my eyebrows too much either. It is expensive to eat right. Sure … I could feed my family on far less than that, but we would be eating boxed or processed crap and very little fresh fruits and veggies. I typically shop the perimeter of the store and I do try to buy organic on the important stuff (meats and dairy and some veggies). I'd rather cut some of our other expenses before I cut corners on healthy groceries.

[bavariantransplant]

I remember before we had our 3rd child and both my wife and I were full time students, we ate lots of boxed meals, ground beef, value meals at fast food places and all sorts of things that 2 full time students living in college apartments with 2 little children eat.

I can go back to buying like that and cut my bill in half but why would I if I dont need to? Who would fault a family for seeing that as a value, a cost (or debt if you want to) that is legitimate. I certainly do.

[Maggi07]

Originally Posted by bavariantransplant

I dont see how $1000 a month for groceries is ludicrous. We are a family of 5 and we spend 200-250 (depending on if its a diapers, laundry detergent, etc week) a week. We rarely eat out and make all our meals at home including lunches. Last time we had fast food was over 2 years ago. We do not cook any processed stuff so its all fresh vegetables, never frozen meats, etc. We buy lots of fruits and shop healthy and try to eat as clean as we can. No matter what we do its rare our weekly grocery store bill is less then $200.

$1000 / 5 people / 30 days / 3 meals a day: $2.22 a meal!

This doesnt include snacks, drinks, toiletries, etc ... just 3 healthy meals per day.

It seems like the cost of groceries has gone way up lately, too. I just read my previous post in this thread and had forgotten we were only spending $1,000/month on groceries. It hasn't been that long! We now spend, for a family of eight, about $1,400/month.

We also don't eat anything processed, cook everything at home, etc. I have a teen and a preteen, though, and they are definitely eating more, and we have some food allergies and intolerances that make it more expensive.

[tinytrump]

Originally Posted by roadtrip75

I'm not offended by this article at all. The title says "How to Earn $100,000 and Still Feel Poor" but the tone of her article is more like "How to Earn $100,000 and Not Feel Rich". She remembers a time when $100K was a rich man's salary. I remember that time as well. $100K used to mean the wife could stay home and raise the children, you could live in a great neighborhood, and your finances were never in doubt. The fact is that the dollar has been steadily devalued. Inflation is real. Housing, gas, education, groceries, etc. all cost much more than they used to.

I'm not offended at all? This is how many feel these days, or should I say NOT feel, imagine how the rest live if they only make $50K...or the more normal $ 36K -- again a very small percentage understand the $100K lifestyle,,, the rest will never get a chance to know, and some will make sure of that.