Current Events > The bar has become that low; Americans now say $128k a year is enough

(+) Yeah! (+)

NoxObscuras posted...

How is that seeing the bar low? That's enough to be considered upper middle class, which is comfortable living.

See, now that is my problem. I grew up upper middle class and I have always lived that lifestyle. I could certainly get by with a lot less, but not the way I live.

Thats about what my spouse and I make combined with 2 children. We have a comfortable life but I feel its really difficult to save, both for large costs and retirement. Theres just nothing extra and Im constantly juggling debt.

bsp77 posted...

I haven't made bad decisions. Unless you think that having 4 kids (with the same woman I was with for 20 years mind you) and then getting divorced due to growing incompatibility issues is a bad decision. If you think that, then that shows your character.

Having 4 kids is a decision man. WTF are you talking about

Squall28 posted...

Having 4 kids is a decision man. WTF are you talking about

"Bad" decision. Obviously, it is *a* decision.

Also, if you want to get into it, my ex wife kind of coerced me into the 4th because I thought we were done with 3. Of course at this point, I wouldn't change a thing.

bsp77 posted...

"Bad" decision. Obviously, it is *a* decision.

Also, if you want to get into it, my ex wife kind of coerced me into the 4th because I thought we were done with 3. Of course at this point, I wouldn't change a thing.

It's a bad financial decision if you don't have the means to support them.

Dude is blaming his 4th kid on his ex wife. Sounds like an awesome father.

Squall28 posted...

It's a bad financial decision if you don't have the means to support them.

I can support them just fine. I don't struggle and I have zero credit card debt. As I mentioned above, my problem is my lifestyle. Just not all the savings one would expect at my salary, but my 401k is quite healthy.

I was simply stating that I can understand why that number ($128k) is as high as it is.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Its obvious but not easily attainable. People need money to pay off debt and own a home outright. I can't just decide to stop paying for housing because my finances would be better if I wasn't paying rent.

PrsdntHeidecker posted...

Dude is blaming his 4th kid on his ex wife. Sounds like an awesome father.

Dude, why are you attacking me for no reason? I flat out said that I wouldn't change a thing at this point. But she did coerce me into it. I am tagging you as one of the nastier people on this site.

I only make about 22 thousand dollars a year but I live in a state park where people throw a lot of money just to visit it for a few days and I live here year round.

I also get to water raft and go skiing at skii resorts for free. My job is also piss easy.

128k can suck my balls.

bsp77 posted...

See, now that is my problem. I grew up upper middle class and I have always lived that lifestyle. I could certainly get by with a lot less, but not the way I live.

Yeah I also grew up in an upper middle class household, so I understand lol.

I just think the topic title is weird. Like TC is misunderstanding it or something. People consider 128k enough to be "financially okay", but the median household income is only about 67k. Which means a lot of people are not okay.

NoxObscuras posted...

Yeah I also grew up in an upper middle class household, so I understand lol.

I just think the topic title is weird. Like TC is misunderstanding it or something. People consider 128k enough to be "financially okay", but the median household income is only about 67k. Which means a lot of people are not okay.

The thing is that a lot of people are unfortunately not okay.

Edit: I think that is what you were saying. Sorry.

lilORANG posted...

That's a weirdly specific number but it's also a good salary for most parts of the country. You can live a lot of places comfortably with like $50k/year

Not weird, if the number is simply an average of all of the responses.

65K is the median American income? I could have sworn I always read it was around 35K or something.

Edit: Ah, median "household" income. That makes more sense. I wonder what the individual median income is though.

spanky1 posted...

65K is the median American income? I could have sworn I always read it was around 35K or something.

Median household income

Thats far from the median U.S. household income in 2020 of $67,521

Yeah the other $60,479 is health insurance

Perascamin posted...

It's virtually impossible for someone to survive on this pre-tax income and be comfortable.

The only way you're surviving on that is if you eat peanuts, rice, pasta, chop chicken, and other incredibly cheap food items, live in the absolute ghetto with rats in your house, drive a junked out vehicle, etc. This is such a stupid fucking post

Who the hell are you to tell me how I live?

Thats actually not how I live at all, so you can kindly go fuck yourself and stop making dumbass assumptions.

rexcrk posted...

Who the hell are you to tell me how I live?

Thats actually not how I live at all, so you can kindly go fuck yourself and stop making dumbass assumptions.

then please explain your budget

rexcrk posted...

Who the hell are you to tell me how I live?

Thats actually not how I live at all, so you can kindly go fuck yourself and stop making dumbass assumptions.

He's a narrow minded wussy

Shit, I made $81k last year and as a single dad I felt like that was doing pretty good. I do live in Indiana though, that pay wouldn't cut it in the ritzier parts of the country.

To the people saying 30,000 is enough: Move out of the fucking backwoods mountains and live with us in civilization

rexcrk posted...

Who the hell are you to tell me how I live?

Thats actually not how I live at all, so you can kindly go fuck yourself and stop making dumbass assumptions.

Yeah, a lot of it depends on where you live. Your salary, after taxes, would cover my 3 bedroom apartment and, well, that's it.

Axiom posted...

To the people saying 30,000 is enough: Move out of the fucking backwoods mountains and live with us in civilization

they live rent free, is why it is enough

bsp77 posted...

I can support them just fine. I don't struggle and I have zero credit card debt. As I mentioned above, my problem is my lifestyle. Just not all the savings one would expect at my salary, but my 401k is quite healthy.

I was simply stating that I can understand why that number ($128k) is as high as it is.

Ah that's fair. My fault for not reading the rest of the topic.

Squall28 posted...

Ah that's fair. My fault for not reading the rest of the topic.

It's cool, no worries. I don't mind being questioned if not overtly rude like the other guy, especially about me being a father. Everyone who knows me knows what a great father I am. I have faults, but that's not one of them.

LadyxKiller posted...

I only make about 22 thousand dollars a year but I live in a state park where people throw a lot of money just to visit it for a few days and I live here year round.

I also get to water raft and go skiing at skii resorts for free. My job is also piss easy.

128k can suck my balls.

yes because that is viable lifestyle for the average American

btw I reported you and rex both

I can live comfortably albeit frugally as a single guy in the Dallas suburbs on around 15k, but I was very fortunate to get a house for mad cheap and paid it off quickly. If I were still making a mortgage payment, I would need about 22k a year. I also don't drive, so that keeps costs low.

LadyxKiller posted...

I only make about 22 thousand dollars a year but I live in a state park where people throw a lot of money just to visit it for a few days and I live here year round.

I wonder what would happen if 300 million ppl all lived and worked in a state park then.

rexcrk posted...

Who the hell are you to tell me how I live?

He says after telling others to live within their means, despite 35k not even covering rent in some parts of the US

You should think about these things before hitting the post button. You've got plenty of time to do so

darkphoenix181 posted...

keeping up with the jones, just a year or so ago $100k been the number

but of course inflation is crazy

Yeah I feel like right before COVID it was 90-100k.

Axiom posted...

To the people saying 30,000 is enough: Move out of the fucking backwoods mountains and live with us in civilization

I'm pretty sure my life is way better than yours.

lydiaquayle posted...

I wonder what would happen if 300 million ppl all lived and worked in a state park then.

There aren't enough positions available for that to happen obviously. I just happened to acquire one. And I don't work for a corporate business so none of this random "being let go" bullshit lol. I just wanted to share my happy low income life.

Living "comfortably" off of $30K-$35K (or even less) is damn near impossible for the average person in America, so people shouldn't be bragging about it as it really has no relevance.

Kingbuffet posted...

yes because that is viable lifestyle for the average American

btw I reported you and rex both

That post is complete bullshit too. No state park costs a lot of money just to visit. Boat rentals are the most expensive and even that is pocket change

rexcrk posted...

Im doing just fine on ~$35,000 a year. People need to learn to live within their means.

Of course, I absolutely would not say no to that salary

This 10 million percent. I make like $30,000 and feel pretty secure because my wife and I are frugal AF.
I would live like a fucking millionaire if we had like $100,000 at our disposal.

LadyxKiller posted...

There aren't enough positions available for that to happen obviously. I just happened to acquire one. And I don't work for a corporate business so none of this random "being let go" bullshit lol. I just wanted to share my happy low income life.

Curious how you post on CE religiously given that you're dirt bagging it at a National Park. Do you sit in their visitor center all day?

PrsdntHeidecker posted...

Curious how you post on CE religiously given that you're dirt bagging it at a National Park. Do you sit in their visitor center all day?

I have wifi at work and data on my phone. Some carriers don't work here at all. The one I have does.

lolife67 posted...

Living "comfortably" off of $30K-$35K (or even less) is damn near impossible for the average person in America, so people shouldn't be bragging about it as it really has no relevance.

I didn't intend for it to be a brag. I actually live a pretty sad life by most people's standards, and if not for a lifetime of poor mental health driving my capabilities, desires, and expectations into the ground, I'd probably have succumbed to alcoholism or something else by now. Aiming low and still underachieving, along with a little luck, is the only way I can get by and that luck could run out at any second.

LadyxKiller posted...

I have wifi at work and data on my phone. Some carriers don't work here at all. The one I have does.

No dude, you are on here at all hours of the day, posting day in and day out.

Now you want us to believe you do that off grid with some crappy hot spot? While you're white water raft guiding?

You're full of shit.

It would not be enough for me without some adjustments. It used to be a lot but now that I am used to having some money its hard to go back.

I did a budget at the start of this year and saw that I spent almost $2k at bars and restaurants in each of the last three months and dont remember a single big bill. Just lots of $17 drinks and $50 meals. I dont stress about money anymore but spend it like I dont want it (which is dumb).

I have crazy high credit because I spend so much on my credit card every month that gets paid off instantly.

whitelytning posted...

It would not be enough for me without some adjustments. It used to be a lot but now that I am used to having some money its hard to go back.

I did a budget at the start of this year and saw that I spent almost $2k at bars and restaurants in each of the last three months and dont remember a single big bill. Just lots of $17 drinks and $50 meals. I dont stress about money anymore but spend it like I dont want it (which is dumb).

I have crazy high credit because I spend so much on my credit card every month that gets paid off instantly.

was it you who had 2 personal assistants?

PrsdntHeidecker posted...

No dude, you are on here at all hours of the day, posting day in and day out.

Now you want us to believe you do that off grid with some crappy hot spot? While you're white water raft guiding?

You're full of shit.

What's hard to understand? Lol. I'm on here all day when I'm at work duh. I am not a guide. I get to go water rafting for free is what I said. Lol.

Popping in for a few minutes to make a short post or whatever doesn't take the whole day. I still live my regular city life you know? Also I had covid for two weeks and barely recovered. If you follow me you'd know that.

Do you know how slow it is at a tourist attraction like this during the winter time? Lol

Perascamin posted...

Yeah it's possible if you bought a house in the ghetto with mold and structural damage built circa 1930s

Read what I said, you're giving knee jerk emotional based responses and not even reading.

I said it's possible, but that poster is leaving out some very key details on why that salary is working out for them. Details not available to everyone. Those details can range from not even having rent in the first place, to having someone who provides him food, etc, etc. The takeaway is details were conveniently omitted so they could comfortably live on that salary. Details that doesn't apply to everyone.

My post doesnt say or imply it's an ideal or good salary. It just says it's possible depending on omitted details to make it possible (which doesn't necessarily have to mean living in the ghettos, but again, an omitted detail to make that possible.)

Axiom posted...

That post is complete bullshit too. No state park costs a lot of money just to visit.

You're not looking hard enough lol. If you're local and close to the park then that's awesome. But traveling throughout the USA? Every other week? That is expensive for sure.

Axiom posted...

That post is complete bullshit too. No state park costs a lot of money just to visit. Boat rentals are the most expensive and even that is pocket change

Hes living off generosity that is accommodating him as well, if accounted for the financial cost of his burden and sent to bill to him he would be crying bout he has no money lol

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


he lives in vegas, drinks/food are more expensive there