Page 1 of 33 12311 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 325

Thread: My relatives make 20k a year, and live better lifestyles than me making 100k

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Central Kentucky
    Posts
    361
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default My relatives make 20k a year, and live better lifestyles than me making 100k

    This country sucks. I get so frustrated at times that I find myself wishing for a collapse in hopes that the welfare freebies go away. I just did my taxes, and had conversations--in one case, a heated argument--with family who did taxes too. Here is modern Amerika for you.

    My wife and I are pulling in 85k - 100k a year. Because we "make so much," we do not qualify for government handouts. Between federal, state and local taxes, 30%+ of our income goes to government right off the bat. Then over 20% goes to student loans. We live in a nice two-bedroom apartment and can afford to eat healthy food (Whole Foods, organics, etc). But we are not rich--we have not been on vacation in almost four years; my wife has wanted/needed a new Macbook for a year but we can't afford one; we buy most of our clothes from the thrift store; we have only been out to eat two times since September; we never pay money for entertainment such as concerts, football games, movie theaters, etc.

    Two different sets of relatives of mine make around 20k a year. In both families the wife does not work, only the husband. One of them makes like $10 an hour at a big-box store, the other probably makes $12ish at a hospital. One family is expecting a third child, the other the second. This means that both families get enough tax credits so that they get way more money than they pay in--one is getting almost $10k "back" this April. Whereas I have to pay my own medical bills, these guys get Medicaid; and for all I know are on food stamps and who knows what else. Both families seem to eat out as much as they want, pay for entertainment, and in the last 6 months have gone on vacation.

    In short, because our government is playing Robbin Hood, we have relatives and families in my church who make a fraction of what we make, but live better lifestyles than we do.



  • #2

    Default

    Either keep up the charity work, or go Galt... it's up to you.
    "There seems to be some perverse human characteristic that likes to make easy things difficult." - Warren Buffett

  • #3

  • #4

    Default

    Moral of the story: Let your wife stay home with the kids... They will all thank you for it later in life.

  • #5

    Default

    Oh, and to me, you need to manage your finances better. I guaranty if my income was simply 60k, I would be mopping up the Jones's. Sometimes it takes learning to live with so little to appreciate more. May I suggest trying to live off only one income and saving 100% of the other for just one year? Want to talk about pressurizing coal into a diamond. An idea that would be trumped for multiple excuses I'm sure, so let me know how that works out for you

  • #6

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Aden View Post
    Then over 20% goes to student loans.
    You made a hefty investment for potential future income increases you're paying for now.

  • #7

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Noclone View Post
    Oh, and to me, you need to manage your finances better. I guaranty if my income was simply 60k, I would be mopping up the Jones's. Sometimes it takes learning to live with so little to appreciate more. May I suggest trying to live off only one income and saving 100% of the other for just one year? Want to talk about pressurizing coal into a diamond. An idea that would be trumped for multiple excuses I'm sure, so let me know how that works out for you
    Yeah, I used to think the same thing. It's amazing how your expenses adjust to fit your income.

    10 years ago, I only made 1/4 of what I do now, but I had just about the same possessions. Of course, now I have a family that I'm supporting. Trust me, if you go from making $25K to $100K, you won't even notice it. You'll be just as strapped as ever.
    "And now that the legislators and do-gooders have so futilely inflicted so many systems upon society, may they finally end where they should have begun: May they reject all systems, and try liberty; for liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works." - Bastiat

    "It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." - Voltaire

  • #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Central Kentucky
    Posts
    361
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Noclone View Post
    Oh, and to me, you need to manage your finances better. I guaranty if my income was simply 60k, I would be mopping up the Jones's. Sometimes it takes learning to live with so little to appreciate more. May I suggest trying to live off only one income and saving 100% of the other for just one year? Want to talk about pressurizing coal into a diamond. An idea that would be trumped for multiple excuses I'm sure, so let me know how that works out for you
    No offense, but even without knowing you, I can already state that I live with less than you. I do not own a TV or pay for cable, you probably have both; I do not have Internet service in my house, you probably do; I have eaten out twice since September (this includes fast food, or something as simple as a burrito from a gas station), you surely have eaten out more than that this month alone; we do not use or pay for cell phones, you do; we have not gone to a movie theater, concert or sporting event in over five years, you have; we have not been on vacation (one that we did not even pay for, I might add) since 2008, you have; our $10 bed is from Craigslist and EVERY other piece of furniture was free from friends, family or Freecycle, you surely have some new furniture; this is the first winter we have paid to heat our house above 55 degrees, I know that your house has been warmer.

    We want her to be a stay at home mom, but we made the mistake of taking out student loans for college. To pay well over $2k a month in student loans requires us to find good paying jobs; having good paying jobs means that over 30% of our income goes to taxes.

    If you believe you live more simply than me, and it saves you money, tell me where so that I can adopt it and save more money myself.

  • #9
    Member Inkblots's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    in darkest California
    Posts
    1,686

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Aden View Post
    I do not own a TV or pay for cable
    You say that like it's a bad thing!

    Quote Originally Posted by Aden View Post
    I do not have Internet service in my house
    That, on the other hand, would be troublesome.
    Violence will not save us.

    Let us love one another, for love is from God.

  • #10
    Member brushfire's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Illinois - Sorry, they know not what they do
    Posts
    2,647

    Default

    poor people haters

    /taunt
    Don't drone me, bro!

    Ron Paul
    R[∃vo˩]ution 2013

    $ MONEYBOMB $ ::: BEARING 3D PRINTED ARMS ::: $ MONEYBOMB $

  • Page 1 of 33 12311 ... LastLast

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •