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

  1. #1
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    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.


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  3. #2

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    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

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  5. #4

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

  6. #5

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    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

  7. #6

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    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.

  8. #7

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    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

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    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.

  10. #9
    Member Inkblots's Avatar
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    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.

  11. #10
    Member brushfire's Avatar
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    poor people haters

    /taunt
    Don't drone me, bro!

    Ron Paul
    R[∃vo˩]ution 2013


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