What's wrong with being liberal?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 691
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast
Originally Posted by White01L
Well i guess if you are talking about 83k+ a year after taxes a family might do ok ... i know we do without many things ... but we live without debt. We don't make 83k a year before taxes, so there is no way we do 83k after taxes, but we get by. Our budget doesn't allow for newer model cars, doesn't allow but for modest older home, doesn't allow vacation travel but once every 3 years, we rent movies and don't go out to the movies, we dine out maybe twice a month, forget fast food that is such a waste, our newest tv is 10 years old (you can forget about one of those fancy flat panel jobs). I don't know what dollars you all are spending but yours are apparently worth a lot more than the dollars we have. A little help I wouldn't mind ... I wasn't foolish enough to have an ARM loan, scrimped and saved to pay off the fixed rate mortgage, so I am getting no bail out by the fed for getting more house than we could afford (kind of pisses me off that some are getting bailed out for their fiscal irresponsibility). Things could be worse, we are able to afford to heat and cool the house (80 in the summer and 70 in the winter), we are not going hungry, and we do have insurance for all in the family (but it sure takes an appreciable chunk of the monthly income). So get a life, or find out what things are really like. Groceries run $600+ a month ($7200 a year), utilities are close to $300 a month ($3600 a year), auto and home owners insurance $300+ a month ($3600+ a year), auto fuel and maintenance are $400+ a month ($4800 a year and yes we do have a bit of a commute in order to afford the modest home), health and dental insurance $300+ a month ($3600 a year), general household items you know laundry soap, republican paper, household cleaners, tooth paste, shampoo, light bulbs, paper towels, etc runs about $100 a month ($1200 a year), clothing at least $100 a month (1200+ year), school expenses another $120 a month for 8-9 months a year ($1000 a year), pet care and food $100 a month ($1200 a year), property tax $1500 year, income taxes $1200+ a month ($14,400+ year), savings for car replacements (remember I said debt free) $500 a month (so how much is your car payment) ($6000 a year), save for vacation $150 month ($1800 year), uncovered medical expenses $100 a month ($1200 a year), notice that I didn't list mortgage (remember debt free) well for some I would imagine a modest fixed rate mortgage payment might be $800 month excluding taxes and insurance ($9600 a year) so now that total is $61,900 gross, not leaving much room once you star considering we have not addressed; dining out on occasion, movie rentals, newspaper and or magazine, saving for college education, saving for retirement, saving for unexpected emergencies (new washer, new refrigerator, new sewer line, etc ...), charitable giving, gifts to family, and on and on. Yeah I guess if you are making 83k+ after taxes (kind of like what I expect bu$hie$ viewpoint is) you probably don't need much help. However if we can blow the frigging crap out of Iraq and then spend 10's of billions a month there to put the place back together, yeah I guess I wouldn't mind some assistance back here at HOME too!!! struck apology for going off.
$1,200.00 per month in income taxes!?!?! Holy cow Batman!! I've never paid that much per month in income taxes, even when my income was well over $80k per year. I've also never have to pay more than $300.00 at tax time and normally receive about $500 back.
Last edited by 1depd; Oct 10, 2007 at 07:12 AM.
Global Moderator &
Senior Member
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,080
Likes: 82
From: Burleson/Athens/Brownsboro, TX
Originally Posted by CrAz3D
Not government involvement, just regulation. Like how the FDA makes sure the food is better.
__________________
Jim
Jim
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 1
From: Your moms house
Originally Posted by bluejay432000
We need less government intervention, not more. If you had been around in the early to mid 70s to work in the petroleum industry when the government decideed to take control with mandated prices, you would know what I mean. It was a disaster and the wealthy in the petroleum industry just ripped off the public. The government has no business trying to run a business or control the public sector.
I remember my parents telling me about that. I was born in 1972, so I can't remember the details, but I do remember having to wait in line to get gas....but then again, that may have been something completely different.
=======================
What makes someone: Liberal?
What makes someone: Republican?
What makes someone: Democrat?
I am none of the above.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 1
From: Your moms house
Originally Posted by bluejay432000
My concience would not allow me to be a part of it. It was not illigal but to me it was immoral.
That's why I like you Jim.
[EDIT]...and the only reason.
Global Moderator &
Senior Member
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,080
Likes: 82
From: Burleson/Athens/Brownsboro, TX
Originally Posted by CrAz3D
That's poor regulation. You CAN have better and more efficient regulation.
__________________
Jim
Jim
Last edited by Bluejay; Oct 10, 2007 at 11:08 AM.
Global Moderator &
Senior Member
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,080
Likes: 82
From: Burleson/Athens/Brownsboro, TX
Originally Posted by CrAz3D
Cause he stands up for things that are right but not illigal
Guess his mind is slippin' today.
Guess his mind is slippin' today.
__________________
Jim
Jim
Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 1depd
I'd suggest you sit down and take a good hard look at your budget. You are saying can't live on less than $61,900 per year if you weren't debt free? I have a house payment and have pretty much all of the other expenses you list plus a couple, and easily live on less than $50,000. That is not an exaggeration. I track my expenses very closely. Without my house payment me and my family live on less than $25,000 per year, $37,000 if you include savings.
$1,200.00 per month in income taxes!?!?! Holy cow Batman!! I've never paid that much per month in income taxes, even when my income was well over $80k per year. I've also never have to pay more than $300.00 at tax time and normally receive about $500 back.
$1,200.00 per month in income taxes!?!?! Holy cow Batman!! I've never paid that much per month in income taxes, even when my income was well over $80k per year. I've also never have to pay more than $300.00 at tax time and normally receive about $500 back.
Little clarification the income tax number should have been broken down to include fed income, state income, social security and medicare.
I think you misread the post, the 61.9K included $9600 annually for what I would expect a typical P&I mortgage payment or rent payment to be, otherwise that $61.9K would drop to $52.3K, if you are fortunate enough to not have to make rent or mortgage payment. Additionally if you don't own property taxes you likely are not making the annual payment for property and personal property tax.
I don't doubt you a bit on what you say your family can live on, I won't ask but seeing how you break that down would be interesting. Other things that I don't expect an answer to but that impact the analysis. What is your current cost for healthcare for your family? (I don't buy that crap from earlier poster that everyone has healthcare, ER care can't be denied, I want care for my family before it is life threatening)!!! How many in your household? Do you have public transport available to get you around? How many vehicles does your family have/require, if any what is annual mileage? Are you fortunate enough to have property that allows you to raise crops or livestock? ( I would love to have property that would allow me to raise hogs and calves for slaughter). Just a few of the variables in all of this that make stating a given number so difficult! I guess the 83k bar was set where it was.
Last edited by White01L; Oct 10, 2007 at 12:11 PM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by CrAz3D
What seems more important...where do you both live?
That too will make a major difference. We live in the suburbs, small town, one way drive for me is 44 miles to work for my wife is 35 miles. There are very few jobs available here and what jobs are available don't pay what a similar job pays in the city. We work different shifts, and there really are not enough people in this town to make car pooling a viable option. Forget Public transport, the freight trains pulled up tracks in this town 35 years ago, lol. Only a single grocery so we get hijacked by them. We could move and will someday, but the cost of the move, and the higher housing costs to live closer to work would really offset any savings. A benefit/curse of the small town is that there are not a lot of entertainment options, one 2 screen theater, few restaurants, heck for whatever reason someone put a Mickey D's in here ( I don't expect it to last), no shopping malls, etc. to try to drag dollars from your pockets.
Last edited by White01L; Oct 10, 2007 at 12:25 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 1
From: Your moms house
Originally Posted by White01L
That too will make a major difference. We live in the suburbs, small town, one way drive for me is 44 miles to work for my wife is 35 miles. There are very few jobs available here and what jobs are available don't pay what a similar job pays in the city.
Sounds like Athens.
I have to drive 40 miles one way to work as well.
Small towns are nice to raise a family, but hard as hell to find a good paying job.
[EDIT] didnt mean to hi jack...carry on...
Last edited by jamzwayne; Oct 10, 2007 at 12:34 PM.
Global Moderator &
Senior Member
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,080
Likes: 82
From: Burleson/Athens/Brownsboro, TX
Originally Posted by jamzwayne
Sounds like Athens.
I have to drive 40 miles one way to work as well.
Small towns are nice to raise a family, but hard as hell to find a good paying job.
I have to drive 40 miles one way to work as well.
Small towns are nice to raise a family, but hard as hell to find a good paying job.
__________________
Jim
Jim
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 691
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast
Thumbnail view of finances.
House 2100
Utilities 765
Gas 200
Insurance 75
Food 320
Medical 90
Health ins 330
Total 3880 or 46500 per year.
This is for a family of three. The gas and car insurnace figures were taken from when I had two cars. I have since sold one and these figures are much less. Taxes witheld for the year is about $4000.00 and I do normally receive a refund of a couple hundered dollars.
Don't tell me it can't be done. My pay is entry level for the job I am currently doing. My wife's pay is a little bit more than mine, but she is not in an entry level position.
House 2100
Utilities 765
Gas 200
Insurance 75
Food 320
Medical 90
Health ins 330
Total 3880 or 46500 per year.
This is for a family of three. The gas and car insurnace figures were taken from when I had two cars. I have since sold one and these figures are much less. Taxes witheld for the year is about $4000.00 and I do normally receive a refund of a couple hundered dollars.
Don't tell me it can't be done. My pay is entry level for the job I am currently doing. My wife's pay is a little bit more than mine, but she is not in an entry level position.
Last edited by 1depd; Oct 10, 2007 at 05:15 PM.