Started By
Message

Here's the budget breakdown of a couple that make $500K and still feel average

Posted on 1/25/24 at 7:51 pm
Posted by Street Hawk
Member since Nov 2014
3465 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 7:51 pm
This post was edited on 1/25/24 at 9:20 pm
Posted by rickgrimes
Member since Jan 2011
4181 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 7:55 pm to
Have they tried making their coffee at home?
Posted by PhiTiger1764
Lurker since Aug 2003
Member since Oct 2009
13936 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:02 pm to
“Miscellaneous (something always comes up) - $10,000)”
Posted by MrSpock
Member since Sep 2015
4367 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:06 pm to
The "average" person doesn't go on 3 vacations a year and drive a Land Cruiser.
Posted by SloaneRanger
Upper Hurstville
Member since Jan 2014
7920 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:08 pm to
Well, they pay over $200k in taxes. Add 3 vacations, a BMW and a Land Cruiser and you have eaten up a big chunk of it.

ETA: $18k in charitable donations seems high.
This post was edited on 1/25/24 at 8:14 pm
Posted by UpstairsComputer
Prairieville
Member since Jan 2017
1587 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:11 pm to
In b4 $2500 HO Ins on a $1.5m house. Haha
Posted by fallguy_1978
Best States #50
Member since Feb 2018
48886 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:20 pm to
I'm just jealous of their $2500/yr home insurance on a $1.5 million dollar house and $2k in auto premiums

Both of ours are higher on a 300k home and a Honda and 7 yr old Ford.
This post was edited on 1/25/24 at 8:21 pm
Posted by slackster
Houston
Member since Mar 2009
85152 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:38 pm to
Replying to the line item stupidity isn’t worth the time.
Posted by McVick
Member since Jan 2011
4472 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:41 pm to
Food for four= $23,000

Is my math wrong? To me that breaks down to almost $62 a meal per person (3 meals a day 4 people, 31 days in a month). That seems excessive unless a professional chef is making everyone every meal.
Posted by Dawgfanman
Member since Jun 2015
22628 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:52 pm to
40% effective tax rate, that’s false.
Posted by jamiegla1
Member since Aug 2016
7016 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:55 pm to
why is their car insurance so cheap???
Posted by WhiskeyThrottle
Weatherford Tx
Member since Nov 2017
5360 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 8:58 pm to
What state is that in. Downsize the house and they’re in a really good spot. Retirement is going to be difficult for them. We put more towards retirement each year and make less than them. $1.5m house is probably close to maxing out their dti requirement for purchasing I’m guessing.
Posted by Hickok
Htown
Member since Jan 2013
2874 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 9:00 pm to
quote:

40% effective tax rate, that’s false.

I think the highest state tax is Cali at 13ish% if you make 7 figures. No way I can see these people paying 40% at $500k. Also, live within your means should be the lesson here, even if they bullshite some numbers.
Posted by jfw3535
South of Bunkie
Member since Mar 2008
4689 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 9:06 pm to
quote:

The "average" person doesn't go on 3 vacations a year

No doubt. They gotta pump those numbers up. We usually take 4-5 a year.
Posted by castorinho
13623 posts
Member since Nov 2010
82066 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 9:07 pm to
things stick out the most

1- The tax calculation is wrong.
2- on the budget itself, mortgage and childcare are two things they can probably trim a lot out of.

Without getting nitpicky on the other stuff, just the three things above can move quite a bit into the savings
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162264 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 9:07 pm to
How do you not max out your 401K making 500K a year (or let's assume 250K each)
Posted by slackster
Houston
Member since Mar 2009
85152 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 9:09 pm to
quote:

1- The tax calculation is wrong


I started to post the same but I’m assuming they’re rolling in FICA, and depending on the state, maybe it’s possible? Federal income tax would be less than $100k by itself though, so that’s still probably high.
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162264 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 9:10 pm to
quote:

Is my math wrong? To me that breaks down to almost $62 a meal per person (3 meals a day 4 people, 31 days in a month). That seems excessive unless a professional chef is making everyone every meal.


That's their annual expense, not their monthly
Posted by JohnnyKilroy
Cajun Navy Vice Admiral
Member since Oct 2012
35569 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 9:11 pm to
This is probably the 80th time this has been posted in the 5 years since it was created.
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162264 posts
Posted on 1/25/24 at 9:12 pm to
quote:

I started to post the same but I’m assuming they’re rolling in FICA, and depending on the state, maybe it’s possible?

The social security portion of FICA was capped at 160,200 in 2023

So on a % of income basis their FICA taxes were lower than people that make less than 160K a year
Page 1 2 3 4 5 6
Jump to page
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 6Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram