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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
  2. General Discussion
  3. Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?

Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?

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  • JollyJ Offline
    JollyJ Offline
    Jolly
    wrote on last edited by
    #7

    49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

    Maybe, but doubtful...

    “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

    Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

    LuFins DadL MikM 2 Replies Last reply
    • Doctor PhibesD Offline
      Doctor PhibesD Offline
      Doctor Phibes
      wrote on last edited by
      #8

      They're saying $136K where we are with two kids, but $30K of it is child-care, and Mrs. Phibes did it for free (God, I hope she doesn't read this)

      What does $23K of taxes include? Our property tax is only about $5K - not sure what that number is supposed to reflect.

      I was only joking

      1 Reply Last reply
      • JollyJ Jolly

        49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

        Maybe, but doubtful...

        LuFins DadL Offline
        LuFins DadL Offline
        LuFins Dad
        wrote on last edited by
        #9

        @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

        49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

        Maybe, but doubtful...

        May I ask what county?

        The Brad

        JollyJ 1 Reply Last reply
        • JollyJ Jolly

          49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

          Maybe, but doubtful...

          MikM Offline
          MikM Offline
          Mik
          wrote on last edited by
          #10

          @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

          49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

          Maybe, but doubtful...

          Not and live in any comfort at all.

          “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

          1 Reply Last reply
          • LuFins DadL LuFins Dad

            @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

            49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

            Maybe, but doubtful...

            May I ask what county?

            JollyJ Offline
            JollyJ Offline
            Jolly
            wrote on last edited by
            #11

            @LuFins-Dad said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

            @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

            49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

            Maybe, but doubtful...

            May I ask what county?

            None. We don't have counties. 😛😛

            “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

            Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

            LuFins DadL MikM JollyJ 3 Replies Last reply
            • LuFins DadL Offline
              LuFins DadL Offline
              LuFins Dad
              wrote on last edited by
              #12

              Modest yet adequate… Those are the key words… Ax titled it as middle class but that phrase is wide open to interpretation…

              The Brad

              1 Reply Last reply
              • JollyJ Jolly

                @LuFins-Dad said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

                Maybe, but doubtful...

                May I ask what county?

                None. We don't have counties. 😛😛

                LuFins DadL Offline
                LuFins DadL Offline
                LuFins Dad
                wrote on last edited by
                #13

                @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                @LuFins-Dad said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

                Maybe, but doubtful...

                May I ask what county?

                None. We don't have counties. 😛😛

                Okay, Parish, smart ass…

                The Brad

                1 Reply Last reply
                • JollyJ Jolly

                  @LuFins-Dad said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                  @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                  49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

                  Maybe, but doubtful...

                  May I ask what county?

                  None. We don't have counties. 😛😛

                  MikM Offline
                  MikM Offline
                  Mik
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #14

                  @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                  @LuFins-Dad said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                  @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                  49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

                  Maybe, but doubtful...

                  May I ask what county?

                  None. We don't have counties. 😛😛

                  Parish the thought.

                  “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • JollyJ Jolly

                    @LuFins-Dad said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                    @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                    49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

                    Maybe, but doubtful...

                    May I ask what county?

                    None. We don't have counties. 😛😛

                    JollyJ Offline
                    JollyJ Offline
                    Jolly
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #15

                    @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                    @LuFins-Dad said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                    @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                    49k for two people, no children in my area. I assume that's take home pay, after all deductions.

                    Maybe, but doubtful...

                    May I ask what county?

                    None. We don't have counties. 😛😛

                    Seriously...That would be North and Central Louisiana, or maybe most of the state north of I-10, excluding the metropolitan areas.

                    I've never figured out why we don't aggressively recruit retirees. We have Homestead Exemption, which keeps property taxes low or nonexistent. We have a state income tax, but it doesn't apply to state pensions, federal (I think) pensions or Social Security. We do have a fairly high sales tax. In the more economically poor areas of the state, you can still find land reasonable...Right now, I know of a 3/2 brick veneer for $650,000...With barn, outbuildings and 80 acres of mixed woodland and improved pasture.

                    “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                    Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • LuFins DadL Offline
                      LuFins DadL Offline
                      LuFins Dad
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #16

                      I think the disagreement has a lot to do with our own definitions of "Middle Class" as Ax described it or "modest yet adequate" as expressed by EPI. This isn't perfect, but it's light years ahead of the Federal guidelines used in legislation...

                      My wife grew up in Brown County, Ohio. These are the numbers from EPI:

                      Brown County, OH
                      HOUSING $738
                      FOOD $725
                      CHILD CARE $1,131
                      TRANSPORTATION $1,215
                      HEALTH CARE $1,068
                      OTHER NECESSITIES $530
                      TAXES $517
                      MONTHLY TOTAL $5,924
                      ANNUAL TOTAL $71,090

                      So let's start with housing since that's likely to be the biggest variable...

                      I used $750 just to make things easier calculations. Most online calculators using $750 as a base payment with 20% down came up with a housing price of between $165K to $190K as being in that budget. $180K gets me - https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1205-S-2nd-St-Ripley-OH-45167/78963340_zpid/

                      I'd say that's modest but adequate.

                      The Brad

                      AxtremusA 1 Reply Last reply
                      • JollyJ Offline
                        JollyJ Offline
                        Jolly
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #17

                        I would agree.

                        “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                        Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                        LuFins DadL 1 Reply Last reply
                        • JollyJ Jolly

                          I would agree.

                          LuFins DadL Offline
                          LuFins DadL Offline
                          LuFins Dad
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #18

                          @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                          I would agree.

                          Picked at random - Beauregard Parish, LA
                          MONTHLY COSTS
                          2 adults and 2 children
                          Beauregard Parish, LA
                          HOUSING $725
                          FOOD $787
                          CHILD CARE $643
                          TRANSPORTATION $1,272
                          HEALTH CARE $1,545
                          OTHER NECESSITIES $548
                          TAXES $603
                          MONTHLY TOTAL $6,122
                          ANNUAL TOTAL $73,462

                          https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/107-N-Division-St-Deridder-LA-70634/106017626_zpid/ That's actually pretty nice...

                          The Brad

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • LuFins DadL LuFins Dad

                            I think the disagreement has a lot to do with our own definitions of "Middle Class" as Ax described it or "modest yet adequate" as expressed by EPI. This isn't perfect, but it's light years ahead of the Federal guidelines used in legislation...

                            My wife grew up in Brown County, Ohio. These are the numbers from EPI:

                            Brown County, OH
                            HOUSING $738
                            FOOD $725
                            CHILD CARE $1,131
                            TRANSPORTATION $1,215
                            HEALTH CARE $1,068
                            OTHER NECESSITIES $530
                            TAXES $517
                            MONTHLY TOTAL $5,924
                            ANNUAL TOTAL $71,090

                            So let's start with housing since that's likely to be the biggest variable...

                            I used $750 just to make things easier calculations. Most online calculators using $750 as a base payment with 20% down came up with a housing price of between $165K to $190K as being in that budget. $180K gets me - https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1205-S-2nd-St-Ripley-OH-45167/78963340_zpid/

                            I'd say that's modest but adequate.

                            AxtremusA Away
                            AxtremusA Away
                            Axtremus
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #19

                            @LuFins-Dad said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                            I think the disagreement has a lot to do with our own definitions of "Middle Class" as Ax described it or "modest yet adequate" as expressed by EPI. This isn't perfect, but it's light years ahead of the Federal guidelines used in legislation...

                            Exactly, the primary reason I share it here is because I think the EPI's method is more useful than the Federal guidelines.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • JollyJ Offline
                              JollyJ Offline
                              Jolly
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #20

                              Hey, D'Evereaux is for sale... Comes with 12 acres...

                              https://www.trulia.com/p/ms/natchez/160-devereaux-dr-natchez-ms-39120--2155767171

                              alt text

                              “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                              Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • George KG Offline
                                George KG Offline
                                George K
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #21

                                $1.9M?

                                That's more than I earn in 6 months.

                                "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • JollyJ Offline
                                  JollyJ Offline
                                  Jolly
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #22

                                  Yeah, but it's bigger than your condo...

                                  “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                                  Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                                  George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                                  • JollyJ Jolly

                                    Yeah, but it's bigger than your condo...

                                    George KG Offline
                                    George KG Offline
                                    George K
                                    wrote on last edited by George K
                                    #23

                                    @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                    Yeah, but it's bigger than your condo...

                                    Taxes are probably lower, LOL.

                                    ETA: They are!

                                    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                    KlausK JollyJ 2 Replies Last reply
                                    • George KG George K

                                      @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                      Yeah, but it's bigger than your condo...

                                      Taxes are probably lower, LOL.

                                      ETA: They are!

                                      KlausK Offline
                                      KlausK Offline
                                      Klaus
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #24

                                      @George-K said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                      @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                      Yeah, but it's bigger than your condo...

                                      Taxes are probably lower, LOL.

                                      ETA: They are!

                                      And you would have space for a workshop!

                                      George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                                      • KlausK Klaus

                                        @George-K said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                        @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                        Yeah, but it's bigger than your condo...

                                        Taxes are probably lower, LOL.

                                        ETA: They are!

                                        And you would have space for a workshop!

                                        George KG Offline
                                        George KG Offline
                                        George K
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #25

                                        @Klaus said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                        And you would have space for a workshop!

                                        Yup!

                                        But...

                                        It's Mississippi.

                                        (@klaus probably won't get this)

                                        Q: Why does Alabama exist?

                                        A: To keep Georgia from getting its border dirty.

                                        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • George KG George K

                                          @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                          Yeah, but it's bigger than your condo...

                                          Taxes are probably lower, LOL.

                                          ETA: They are!

                                          JollyJ Offline
                                          JollyJ Offline
                                          Jolly
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #26

                                          @George-K said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                          @Jolly said in Middle Class? How much income needed to live modestly and adequately?:

                                          Yeah, but it's bigger than your condo...

                                          Taxes are probably lower, LOL.

                                          ETA: They are!

                                          You want low taxes? You want character?

                                          https://www.trulia.com/p/la/alexandria/222-florence-ave-alexandria-la-71301--2203390894

                                          alt text

                                          “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                                          Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                                          George KG LarryL 2 Replies Last reply
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