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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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  • 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 Away
        MikM Away
        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 Away
                MikM Away
                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 Offline
                          AxtremusA Offline
                          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
                                        • JollyJ Jolly

                                          @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

                                          George KG Offline
                                          George KG Offline
                                          George K
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

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

                                          You want low taxes? You want character?

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

                                          Wow.

                                          Pour another $250K into that and you'd get something really spectacular!

                                          How far away is the nearest grocery store WalMart?

                                          "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.

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