http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027262483
Fri Oct 16, 2015, 06:48 AM
nitpicker (544 posts)
Why $30K a year often is not enough to live on in big cities
Let's take a college grad with a $30K job in Northern VA.
But after these takeouts:
$2600 Federal tax
$1200 Virginia tax
$1500 SS/Medicare
$2000 employer-offered health insurance
$22700 net pay
less:
$2000 transport
$2000 food (it Can Be Done)
leaves $18700.
BUT the cost of housing is a killer.
$15000 a year (if lucky) for an efficiency or 1-bedroom apartment without roaches, with heating/cooling/water
$1800 a year for phones/internet (cable extra)
So $1900 a year for everything else.
That's why so many leave here to go to places where rent/utilities are $5000 (or more) a year cheaper, and why builders are constructing microunits. Some employers finally got smart and raised starting wages, but others did not.
To whomever this mole belongs to, you sir/madam, are a master. I'm sorry for outing you, but we need this for our younger moles to observe.
Response to nitpicker (Original post)
Fri Oct 16, 2015, 07:12 AM
Star Member TexasTowelie (19,993 posts)
2. Social Security and Medicare are 7.65%, not 5%.
Deduct about $800 more from your "everything else" amount. I expect that the remainder of the money will be used for food because living on $5 and change each day including toiletries is an accomplishment. That also includes absolutely no money for beer or any type of social activities (movies, bowling, dancing, gym membership, etc.)
And in response to that, we get;
Response to TexasTowelie (Reply #2)
Fri Oct 16, 2015, 07:23 AM
Star Member yeoman6987 (9,017 posts)
4. Keep in mind you will get most back from taxes
Response to nitpicker (Original post)
Fri Oct 16, 2015, 07:17 AM
meaculpa2011 (679 posts)
3. That's why there are bridges and tunnels...
Most items we buy... food, clothing, consumer goods... cost the same everywhere. But the three highest ticket items in everyone's budgets... housing, insurance, taxes... are more than double in most large metropolitan areas.
Some people say it's worth more to live in Williamsburgh, Park Slope and Greenwich Village. So be it.
It's a big, beautiful world with plenty of great places to live where they don't suck the life out of you.
Don't get me wrong. New York has been my home since birth and we've been able to build a very nice life here.
I'm not sure that my kids (22 and 25) will be so lucky.
I'm still working, and planning to work until they shovel dirt in face. First because I love my work, but also because I want to leave my kids a lot of money.
Won't it be grand? Trust fund babies that they all BITCH about. Unless the government takes most or all of it away with the death tax ...
THIS one is by far my favorite. I can't believe the DUmmies are not ALL over this;
Response to nitpicker (Original post)
Fri Oct 16, 2015, 09:10 AM
Kilgore (277 posts)
5. This why we moved from CA to WA years ago
Sold the small CA home and bought a much larger one on acreage in WA for cash.
Across the board everything was cheaper plus no state income tax. For example,
Auto license, CA was $350/year, WA $52
Electricity, CA was averaging $300/month, WA less than $100 for a larger house.
Property tax was about equal in both states.
And the list goes on......
They are absolutely blind to what they create then leave for others to fix.
KC
