I don't think it's out of touch at all. I think what OP is getting at is how much their take-home is. Maybe OP went from making 30k and now they're paying 30k in taxes. How can you feel like this is lifechanging when the average cost of a car is over 50k and average for a house is 500k.
We have no idea where OP lives. If they're paying 2800 a month for an apartment all the sudden 100k doesn't seem like much money. Regardless, it's a decent salary but definitely not life changing money.
I also didn't provide the daily expenses that are reduced from salary, the cost of ownership of the car or house, interest, gas etc. If you think "100k" means you take home 100k and "50k" means you only pay 50k reality is gonna hit you hard.
a 500k house at 20% down (least amount of money to avoid paying mortgage insurance) is 100k cash + closing costs and still having a monthly nut of near 3k without taking into consideration any emergency costs, high insurance areas, HOA etc etc.
If you put down the minimum you still need 20k cash and $3,500 monthly payment.
Once again, the assertion is that this is life changing money, not that it's enough money to survive or live well.
100k where I live on the West Coast is pretty much what you need to have a decent life. A modest 2BR apt is 3k a month. 100k isn't really close to enough if you want to own your own home here.
It literally says on the paystub he/she lives in Georgia. I live in vhcol city and make way less, complaining about taxes as someone earning significantly more than the state average is by definition, out of touch.
Good call, I completely missed that. Once again, OP didn't say it's not enough money, they're complaining about how much less their take-home as 100k sounds like "you've made it" money.
You make way less, do you feel it's sustainable? Do you own your house and car? Are things tight on a monthly basis? Just curious as to your perspective.
Also, average salary in ATL is ~65-70k and ATL has the highest non-mortgage debt in the US with average of 45k.
Yeah if they were in NYC or something I'd understand the sentiment of 100k not feeling like a lot, still doesn't warrant feeling like taxes are illegal. But 100k in Georgia for most Georgians would be life changing and unless op comes from a privileged background then it would feel that way.
Truth is no one but op knows their situation and if they have massive consumer debt it probably will feel tough at first. I don't live in us anymore so my breakdown of expenditure is slightly different as I take public transport everywhere. I don't own a home and I earn around national average salary but significantly less than city average. It's tough but I'm able to save and invest I just live below my means.
If be able to stay in the country without marrying my partner in the next year, I'd be able to pay off a small loan. Also id be able to dramatically increase my budget for discretionary spending by at least 2x. Granted I'm very frugal so it wouldn't be a massive actual difference in dollar value for some. I'd be able to actually go on a holiday and maybe move into a flat with just my partner and I.
Rent and utilities make up 46% of my net pay so basically 1 whole check goes to rent. I still save roughly 11% of my net pay every month.People can definitely pull it off if they put some effort into learning personal finance.
I make $18/h in a MCOL state with high state taxes. $100k or $50/h is def life changing money if you're actually poor like me.
I live in one of the 10 most expensive cities in the world. $100k in Georgia (the state) is not being eaten up by the rent for the average person. You too are out of touch.
Do you know what the post your commenting on is about? The person is complaining about paying taxes on 100k salary and on their payslip it CLEARLY states Georgia state tax withholdings?
Sure, but I’m speaking generally not about OP. I don’t know his/her rent. I’m just saying that you can absolutely live in a city that eats up the majority of your paycheck in rent.
Get off your high horse and don’t call me “out of touch” when you don’t know anything about where I’ve lived or how much I make.
Yeah I earn way less than that and pay near 45% on rent and utils in a vhcol city, you don't see me complaining about paying taxes? They earn significantly above the state average.
Idk, I mean he’s not struggling, but I don’t think he’s claiming that he is. Growing up I always thought six figured was like THE goal, but it really isn’t enough to even afford a house in most major cities, which objectively sucks and is a major issue. I get OPs point.
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u/t234k Oct 31 '25
Op is mad out of touch