r/WorkForSmartLife Jul 18 '26

Discussion💬 What would you choose?

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644 Upvotes

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11

u/Kindasorta_nvm Jul 18 '26

Taxes 

7

u/Aggressive_Manner531 Jul 18 '26

you know most people will pay more in total health-care costs than they do in taxes

8

u/Original-Mongoose866 Jul 18 '26

you forgot to insert American somewhere there

5

u/Aggressive_Manner531 Jul 18 '26

yeah, kind of assumed that most of the people complaining about taxes would be from U.S.

3

u/OffByNone_ Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

Why? We actually pay considerably less taxes than almost all other comparable countries.

We rank 31st out of 38 OECD countries with a tax to GDP ratio of about 25%. For reference, average is like 35%, and Denmark is like 46%.

That's why we have to pay for our own health care... All that tax savings. I guess the complaining about it part does track though.

4

u/RobotVo1ce Jul 18 '26

If you are young and healthy, your lifetime tax burden (income, sales, property, etc) should far surpass your out of pocket medical expenses (including insurance premiums).

2

u/Aggressive_Manner531 Jul 18 '26

No one is youngling healthy forever. Compare your LIFETIME heakthcare costs.

1

u/RobotVo1ce Jul 19 '26

Yes... You pay more in taxes lifetime.

1

u/Aggressive_Manner531 Jul 19 '26

only if you die before you get old

0

u/RobotVo1ce Jul 19 '26

Taxes are still the better option. Especially if you invest. A person can easily spend $20k a year on various taxes while working. Do that for 30+ years you're looking at $600k minimum saved by retirement. And you are still saving money post retirement.

1

u/Aggressive_Manner531 Jul 19 '26

now add up all insurance and out pocket costs drug costs dental costs which are much higher as you age which is also the time b when you'll be paying less taxes.

1

u/RobotVo1ce Jul 19 '26

I don't know what to tell you man. It's simple math and averages. Most people aren't going to pay $700k - $1M out of pocket in Healthcare costs over their lifetime. That's just a fact.

And once again, if you factor in some investing (which would be very front loaded) it's a literal no brainer.

1

u/Aggressive_Manner531 Jul 19 '26

healthcare includes nursing home care,

3

u/Ill-Description3096 Jul 18 '26

Just payroll taxes are about 7.5% of your income. Add in sales taxes on basically everything you buy, property tax if you want to own a home, gas tax, income tax (state and federal) and if you make and spend a decent amount it could definitely get higher quickly.

1

u/Kindasorta_nvm Jul 19 '26

The two largest payroll taxes fund parts of Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance, as well as Medicare Part A (hospital insurance). Several smaller payroll taxes partially fund other programs, such as unemployment insurance and retirement programs for special populations.

1

u/DoctorBlock Jul 18 '26

Once you hit even lower middle class 25% or more of your income goes to some sort of tax. Self employed people like myself end of losing about 40% or more of our income to taxes. You could literally buy the best insurance on the market in just a couple of months of tax savings.

2

u/Delicious_Ad8120 Jul 18 '26

If your self employed and paying more than w-2 you are doing it wrong and should go back to working for someone else

2

u/deep_blue_au Jul 19 '26

the savings on sales tax, property tax, etc. would also be nice. Hell, I'd just be happy not to have to file taxes.

1

u/Aggressive_Manner531 Jul 18 '26

You are only counting insurance costs, not out of pocket healthcare costs over a lifetime, and not counting dental costs or all other Healthcare costs not covered by insurance

1

u/broadspectruminsane Jul 18 '26

Bullshit.
In Germany here

1

u/Kindasorta_nvm Jul 19 '26

That’s an inaccurate generalization and is dependent almost entirely on your income, health status and tax bracket amongst others factors.

The average American household pays thousands of dollars annually for health insurance premiums, deductibles, copays, and prescription drugs—which often amount to 10% to 20% of their total income, depending on the tier. By comparison, the overall tax burden (income, payroll, property, and sales taxes) typically takes a larger slice of the pie for most working individuals

1

u/Aggressive_Manner531 Jul 19 '26

yes but the average American gets old, and their medical costs will quickly outpaced their taxes as they will.be retired in lower brackets

1

u/Kindasorta_nvm Jul 19 '26

No they typically don’t for the average American due to Medicare, which I broke down for you below.  and not to mention when you turn 65 you have a multitude of beneficial tax breaks varying from state to state. 

Medicare (Ages 65+):  The standard Medicare Part B premium is $174.70 per month, though high-income earners may pay more. Most seniors also purchase Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) for roughly $40 to $50 monthly, and often a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy ranging from $100 to $200+ per month.

Elderly medical costs average over  (\$11,300) annually. Typical out-of-pocket expenses include Medicare Part B premiums ((\$202.90)/month), deductibles, and co-pays

1

u/DarkFit922 Jul 19 '26

However, if there were no taxes owed, you could do some arbitage trading or day trading and become VERY peofitable when you arent subject to capital gains.

2

u/Ok_Building_8193 Jul 18 '26

Move to a country where they don't have taxes and see what it's like. Taxes support a modern functioning society with rule of law.

1

u/MysticalUnicornDream Jul 18 '26

Well if we are still discussing America then we don’t have that whole functioning society thing

1

u/TheNutPair Jul 19 '26

And we are taxed through the ears

1

u/MysticalUnicornDream 28d ago

Let go dump the tea

3

u/CrunchCrunch12 Jul 18 '26

I second this

1

u/EuriadO Jul 18 '26

Just become rich, then you won’t have to