General Discussion

leftstreet

(38,630 posts)

5. Why shouldn't a "lifestyle" include sports and 2 cars?

Sat Nov 29, 2025, 03:38 PM

Nov 29

Most 4 person families have 2 income earners, so yes they probably need 2 cars. Why shouldn't the same family expect to enroll their kids in sports and activities? Why should any food beyond "ramen and hot dogs" be only for the wealthy?

The guy is right

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TommyT139 usedtobedemgurl kcoates SheLiberal Wednesdays Celerity DET Boxerfan Haggard Celine RANDYWILDMAN love_katz Blaukraut Piasladic Vogon_Glory yardwork TxGuitar

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Highlight:

An investor called $140,000 the new poverty line. Experts disagreed but said he had a point. [View all] Zorro Nov 29 OP

American Enterprise Institute has only one wing nilram Nov 29 #1

A fantasy snowybirdie Nov 29 #2

I would buy this sum is accurate (even low) if one desires to live in an expensive, desirable area AZJonnie Nov 29 #3

Why shouldn't a "lifestyle" include sports and 2 cars? leftstreet Nov 29 #5

I think that might be his point. yardwork Nov 30 #44

Ridiculous Greg_In_SF Nov 29 #4

When you start with a baseline of 40% dpibel Nov 29 #11

Well, then it Greg_In_SF Nov 29 #14

Well, feel free to trot out the figures dpibel Nov 29 #19

A map.... Greg_In_SF Nov 30 #32

Now you're just being obtuse dpibel Nov 30 #43

How dare you call me obtuse Greg_In_SF Nov 30 #55

DURec leftstreet Nov 29 #6

"It's laughable to put a poverty line far above the median income in the United States." mountain grammy Nov 29 #7

Yes, talk about circular logic! yardwork Nov 30 #45

Mr. Green's numbers sound about right. mwmisses4289 Nov 29 #8

"minimum rent in most areas is around $2000 a month" -Extremely wrong Wiz Imp Nov 29 #12

Be interesting to see how they came up with those numbers. mwmisses4289 Nov 29 #13

It's from the American Community Survey Wiz Imp Nov 29 #16

You'd have to limit the options to housing appropriate to a family of 4 EdmondDantes_ Nov 29 #17

I was responding to the claim that minimum rent was at leas $2000 Wiz Imp Nov 29 #23

That post mentioned families, and in the larger context of the thread EdmondDantes_ Nov 30 #49

✋ 🙄🫨😒🧱💤🚫🫷「 ✦ Bye ✦ 」 Wiz Imp Nov 30 #50

In my area in NC even a run-down unsafe apartment is more than $1,000. yardwork Nov 30 #46

Green's required net income: $118,009. The $136,500 is gross. For a family of 4. Celerity Nov 29 #26

That's another reason a lot of people Haggard Celine Nov 30 #33

That was the reason my wife worked part time until our daughter was old enough for elementary school NickB79 Nov 30 #41

Anyone hiring young people to six figures Johonny Nov 30 #42

Don't know national averages but a little perspective JT45242 Nov 30 #51

Several points here. First, "laughable to put a poverty line far above the median income" is itself laughable unblock Nov 29 #9

The basic definition of poverty is this: Wiz Imp Nov 29 #25

The observations have merit, even if the specific application of conclusion doesn't. unblock Nov 30 #31

I would think for most families of 4 it's enough to live on but very little disposable income for extras. Raftergirl Nov 29 #10

Good point Greg_In_SF Nov 29 #15

Big jump, no? dpibel Nov 29 #20

I see my Greg_In_SF Monday #56

LOL dpibel Monday #57

LOL!!! valleyrogue Nov 29 #18

But I believe you've missed the point dpibel Nov 29 #21

Residents making an annual income of up to $109,700 who are living in Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Celerity Nov 29 #22

To be fair, we are insane Sympthsical Nov 30 #39

Michael Green is a moron. Wiz Imp Nov 29 #24

This is a very convincing argument dpibel Nov 30 #27

Disagree (after reading it fully) & the $136,500 figure is gross, his required net income: $118,009. For a family of 4. Celerity Nov 30 #30

Spot on! DFW Nov 30 #37

Hyperbole much? JonAndKatePlusABird Nov 30 #40

Depends where you live. OAITW r.2.0 Nov 30 #28

People with decent incomes and wealth live beyond their means JI7 Nov 30 #29

That seems a rather blanket statement, sorta like "every immigrant from India is a math genius" DFW Nov 30 #48

I wouldn't call it a "poverty" line, but the "living wage" line. Below that, government subsidies are necessary. nt Blasphemer Nov 30 #34

you lose more than you gain as you move up from very low income levels Celerity Nov 30 #36

+1 Really good article leftstreet Nov 30 #47

Depends on Location and Demographics DET Nov 30 #35

The reactions to this are so goddamn illuminating WhiskeyGrinder Nov 30 #38

While most of the posts in this thread have been about housing costs, PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 30 #52

Child care is the largest cost in the OP article's example. Larger than housing cost. Celerity Nov 30 #54

"It's laughable to put a poverty line far above the median income in the United States." Grins Nov 30 #53