General Discussion

NutmegYankee

(16,472 posts)

93. I know a lot of people who want it.

Sat Jul 5, 2014, 06:38 PM

Jul 2014

I think our culture drives people to think that is what is right. People who choose to live alone are often regarded poorly by our society.

Click here to purchase valentine hearts!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

117 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Price tag for the American dream: $130K a year [View all] n2doc Jul 2014 OP

It depends on what American Dream means to people yeoman6987 Jul 2014 #1

That's Great - but the issue is the Oppurtunity is being taken away Tommymac Jul 2014 #46

At tip for future reference: read the article, the full article at the link before you answer. JDPriestly Jul 2014 #89

I meant 158K....Sorry yeoman6987 Jul 2014 #91

Makes sense. The article is pretty accurate about estimating the costs of life. JDPriestly Jul 2014 #94

Rec JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #2

Extremely modest estimate of expenses. antiquie Jul 2014 #3

Ditto in Central NJ JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #6

Remember that they were trying to estimate an national average value. Gormy Cuss Jul 2014 #63

is the median price of a home really $250,000? hfojvt Jul 2014 #44

Median home price here in my area is about $100K ... oldhippie Jul 2014 #50

so have I hfojvt Jul 2014 #62

I wish JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #68

I disagree about saving for college. F4lconF16 Jul 2014 #77

well there are other options hfojvt Jul 2014 #100

I find your response to be dismissive at best and possibly insulting. F4lconF16 Jul 2014 #104

If you're a slightly older adult SheilaT Jul 2014 #106

Not to appear rude PowerToThePeople Jul 2014 #108

The "American dream" is a pernicious falsehood. Spider Jerusalem Jul 2014 #4

I found their prices to be way too high. Tetris_Iguana Jul 2014 #5

some places the housing prices are easily $250K+ hobbit709 Jul 2014 #7

True, but as an average that seems high to me. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #10

As an average it is high. Find a realtor and have them run average prices on their MLS service. You ballyhoo Jul 2014 #54

$275 is reasonable JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #8

Ouch! NutmegYankee Jul 2014 #23

I agree, that is high! Frustratedlady Jul 2014 #58

My house was a cheap fixer upper too! JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #64

You're paying $10,200 a year in property taxes? ballyhoo Jul 2014 #56

Hunterdon County NJ JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #60

That's the highest I've ever heard ballyhoo Jul 2014 #61

That was Chris Christies whine JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #65

We'll I wish you luck. I wonder if there are ballyhoo Jul 2014 #66

We are okay JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #70

Number23? Okay. Thanks. ballyhoo Jul 2014 #71

Then you don't live in Los Angeles abelenkpe Jul 2014 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author ballyhoo Jul 2014 #14

Living in a cramped condo with your kids is not the American Dream. nt SunSeeker Jul 2014 #20

If 1200 square feet is cramped to you, ballyhoo Jul 2014 #25

Yes it is, especially if you have no yard. SunSeeker Jul 2014 #55

Your reference was to a 1200 square foot ballyhoo Jul 2014 #59

A 2BR unit for a family of four is considered cramped unless the children are very young Gormy Cuss Jul 2014 #72

Depends how big the second bedroom is. But as they age it will be more ballyhoo Jul 2014 #86

Depends nothing. Housing two older,opposite gender children in the same room is substandard Gormy Cuss Jul 2014 #88

Well, I understand your position. But based on what I'm seeing that ballyhoo Jul 2014 #92

As a girl growing up with a brother with whom I had to share a room, it sucked. SunSeeker Jul 2014 #79

This message was self-deleted by its author ballyhoo Jul 2014 #85

There are no houses for under $500K in L.A. that fit the American Dream ideal. SunSeeker Jul 2014 #95

Here. Long Beach is in LA County ballyhoo Jul 2014 #97

Long Beach is not Los Angeles. SunSeeker Jul 2014 #98

This message was self-deleted by its author ballyhoo Jul 2014 #99

PLease keep going HangOnKids Jul 2014 #103

Teen years are definitely the deal breaker. Gormy Cuss Jul 2014 #87

true. folks in my condo complex tend to move out as babies get older Liberal_in_LA Jul 2014 #101

welcome to DU3 Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #28

Condo in lake forest? abelenkpe Jul 2014 #42

This message was self-deleted by its author ballyhoo Jul 2014 #52

30% is the total of federal state and local taxes. Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #12

That's not that conservative an estimate. NutmegYankee Jul 2014 #22

do you include FICA in the 14%? hfojvt Jul 2014 #48

No, I hadn't. NutmegYankee Jul 2014 #53

And it includes property taxes on that 275K house Gormy Cuss Jul 2014 #69

NY, DC, LA, San Francisco ... either of the coasts etherealtruth Jul 2014 #15

Point two five percent? SheilaT Jul 2014 #17

Oh shoot , yes... I meant 25% etherealtruth Jul 2014 #19

Hi from Macomb County also! llmart Jul 2014 #30

Good to know there are more of us (Macomb Co) etherealtruth Jul 2014 #47

Mitt pays less than almost all middle class people. SunSeeker Jul 2014 #24

"Only the little people pay taxes." stillwaiting Jul 2014 #27

Want a good laugh? PasadenaTrudy Jul 2014 #32

That is insane. Tetris_Iguana Jul 2014 #36

It is insane PasadenaTrudy Jul 2014 #40

3100 sq. ft. isn't very small...but that price is astounding! cyberswede Jul 2014 #45

True.. PasadenaTrudy Jul 2014 #49

Other than the housing price being a little low, nails Denver TransitJohn Jul 2014 #67

Depends on where you hang out. DFW Jul 2014 #115

It would be nice if saving for retirement was affordable. tridim Jul 2014 #9

Tell me about it etherealtruth Jul 2014 #18

"It's a Big Club, and you ain't in it." - George Carlin Amonester Jul 2014 #13

Exactly what I was going to post. nt awoke_in_2003 Jul 2014 #73

It really does depend a lot on where you live and SheilaT Jul 2014 #16

It's amazing PasadenaTrudy Jul 2014 #37

Where you live can have a major effect on that. jeff47 Jul 2014 #76

I did not think I was confusing the two SheilaT Jul 2014 #80

My advice to any new parents at this point Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #78

That's a nice idea in practice, but kids in early SheilaT Jul 2014 #81

None of the aptitude tests I ever took came anywhere near to Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #84

Those tests aren't perfect, but I certainly found them very helpful. SheilaT Jul 2014 #107

I knew my family had been passed. Hugin Jul 2014 #21

and I bet they want it to be made by the man so the woman can stay home and Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #26

The article isn't like that. It just quotes where it got the figures and how its calculated riderinthestorm Jul 2014 #29

ok then. did not click on the link so then - they are saying it takes two people Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #31

Agreed. Which is why they're saying the "American dream" is dead for most people riderinthestorm Jul 2014 #33

No. A single person will have lower expenses. NutmegYankee Jul 2014 #34

Agreed. I was simply dealing with figures in the article which is for a family of four riderinthestorm Jul 2014 #35

and I think that is why I went where I did with this ... the Model of the the Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #39

because you qualified with the word usaully, I will refrain from comment. Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #38

You didn't state single parents. NutmegYankee Jul 2014 #41

well, all I am driving at here ... is that it is a very narrow subset of Americans that fit Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #43

Agree. The "nuclear family" is an idealism. NutmegYankee Jul 2014 #51

Honestly, I don't even think it is an idealism at this point. Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #57

I know a lot of people who want it. NutmegYankee Jul 2014 #93

single earner families were the norm in the 50s and 60s. Starting in the 70s family income Warren Stupidity Jul 2014 #74

yes. the end. Tuesday Afternoon Jul 2014 #75

I'm sorry but... ClarkeVII Jul 2014 #82

+1 ohnoyoudidnt Jul 2014 #90

Unfortunately, these sorts of studies always cause DU to desend into "4 yorkshiremen" mode... n2doc Jul 2014 #83

"Financial security" is dead for most Americans. Barack_America Jul 2014 #110

I'm not remotely interested in whatever version of the American Dream is being sold cali Jul 2014 #96

Just some added perspective.... defacto7 Jul 2014 #102

They left out the costs of vacations, hobbies, higher education, etc. Quantess Jul 2014 #105

Then that should be the minimum wage. maced666 Jul 2014 #109

The American Dream now days is having enough money to retire. B Calm Jul 2014 #111

Ain't that the truth n2doc Jul 2014 #112

This is way off....You can easily be living the "American Dream" in the Kansas City area for cbdo2007 Jul 2014 #113

Yes, but then you're living in Kansas City. Xithras Jul 2014 #114

LOL, The "American Dream" is not your personal dream... cbdo2007 Jul 2014 #116

From the second line of your own link: Xithras Jul 2014 #117