Reply #220: Sure, if that's a tax-free $100K.

[Misunderestimator]

Take away federal, state and city/local taxes, quite high in NYC, and you're left with something more like $40,000. And when you take away necessity items, such as food and clothing, which are also much more costly in NYC... you are left with precious little.

Let's not exaggerate this. Of course a family could consider moving in with a relative (if they even have a relative willing to take them) to save money. But why on earth should that have to be a choice?

This isn't about whether it's better to give to the poor... of course the world would be a better place if everyone was completely selfless and charitable. That's another subject. Bringing that moral argument into this conversation doesn't seem really constructive to me.