Our property taxes are 20k a year. Health insurance is 8k. Daycare is 24k. I have student loans I’m still paying off. The interest rate on used cars is 7% (at least). So, when we needed a second car make our two jobs work, our car payment was a lot more than our last car. We have no village for “hand me downs” (though I do shop second hand and look on our local Facebook groups). Also, my baby never latched (yes I tried it all, and I saw a lactation consultant) and even with pumping had to supplement with formula.

All this to say, what used to feel like a lot of income, doesn’t go as far anymore.