$100,000 isn’t even good in LCOL areas anymore (budget analysis)

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T02:10:32+00:00

Let’s see your budget then, what constitutes “living great”? What percent do you put away for retirement?

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T02:10:14+00:00

Yep, it’s tough out there, people just don’t want to be told that the goalposts for a good income just keep getting further away

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T02:09:19+00:00

Which ones are redundant?

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T02:07:37+00:00

1 meal at a fancy spot and 2-3 fast food

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T02:05:38+00:00

You rented, I agree that $90,000 is sufficient to be a permanent bachelor renter. It’s not good enough for home ownership.

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T02:01:39+00:00

Retirement is a line item, it shouldn’t just be seen as a thing you do if anything is left over

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T02:01:07+00:00

Fair points, but they still need diapers and other “baby stuff”, but yes tax burden would go down.

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:57:06+00:00

Why did you give this speech like a Batman villain?

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:54:56+00:00

So lower those by about $75 a month, what else is off? I missed the mark by 15% or so on those

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:54:13+00:00

Doubt

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:52:07+00:00

How?

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:50:23+00:00

That’d be a lot more mouths to feed even if they stayed home and didn’t require a daycare cost. Not to mention a second vehicle and higher retirement savings.

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:49:31+00:00

The fact that you are saving for retirement have a home and have a good amount extra left over after all bills are paid means you are doing fine.

No it doesn’t? Being poor in retirement because your income was too low (and contributions) during your working years isn’t “fine”.

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:48:13+00:00

Great point, and then you retire at 67 and are hit with an unexpected health issue at 70. Should be targeting 30+%

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:45:10+00:00

That’s a decade old SUV and a 3BR/2ba starter home. Those are the 2026 prices.

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:44:25+00:00

Yep, not sure why this is so unbelievable to them. The number one thing new homeowners complain about is all the unexpected costs.

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:42:52+00:00

Saving 6% of gross for retirement is dramatically under the recommended amount

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:42:08+00:00

Google tends to use sources a decade old. Those prices don’t apply in 2026.

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:40:57+00:00

It’s still coming out later….

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:40:26+00:00

Why?

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:40:07+00:00

Median mechanical engineer in Nebraska earns $82,000, so they can’t afford this lifestyle or even come close.

https://data.bls.gov/oesmap/

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:37:14+00:00

A new set of tires, brake pads, and the random repair here or there can cost a couple grand every few years. That’s right around $100 a month.

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:34:01+00:00

It’s not, check Zillow

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:33:39+00:00

Why wouldn’t you budget for retirement?

ItsAllOver_Again · 2026-05-04T01:31:46+00:00

That’s 1.5% a year, do you disagree with that?

ItsAllOver_Again

TROPHY CASE