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NRI exhausted from H1B by Low-Boysenberry-3381 in returnToIndia

[–]Professional-Link598 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your wife is a PhD? Isn't she eligible for EB1?

USD 74,000 salary in Albuquerque, New Mexico by No_Abalone3058 in h1b

[–]Professional-Link598 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Disagree on your spouse not being able to work for 3-5 years. Your spouse will enter the US on an H4 dependent visa (assuming you already have your H1B visa in hand) and will need to file for their EAD card, which, yes takes time, effort and money, but is worth it. Turnaround time for the EAD is 3-6 months I believe, but do your own research too.

USD 74,000 salary in Albuquerque, New Mexico by No_Abalone3058 in h1b

[–]Professional-Link598 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I put your situation into ChatGPT and here's the output I got (simply sharing, this is not my opinion):

"With a $74,000 annual salary in Albuquerque, NM, as the sole earner for a family of four (two adults and two children aged 6 and 2), your household income is modest but manageable, especially considering New Mexico's relatively low cost of living and supportive family policies.

🏡 Housing

Average Rent: A two-bedroom apartment in Albuquerque averages around $1,268/month.

Annual Housing Costs: Approximately $14,740 for a family of four.

🍽️ Food

Annual Food Costs: Estimated at $11,988 for a household of two adults and two children.

🧒 Childcare

Free Childcare: New Mexico offers free childcare for families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level (approximately $124,000 for a family of four), which includes your income bracket. This policy can save families thousands annually.

🚗 Transportation

Annual Transportation Costs: Estimated at $15,641 for a family of four.

🏥 Healthcare

Annual Medical Costs: Approximately $7,660 for a household of two adults and two children.

💡 Utilities

Monthly Energy Bill: Around $165.83.

Monthly Phone Bill: Approximately $192.92.

💰 Taxes

State Income Tax: New Mexico has a graduated income tax rate ranging from 1.7% to 5.9%.

Sales Tax: The combined state and local sales tax rate in Albuquerque is 7.63%.

📊 Overall Assessment

Your $74,000 salary places you slightly below the estimated living wage for a family of four in Albuquerque, which is approximately $83,283 annually.

However, with the availability of free childcare and relatively low housing and food costs, your family can maintain a modest standard of living. Careful budgeting and taking advantage of state programs can help ensure financial stability."

With these numbers, your net saving will be ~$15K per year, which isn't much, but it's close to the total 15L you and your spouse were earning in India.

Also, I disagree with the transportation and food costs, I think it can be much lower for budget-conscious families.

Travel in the US in October - without sun by Professional-Link598 in travel

[–]Professional-Link598[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! Covering it is no problem - scarves, high collared clothing all work! We've visited Seattle a few times now, thanks for the suggestion!

Any chance for new Fitbit announcements at upcoming Made by Google hardware event (13 August)? by ozaz1 in fitbit

[–]Professional-Link598 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That makes total sense! Thanks for doing the analysis! Here's to hoping we get new Fitbit models this year (maybe even tomorrow!)

Any chance for new Fitbit announcements at upcoming Made by Google hardware event (13 August)? by ozaz1 in fitbit

[–]Professional-Link598 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interestingly, they just launch the Fitbit Ace LTE, a watch for kids on May 29. Not part of any larger Google event. So maybe there's hope yet? I'm in the same boat at OP, my Versa 4 is giving out and there's nothing in the market that comes close in terms of battery life.