Lets assume you are your parents, you pull in $100,000 a year total. It's you, your spouse, your kid, your car and your home. Alread, off the Bat, you are paying 33% in income Taxes alone. There goes $33,333, leaving your with $77,777. Then, you have FICA Taxes (Social Security, etc) of 6.5%. There goes $5,055.50. Leaving you $72,721.50. Then, you have your mortage, let's say it's $1000 a month. That leaves you with $60,721.50. Now, you also have your regular grocery bills, that's about $400 a month. Leaving you with $54.721.50.
Then, you have your car, with the State Licensing Fee, of about $100, so you now have $54,621.50. Oh, crap, you forgot about State and City Taxes, State Taxes about about 5%, but that's on what you earned, not what wealth you have, so there goes another $5,000, leaving you $49,621.50. And a City tax of 3%. So, there goes another $3000 bucks. Leaving you with $46,621.50. AND there's Property Tax. Which is $3000 a year on your $180,000 home. So, we are down to what? $43,621.50.
Now, you have cable and cell phone bills, $100 a month for Cable and Internet, leaving you with $42421, and $100 a month for that Family Plan Cell phone Bill. $41.221.
Then, $350 a month for those car payments, $4200 a year. Down to $37,021. Electric, that $75 a month, $900. Leaving $36,121. Then Gas for the car, $25 a week. Thats $1300 a year. Leaving you with $34821.
Crap, Anita is going to College? That's how much again?
And we still have home owners insurance, Car Insurance, Jr's School Fees, Anita's College Books, the Family dog to take care of and feed. And, we even will have to pay H&R Block to file our taxes. Then, we have membership fees at CostCo.
That $100,000 a year income doesn't look so hot now does it?