General Discussion

Pacifist Patriot

(25,170 posts)

52. It is more nuanced than that.

Fri Oct 31, 2025, 07:07 AM

Friday

It depends on a lot of things. First of all housing costs in the market where you live. Not everyone has the ability to just up and move to a lower COL area.

I live in a small town about an hour away from the next big city. Someone making $100K in that city who relocated to San Francisco for work would have to make $178K to maintain the same relative income to costs.

Student loan debt is way more of an impact on household finances than it was when I graduated from college. Saving for, or putting kids through college, is pricier these days.

People who buy older cheaper houses to stay within their means may have more maintenance costs as things wear out and need to be replaced.

People living within their means can have an accident or a medical expense that catapults them over their means, even if they are saving a little bit with each paycheck.

The point is that someone's gross wage alone is not nearly enough data to pass judgment on what they should or could do with their net pay.

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My aunt and I are taking a flight soon. [View all] MIButterfly Oct 30 OP

my sister in law has sworn off flying after a liftime... samnsara Oct 30 #1

Thanks, samnsara. MIButterfly Oct 30 #2

try to remember barbtries Oct 30 #33

She's super sensitive to it? Happy Hoosier Oct 30 #12

Same With Me. ColoringFool Oct 30 #22

If only we had Europe's rail network! Lonestarblue Oct 30 #3

I grew up in Detroit and I guess because cars were built there, they expected everyone to have a car MIButterfly Oct 30 #6

Back in the 1920's everyone wanted a car, but it was a luxury FakeNoose Oct 30 #17

I think Chicago has a great public transit system. MIButterfly Oct 30 #21

Keep in mind that Europe is a lot smaller than the U. S. PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 30 #8

Is China? barbtries Oct 30 #11

Did China start with overwhelming private car ownership? PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 30 #42

I think its China that has perfected the bullet train. peacebuzzard Friday #53

Not really an excuse... Shipwack Oct 30 #20

Actually, it is the excuse. PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 30 #43

In land mass Europe is slightly larger than the US spooky3 Oct 30 #28

It WAS easier to build good train service. But they have let it go bad DFW Friday #51

Abysmal. I didn't know the system was deteriorating. peacebuzzard Friday #54

It has been going downhill here for a while. A self-perpetuating bureaucracy has no interest in efficiency. DFW Friday #63

sounds like five star Germany has devolved to the norms of the rest of the world.... peacebuzzard Friday #67

I've never been to the Azores and don't speak much Portuguese DFW Friday #68

Its been many decades since I have been to the Azores peacebuzzard Saturday #70

Porto is the one city there I actually DO know to some degree DFW Saturday #71

I think that is one of my dream towns to visit. Maybe the only one. peacebuzzard Saturday #73

Sorry to hear this, and sorry for you. In the 90s train travel spooky3 Friday #61

You got that right!! DFW Friday #64

I have four air travel trips coming up from November 05 - January 24. I am NOT looking forward to it. Pacifist Patriot Oct 30 #4

I was having occasional dizziness and imbalance like you describe FakeNoose Oct 30 #18

It's why I use motion sickness patches. miyazaki Oct 30 #34

Hmmm.... I'll bring that up with my ENT. Pacifist Patriot Friday #49

good advice. barbtries Oct 30 #35

Vertigo is awful! Pacifist Patriot Friday #50

I have so many specialists my phone contacts skew to D for Doctor. Pacifist Patriot Friday #48

I have no intention of flying for at least three more years. Unless it's a one-way ticket out of the country. Borogove Oct 30 #5

I agree. Then I thought about those "rendition" airplane rides. All expenses paid. erronis Oct 30 #7

that's not an option in my world. barbtries Oct 30 #10

When I told my son that TSA agents are not getting paid, barbtries Oct 30 #9

Don't know about you, but I'm happy even while loathing and despising tRump Bernardo de La Paz Oct 30 #14

thanks barbtries Oct 30 #16

Grief, despair, & sadness I share with you, at times, but they pass before long & I become optimistic again Bernardo de La Paz Oct 30 #19

I'm sorry you had to endure that. Hope22 Oct 30 #25

I know who my ex-DIL's mother is barbtries Oct 30 #32

We flew Tuesday, will again next week RainCaster Oct 30 #13

how was it at the airports? barbtries Oct 30 #36

Mostly empty RainCaster Friday #66

my last trip was to LAX barbtries Friday #69

We make $110,000. Fortunately, it is SS and defined 3Hotdogs Oct 30 #15

That $8300 a month! maunagirl Friday #45

Take off income tax. 3Hotdogs Friday #56

I Quit flying Topomi Oct 30 #23

Everyone quit flying then. All planes were empty of passengers. peacebuzzard Friday #55

Have a wonderful(?) trip with her. Wonder Why Oct 30 #24

I hope to have a wonderful trip DESPITE her! MIButterfly Oct 30 #27

Air traffic controllers are paid pretty well, and they should be. Ocelot II Oct 30 #26

I flew home from Heathrow to RDU mnhtnbb Oct 30 #29

Thanks, mnhtnbb! MIButterfly Oct 30 #37

My daughter makes over double that Tree Lady Oct 30 #30

Exactly! MIButterfly Oct 30 #38

Feel same way unfortunately she has been with Tree Lady Oct 30 #40

Message auto-removed Name removed Friday #47

Flying ms.pamela Oct 30 #31

Exactly. People like my aunt have absolutely no idea MIButterfly Oct 30 #39

Your aunt is very naive. RVN VET71 Oct 30 #41

Not necessarily. maunagirl Friday #46

try living in a compact car for a week... ret5hd Friday #58

If someone makes $100K a year maunagirl Friday #44

It is more nuanced than that. Pacifist Patriot Friday #52

Message auto-removed Name removed Friday #60

welcome to DU, muanagirl peacebuzzard Friday #57

i have high hopes for that one. ret5hd Friday #59

She was close but a little low: EX500rider Friday #62

As well they should! MIButterfly Friday #65

yes they are. peacebuzzard Saturday #72