Comment on Who are the "middle class" supposed to support in the class stuggle?
blarghly@lemmy.world 1 day agoWhy not? I lived on about 20k last year. I live in a camper van most of the time, so no rent for me. But even paying (imo, a rather exorbitant) $1000/mo for a studio, you are still only at 32k per year.
dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
You CAN do it but that sucks. 40k a year is not enough money unless you’re happy to live like you’re poor, but just don’t have to go to work every day.
Financially independent, sure. But I don’t plan to retire to sitting in my van reading a library book eating rice and beans until I give up the ghost, you know? Color me entitled, but I think we can draw the hypothetical lines a little higher than you have set them for you.
blarghly@lemmy.world 1 day ago
This year I spent 3 months rock climbing in mexico, then travelled to Utah to hang out with friends in the desert and go canyoneering, then went to Yosemite. Now I am back home in Denver. I travel to beautiful places, cook tasty and healthy meals for myself (eggs for breakfast, pork burritos for dinner), occasionally go out to bars or restaurants or to concerts, have fun riding my motorcycle, and engage in quite a few DIY projects.
I honestly don’t understand where people spend all their money. I have an awesome life on $20k. I assume they are spending it on self-medicating or something.
dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
My very affordable mortgage (2.175% interest, thx COVID) with insurance and small savings for house repairs is 3k per month. I’ve got a wife and 2 kids under 5. Daycare costs are about $600 per week for us both to work. Groceries with fresh produce for the kids and not much out of a box or can (and diapers and wipes) are about $800 per month. Yeah it’s gratuitous for groceries, but I ate a ton of hot pockets and lunchables and shit like that as a kid, but my kids don’t have to.
I’m already at 75k per year right there.
We own our cars outright, we are healthy and no medical payments, and we don’t regularly eat out. We have extended family overseas. One or two vacations a year (visit family every other year). We don’t spend money to medicate in any fashion :).
I remember living fine on 24k per year when it was just me on grad school, but now it takes a hell of a lot more. People can and do make it work for less, I wouldn’t personally want to downsize to retire earlier.
blarghly@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Oh right, I forgot. Don’t have kids. Worse than buying a boat, I’ve heard.
howrar@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Housing mostly
blarghly@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Right. As I noted in a previous comment, you could spend an additional 12k per year on a studio, and still come in well under 40k.