paperboyNC said:
HMart said:
$128k is very different than $200k........
Compare two examples:
1) $128k in wages, passive investments bringing in $5k/mo of no-tax and low-tax income. No debt. Bought home with 50% down and have small mortgage payment.
2) $200k in wages, bought home with 3% FHA loan and pay PMI. $150k in student loans. $80k in credit card debt.
so true. In my profession there is a lot of that. Income maybe $400-500k but there's student loans of $250k plus (new grads more like $400k plus), there's multiple home mortgages (primary vs vacation homes), spousal/child support situations, luxury car leases etc.
It's never about the income as it is about the out-go. At the end it comes down to how much of it you actually get to keep.
that's why to me net worth is much more telling of a person's financial health over just annual income.