First, I think Tomim is a tzadeikes and the most reasonable person I have ever met who is happy with what she has and is comfortable with her priorities. For those of you asking about whether she is spending a few extra dollars because of a water bill, STOP.
The original question that started this was – as a practical matter, how do people make it. Tomim was gracious enough to provide a budget which was very detailed. Leave her alone and Tomim- don’t be defensive. If anyone has a comment, please contribute so people can have an idea what the average flatbush (or wherever) family is really looking at. Noone is asking for your critique on others
To tell the truth, I would have a hard time spending 250/weekly on food including chol/shobbas/laundry detergent/soap/shampoo, etc. Additionally, (call me spoiled) I could not live without a car. Aside from shopping and getting around, kids have different schedules and there is no bus every other month for some legal holidays or another. There wouldn’t even be time to run around on a citibus (and taking an infant in the snow, etc).
Keeping that in mind, Tomim’s budget if you had 3 ror 4 kids and paid more taxes is at least 150 gross per year (first of all- noone in todays market has close to a 1,700 mortgage unless they had a lot of cash or someone gave them a huge downpaymnet. A 400k mortgage at about 5% is still in the 2700 range. Also add a car/gas/ins (maybe not a necessity, but certainly not a luxury in todays day and age), a bit for food and 3,000 for clothes etc is also very reasonable if you have to add in shobbas clothes and clothing and shoes for growing children and maybe even buy a new shitel once every 5 years. Not mention shuls and schools who want you to come to their dinner, a sibling in lakewood who wants your ma’aser (which is not provided for in the budget, but then again, if you are living on that budget, you are either no chayav in ma’aser or are using it for tuition – [please don’t start a thread on whether that is ok – you do not have to go into debt for ma’aser and tomim’s money is accounted for]
Therefore, if anyone else (especially those who seem to be judgement car to share bit) – how people make it on less – especially those who seem to say they make it on less than 80 net and that eveyone making 6 figures is pointlessly complaining.
Lets be honest – are you really living on any less than that budget? If so – where? (or is it just a don’t pay taxes, get benefits, don’t pay tuition issue). Is everyone who makes a w2 salary just in the same place as had they not been “responsible” gone to school and trying to work.
By the tomim – you should stay home and be with your kids. By the time you are done with day care expenses which will likely be off the books, you will work and not make much more than that anyway.