What’s the Perfect Budget?

[TemekuT]

Wow, tough topic, those nails. I just cut my to the quick within the hour and then meandered over to the computer and found this thread. I resumed studying piano seriously when we moved to Temecula 3 years ago and had to decide – sacrifice my acrylic nails so I could play Chopin and Debussy, or have great looking hands. Beethoven et al won but I do still look forward to pedicures and sandals.

The thing I noticed in all the budget postings was nothing for music, dance, and art lessons for the kids.

[CBad]

– $1,500 1.5% School Fund (pretax)

What’s this all about? 529 plans aren’t tax deductible in CA. Is there something else I don’t know about?

[CBad]

– $1,500 1.5% School Fund (pretax)

What’s this all about? 529 plans aren’t tax deductible in CA. Is there something else I don’t know about?

[CBad]

– $1,500 1.5% School Fund (pretax)

What’s this all about? 529 plans aren’t tax deductible in CA. Is there something else I don’t know about?

[CBad]

– $1,500 1.5% School Fund (pretax)

What’s this all about? 529 plans aren’t tax deductible in CA. Is there something else I don’t know about?

[CBad]

– $1,500 1.5% School Fund (pretax)

What’s this all about? 529 plans aren’t tax deductible in CA. Is there something else I don’t know about?

[CA renter]

Now I know why we rent, and why we’ve been very long-time, bubble-sitting bears. 😉

Personally, I’d move to Kansas before paying 50% of our take-home pay on housing. IMHO, keeping housing costs low is the #1 way to keep yourself out of debt — especially in California.

We like to have a life outside of housing, and stay out of debt. The only way to do that with $100K income is to keep **total** housing expenses well under 35% of gross income (PITI, any HOAs & Mello-Roos, and repairs/maintenance). Preferably, it would be below 30%, and who knows what it should be if they continue to allow inflation to run like it is — which leaves even less money for housing.

BTW, I’ve noticed about 40% (or more) of the posters on Ben’s blog are female. It’s a myth that only men are able to see bubbles, and that females “need” to nest. Many of us had to convince our husbands to sell/rent.

[CA renter]

Now I know why we rent, and why we’ve been very long-time, bubble-sitting bears. 😉

Personally, I’d move to Kansas before paying 50% of our take-home pay on housing. IMHO, keeping housing costs low is the #1 way to keep yourself out of debt — especially in California.

We like to have a life outside of housing, and stay out of debt. The only way to do that with $100K income is to keep **total** housing expenses well under 35% of gross income (PITI, any HOAs & Mello-Roos, and repairs/maintenance). Preferably, it would be below 30%, and who knows what it should be if they continue to allow inflation to run like it is — which leaves even less money for housing.

BTW, I’ve noticed about 40% (or more) of the posters on Ben’s blog are female. It’s a myth that only men are able to see bubbles, and that females “need” to nest. Many of us had to convince our husbands to sell/rent.

[CA renter]

Now I know why we rent, and why we’ve been very long-time, bubble-sitting bears. 😉

Personally, I’d move to Kansas before paying 50% of our take-home pay on housing. IMHO, keeping housing costs low is the #1 way to keep yourself out of debt — especially in California.

We like to have a life outside of housing, and stay out of debt. The only way to do that with $100K income is to keep **total** housing expenses well under 35% of gross income (PITI, any HOAs & Mello-Roos, and repairs/maintenance). Preferably, it would be below 30%, and who knows what it should be if they continue to allow inflation to run like it is — which leaves even less money for housing.

BTW, I’ve noticed about 40% (or more) of the posters on Ben’s blog are female. It’s a myth that only men are able to see bubbles, and that females “need” to nest. Many of us had to convince our husbands to sell/rent.

[CA renter]

Now I know why we rent, and why we’ve been very long-time, bubble-sitting bears. 😉

Personally, I’d move to Kansas before paying 50% of our take-home pay on housing. IMHO, keeping housing costs low is the #1 way to keep yourself out of debt — especially in California.

We like to have a life outside of housing, and stay out of debt. The only way to do that with $100K income is to keep **total** housing expenses well under 35% of gross income (PITI, any HOAs & Mello-Roos, and repairs/maintenance). Preferably, it would be below 30%, and who knows what it should be if they continue to allow inflation to run like it is — which leaves even less money for housing.

BTW, I’ve noticed about 40% (or more) of the posters on Ben’s blog are female. It’s a myth that only men are able to see bubbles, and that females “need” to nest. Many of us had to convince our husbands to sell/rent.

[CA renter]

Now I know why we rent, and why we’ve been very long-time, bubble-sitting bears. 😉

Personally, I’d move to Kansas before paying 50% of our take-home pay on housing. IMHO, keeping housing costs low is the #1 way to keep yourself out of debt — especially in California.

We like to have a life outside of housing, and stay out of debt. The only way to do that with $100K income is to keep **total** housing expenses well under 35% of gross income (PITI, any HOAs & Mello-Roos, and repairs/maintenance). Preferably, it would be below 30%, and who knows what it should be if they continue to allow inflation to run like it is — which leaves even less money for housing.

BTW, I’ve noticed about 40% (or more) of the posters on Ben’s blog are female. It’s a myth that only men are able to see bubbles, and that females “need” to nest. Many of us had to convince our husbands to sell/rent.

[mydogsarelazy]

Right now, what makes it possible to do what we are doing — raising three daughters in Southern California — is capital.

We are older, and have paid off both cars, have less than $1k in credit card debt and just ten years to go to pay off our fixed rate mortgage. With an income of $115k we are fine, and are putting money in the girl’s college accounts every month. Of our $7k monthly after tax paycheck, we put about $1900 into property taxes and mortgage, and the rest can go elsewhere.

This economy is brutal for younger people, as they have a very tough time accumulating capital. Income is an important measure, but net worth is a crucial factor. Imagine being in your early twenties, wanting to start a family and living in Southern California. I would look around, scream and run to another state. Of course, I have no idea what state that would be.

JS

[mydogsarelazy]

Right now, what makes it possible to do what we are doing — raising three daughters in Southern California — is capital.

We are older, and have paid off both cars, have less than $1k in credit card debt and just ten years to go to pay off our fixed rate mortgage. With an income of $115k we are fine, and are putting money in the girl’s college accounts every month. Of our $7k monthly after tax paycheck, we put about $1900 into property taxes and mortgage, and the rest can go elsewhere.

This economy is brutal for younger people, as they have a very tough time accumulating capital. Income is an important measure, but net worth is a crucial factor. Imagine being in your early twenties, wanting to start a family and living in Southern California. I would look around, scream and run to another state. Of course, I have no idea what state that would be.

JS

[mydogsarelazy]

Right now, what makes it possible to do what we are doing — raising three daughters in Southern California — is capital.

We are older, and have paid off both cars, have less than $1k in credit card debt and just ten years to go to pay off our fixed rate mortgage. With an income of $115k we are fine, and are putting money in the girl’s college accounts every month. Of our $7k monthly after tax paycheck, we put about $1900 into property taxes and mortgage, and the rest can go elsewhere.

This economy is brutal for younger people, as they have a very tough time accumulating capital. Income is an important measure, but net worth is a crucial factor. Imagine being in your early twenties, wanting to start a family and living in Southern California. I would look around, scream and run to another state. Of course, I have no idea what state that would be.

JS

[mydogsarelazy]

Right now, what makes it possible to do what we are doing — raising three daughters in Southern California — is capital.

We are older, and have paid off both cars, have less than $1k in credit card debt and just ten years to go to pay off our fixed rate mortgage. With an income of $115k we are fine, and are putting money in the girl’s college accounts every month. Of our $7k monthly after tax paycheck, we put about $1900 into property taxes and mortgage, and the rest can go elsewhere.

This economy is brutal for younger people, as they have a very tough time accumulating capital. Income is an important measure, but net worth is a crucial factor. Imagine being in your early twenties, wanting to start a family and living in Southern California. I would look around, scream and run to another state. Of course, I have no idea what state that would be.

JS

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