Somehow, while shuttling between Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, and then back to San Diego for the first three weeks of June, I managed to get my second worst month in the books at 215% over my budget. That's pathetic. Let's look at the damage.
Once again I was huge over on dining out, this time to the tune of almost double, 188%. I have to figure out what happened because you would think spending the majority of my time out of New York would have decreased that number. Some of that will be work stuff I get reimbursed on, but that can't account for everything. It's time to move back to fewer meals a day!
Shopping hit me to the tune of 570% over, which means clearly I should up that category. The catch all category of gifts was 325% over, which again, should tell me to increase that, or maybe look at what I'm categorizing under there.
I was real good about public transportation, playing, and groceries, keeping right in line with the budget, but I fear that those are probably because I didn't use taxis, subways, or buy any real groceries for most of the month. Travel, again, rocked me hard. Basically it was just two things: Vegas fun and paying for the houseboat trip at the end of August. I still have to buy the flight for that guy too. I swear I'm gonna come under budget next month, otherwise George is threatening to boot me from the club!
- ATM Visits: Seven times, no fees
- Dining out: Forty six times, high of $105
- Cabs: Three
- Shopping: Camping supplies, pair of shoes, Ninja Sox, two tank tops, sunglasses, one book, the best nail clippers, rocket popsicle molds
- Play: Two movies, two karaoke sessions, Vegas trip, one night out
- Biggest expenses: Vegas ($350), houseboat ($340), MoviePass ($125), business dinner ($105), drinks ($90)
Years ago, when we hypothesized how much we'd each want/have to make to sustain our lifestyles, I thought making fifty grand a year would be gravy. With that amount I'd be able to do what I want, travel wherever, and basically live as I like. I read somewhere when I was a kid that if you put a million dollars in a traditional savings account, you could live off the interest forever. Child me clearly thought a million dollars was the easiest thing that was gonna happen by adulthood.
Well, if I want to live in my current world, short of my still valid dream of becoming a NBA player, that interest accruing million bucks won't be happening. A few years ago, I was "the richest I'd ever been" while on unemployment. I was getting max UI, had some book money, lived at home or on couches, and just ran around doing whatever I wanted. Well, that's not true. I couldn't do everything I wanted, I could just glide by if I didn't do much.
Currently, from what I can calculate, I am living a 75k lifestyle while not making nearly that much. That number is obviously unsustainable -- not to mention absolutely ridiculous -- because I doubt I'll ever come close to making that much. Like in life. Plus, things I didn't account for or have to deal with: health insurance, mortgages, any medical emergencies, school loans, savings, the future. How do people own houses and have kids and stuff? Geezes.
Here are some fun facts and figures for you:
- Median household income is $51,400 (2013)
- Median income for Asian Americans is $66,000 (2013)
- 29.22% of households earn more then $75,000 (2011)
- You can't afford a $350,000 home on $75,000 a year (2008)
- 15% of Americans making $75k or more don't have health insurance (2012)
- Happiness is love, and $75,000 (2011)
- Rent: $1000
- Dining Out: $1000
- Travel: $450
- Play: $400
- Transportation (Taxi/Subway): $300
- Bills (Phone/Utilities/Netflix): $250
- Gifts: $200
- Groceries: $150
- Shopping: $150
- Miscellaneous: $250
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