How do you define "poor"?

[Rage Against the McKee]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

[nicname]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

It is pretty easy to find a two bdr apartment or even 2 bdr house to rent for $500 or less. 

Licknecky is right.  Once you get down to a full time job at like 18k a year that is real poverty.  Full time at minimum wage is just over 15k per year.  When I think of working poor I think of Mom working 30-40 hrs/ wk at close to minimum wage and Dad working 60+ slightly above min wage.  It's worse when Mom is 60+ at near min.

[Rage Against the McKee]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

It is pretty easy to find a two bdr apartment or even 2 bdr house to rent for $500 or less. 

Licknecky is right.  Once you get down to a full time job at like 18k a year that is real poverty.  Full time at minimum wage is just over 15k per year.  When I think of working poor I think of Mom working 30-40 hrs/ wk at close to minimum wage and Dad working 60+ slightly above min wage.  It's worse when Mom is 60+ at near min.

When I think poor, I think of anything less than middle class. Somebody making $35,000 per year would have a monthly paycheck of just over $2000 after taxes. If they rent a $500 apartment, pay $500 per month for daycare, $100 per month for electric, $70 per month for gas, $200 per month on food, $100 per month on gasoline, and have a $200 car payment, that only leaves about $300 per month. That is living with no cell phone, cable, or internet.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

It is pretty easy to find a two bdr apartment or even 2 bdr house to rent for $500 or less. 

Licknecky is right.  Once you get down to a full time job at like 18k a year that is real poverty.  Full time at minimum wage is just over 15k per year.  When I think of working poor I think of Mom working 30-40 hrs/ wk at close to minimum wage and Dad working 60+ slightly above min wage.  It's worse when Mom is 60+ at near min.

When I think poor, I think of anything less than middle class. Somebody making $35,000 per year would have a monthly paycheck of just over $2000 after taxes. If they rent a $500 apartment, pay $500 per month for daycare, $100 per month for electric, $70 per month for gas, $200 per month on food, $100 per month on gasoline, and have a $200 car payment, that only leaves about $300 per month. That is living with no cell phone, cable, or internet.

This person is going to get a pretty big check back from the gov.

[SdK]

I don't know where this fits in. But I think that you (individually or with your partner) should make a certain amount of money before you are allowed to have children. If you don't have adequate income to provide for a child, you shouldn't be having one in the first place.

[Rage Against the McKee]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

It is pretty easy to find a two bdr apartment or even 2 bdr house to rent for $500 or less. 

Licknecky is right.  Once you get down to a full time job at like 18k a year that is real poverty.  Full time at minimum wage is just over 15k per year.  When I think of working poor I think of Mom working 30-40 hrs/ wk at close to minimum wage and Dad working 60+ slightly above min wage.  It's worse when Mom is 60+ at near min.

When I think poor, I think of anything less than middle class. Somebody making $35,000 per year would have a monthly paycheck of just over $2000 after taxes. If they rent a $500 apartment, pay $500 per month for daycare, $100 per month for electric, $70 per month for gas, $200 per month on food, $100 per month on gasoline, and have a $200 car payment, that only leaves about $300 per month. That is living with no cell phone, cable, or internet.

This person is going to get a pretty big check back from the gov.

Yeah, they will get a decent return. I'm not saying they need charity or anything like that. I'm just saying that I would think of that person as poor. I certainly wouldn't view that person as middle class.

[LickNeckey]

disadvantaged maybe.

poor?  no.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

It is pretty easy to find a two bdr apartment or even 2 bdr house to rent for $500 or less. 

Licknecky is right.  Once you get down to a full time job at like 18k a year that is real poverty.  Full time at minimum wage is just over 15k per year.  When I think of working poor I think of Mom working 30-40 hrs/ wk at close to minimum wage and Dad working 60+ slightly above min wage.  It's worse when Mom is 60+ at near min.

When I think poor, I think of anything less than middle class. Somebody making $35,000 per year would have a monthly paycheck of just over $2000 after taxes. If they rent a $500 apartment, pay $500 per month for daycare, $100 per month for electric, $70 per month for gas, $200 per month on food, $100 per month on gasoline, and have a $200 car payment, that only leaves about $300 per month. That is living with no cell phone, cable, or internet.

This person is going to get a pretty big check back from the gov.

Yeah, they will get a decent return. I'm not saying they need charity or anything like that. I'm just saying that I would think of that person as poor. I certainly wouldn't view that person as middle class.

Everybody looks poor through purple colored glasses, understandable.

[Rage Against the McKee]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

It is pretty easy to find a two bdr apartment or even 2 bdr house to rent for $500 or less. 

Licknecky is right.  Once you get down to a full time job at like 18k a year that is real poverty.  Full time at minimum wage is just over 15k per year.  When I think of working poor I think of Mom working 30-40 hrs/ wk at close to minimum wage and Dad working 60+ slightly above min wage.  It's worse when Mom is 60+ at near min.

When I think poor, I think of anything less than middle class. Somebody making $35,000 per year would have a monthly paycheck of just over $2000 after taxes. If they rent a $500 apartment, pay $500 per month for daycare, $100 per month for electric, $70 per month for gas, $200 per month on food, $100 per month on gasoline, and have a $200 car payment, that only leaves about $300 per month. That is living with no cell phone, cable, or internet.

This person is going to get a pretty big check back from the gov.

Yeah, they will get a decent return. I'm not saying they need charity or anything like that. I'm just saying that I would think of that person as poor. I certainly wouldn't view that person as middle class.

Everybody looks poor through purple colored glasses, understandable.

I guess that's true.

[Cartierfor3]

I'm kinda feeling poor reading some of this guise. 

[06wildcat]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

It is pretty easy to find a two bdr apartment or even 2 bdr house to rent for $500 or less. 

Licknecky is right.  Once you get down to a full time job at like 18k a year that is real poverty.  Full time at minimum wage is just over 15k per year.  When I think of working poor I think of Mom working 30-40 hrs/ wk at close to minimum wage and Dad working 60+ slightly above min wage.  It's worse when Mom is 60+ at near min.

When I think poor, I think of anything less than middle class. Somebody making $35,000 per year would have a monthly paycheck of just over $2000 after taxes. If they rent a $500 apartment, pay $500 per month for daycare, $100 per month for electric, $70 per month for gas, $200 per month on food, $100 per month on gasoline, and have a $200 car payment, that only leaves about $300 per month. That is living with no cell phone, cable, or internet.

This person is going to get a pretty big check back from the gov.

A head of household in Kansas renting an apartment with 1 child making $35,000/ year will end up paying more than $1,000 in federal income taxes if you take the standard deduction, personal exemption and child care tax credit. There's another $1,800 or so in FICA, plus all your state and local taxes and fees.

This same person also will not qualify for SCHIP, Food Stamps, Section 8 housing etc.

[ben ji]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

It is pretty easy to find a two bdr apartment or even 2 bdr house to rent for $500 or less. 

Licknecky is right.  Once you get down to a full time job at like 18k a year that is real poverty.  Full time at minimum wage is just over 15k per year.  When I think of working poor I think of Mom working 30-40 hrs/ wk at close to minimum wage and Dad working 60+ slightly above min wage.  It's worse when Mom is 60+ at near min.

When I think poor, I think of anything less than middle class. Somebody making $35,000 per year would have a monthly paycheck of just over $2000 after taxes. If they rent a $500 apartment, pay $500 per month for daycare, $100 per month for electric, $70 per month for gas, $200 per month on food, $100 per month on gasoline, and have a $200 car payment, that only leaves about $300 per month. That is living with no cell phone, cable, or internet.

This person is going to get a pretty big check back from the gov.

A head of household in Kansas renting an apartment with 1 child making $35,000/ year will end up paying more than $1,000 in federal income taxes if you take the standard deduction, personal exemption and child care tax credit. There's another $1,800 or so in FICA, plus all your state and local taxes and fees.

This same person also will not qualify for SCHIP, Food Stamps, Section 8 housing etc.

Who makes 35k a year? 

[Kat Kid]

I would say you are poor if you make less than $35,000 per year.

That's like $17 per hour, and you aren't going to be paying any taxes if you have even one child. Doesn't seem that poor to me.

If you have one child at that pay, you are going to really struggle to find a place you can afford to live without having to share a room with that child.

It is pretty easy to find a two bdr apartment or even 2 bdr house to rent for $500 or less. 

Licknecky is right.  Once you get down to a full time job at like 18k a year that is real poverty.  Full time at minimum wage is just over 15k per year.  When I think of working poor I think of Mom working 30-40 hrs/ wk at close to minimum wage and Dad working 60+ slightly above min wage.  It's worse when Mom is 60+ at near min.

When I think poor, I think of anything less than middle class. Somebody making $35,000 per year would have a monthly paycheck of just over $2000 after taxes. If they rent a $500 apartment, pay $500 per month for daycare, $100 per month for electric, $70 per month for gas, $200 per month on food, $100 per month on gasoline, and have a $200 car payment, that only leaves about $300 per month. That is living with no cell phone, cable, or internet.

This person is going to get a pretty big check back from the gov.

A head of household in Kansas renting an apartment with 1 child making $35,000/ year will end up paying more than $1,000 in federal income taxes if you take the standard deduction, personal exemption and child care tax credit. There's another $1,800 or so in FICA, plus all your state and local taxes and fees.

This same person also will not qualify for SCHIP, Food Stamps, Section 8 housing etc.

Who makes 35k a year? 

poor people.

[michigancat]

teachers?

[Kat Kid]

teachers?

poor people

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

teachers?

Not in your neck of the woods.

[06wildcat]

teachers?

Not in your neck of the woods.

I bet they're not paying taxes either right JD 

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

teachers?

Not in your neck of the woods.

I bet they're not paying taxes either right JD 

They're making $100K, so I would assume they are.  I just hope those making $35,000 aren't coming to you for tax advice.

[Rage Against the McKee]

teachers?

Not in your neck of the woods.

I bet they're not paying taxes either right JD 

They're making $100K, so I would assume they are.  I just hope those making $35,000 aren't coming to you for tax advice.

I don't think they could afford much better advice.

[michigancat]

teachers in my neck of the woods are not making $100k.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

teachers in my neck of the woods are not making $100k.

I thought you were in the Bay area?

[michigancat]

teachers in my neck of the woods are not making $100k.

I thought you were in the Bay area?

yep

http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Teacher-Elementary-School-Salary-Details-Oakland-CA.aspx

http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Teacher-Elementary-School-Salary-Details-San-Francisco-CA.aspx

[06wildcat]

So JD, care to point out where I went wrong figuring the tax on a head of household making $35k? I mean your understanding of the current tax code is so vast and all. How big of check is the government going to cut that hypothetical person?

I even gave the person the benefit of the doubt that the kid was under 12 and sent to a qualifying daycare for the tax credit.

8500 standard deduction
3700 personal exemption
900 or so childcare credit
$1,000 child tax credit

What else do you want to add in here?

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

teachers in my neck of the woods are not making $100k.

I thought you were in the Bay area?

yep

http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Teacher-Elementary-School-Salary-Details-Oakland-CA.aspx

http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Teacher-Elementary-School-Salary-Details-San-Francisco-CA.aspx

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/26/995141/see-how-well-your-school-district.html

[Rage Against the McKee]

teachers in my neck of the woods are not making $100k.

I thought you were in the Bay area?

yep

http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Teacher-Elementary-School-Salary-Details-Oakland-CA.aspx

http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Teacher-Elementary-School-Salary-Details-San-Francisco-CA.aspx

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/26/995141/see-how-well-your-school-district.html

That only shows that teachers are not making $100,000 in the bay area. Administrators are not teachers.