<p>I don’t know–every year alive beats the alternative in my book. I’m still growing and learning. Have been having a great time in my 50s, but then I say that every decade. ;)</p>
<p>I will be honest. Every decade is good so far but my favorite years are also 25-45. </p>
<p>But…I don’t have grandchildren yet. :)</p>
<p>I figure it would be very depressing to get to the point at which I was finally able to retire, and then not be happy. Though I feel I have generally been happy most of my life, I’d say the twenties were very stressful. A huge amount of pressure and responsibility. The thirties were a little less pressure, but less time for myself. The forties had less stress, and the fifties are far less. I am always happy, but I am happier when I don’t have that anchor of stress around me all the time. I really miss some of the times when my kids were little. If I could just change them back to little kids for an hour or two at a time, it would be perfect.</p>
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When I was in my twenties my sense of happiness was firm & perky. Now gravity has taken over…</p>
<p>Maybe selective amnesia is a good thing–I tend to gloss over the unpleasant and difficult times of early childhood and the tough times the kids and I have been through, mainly remembering the happy times. It’s easier to do, since things are in a nice place for us and OK place for them right now. Gravity, fortunately has never had any effect on my sense of happiness–hope it never does.</p>
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<p>So how do the median households in NYC making $51,865 manage to survive if the household making $200,000 with $90,000 after income taxes and private school costs struggles to make ends meet?</p>
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They get to go to Harvard for free.</p>
<p>Housing is the biggest expense for New Yorkers.
NYC is made up of 5 boroughs and housing outside of Manhattan is relatively less expensive.
For low income residents, you can qualify for assistance from NYC Housing Authority(NYCHA) which is the largest public housing authority in North America. NYCHA residents and Section 8 voucher holders combined occupy 12.4 percent of the City’s rental apartments and comprise 7.4 percent of New York City’s population.
In 2011,NYC was home to 1,025,214 rent regulated units, representing 47% of total rental housing stock.</p>
<p>For the rest of those who are in regular housing, the expenses are huge.</p>
<p>Can’t imagine why anyone would live in NY anymore. I live on Long Island and housing is so astronomical if you want to live in a truly decent neighborhood anywhere within 40 minutes of Manhattan, it’s ridiculous.</p>
<p>Also, housing outside of Manhattan is not much cheaper. Parts of Queens and Brooklyn are as expensive as Manhattan. Brooklyn especially has been shooting up recently.</p>
<p>“So how do the median households in NYC making $51,865 manage to survive if the household making $200,000 with $90,000 after income taxes and private school costs struggles to make ends meet?
They get to go to Harvard for free.”</p>
<p>A non-answer, since the vast vast majority don’t have kids who get into Harvard. How do they manage on an everyday basis? Answer-they live lives that are “below”, invisible to and unacceptable to people who make 200k.</p>
<p>And I am not arguing that 200k in NY is “rich”; I am arguing, however, that there is a real blindness that people do live on less than that. But, you know, “not our kind of people.” It’s the same blindness of “gosh, our school sends 20 kids to Ivies each year - doesn’t yours?” It’s the same blindness of “you mean someone can go to a state school and do something beyond flip burgers?” Why, it’s the blindness exhibited by a poster who “just found out” at forty something that there were actual cities outside the northeast. </p>
<p>I get that no one at 200k in NYC feels rich, but if they really don’t get that TONS of people do live on less, they’re ignorant. </p>
<p>@PG, I didn’t mean “harvard” literally. The point i did a poor job of trying to make, is that @ucb’s median NYC household making 51k will qualify for a high amt of college FA. </p>
<p>Not nearly enough to make up the difference between $200k and 51k in terms of paying for things.</p>
<p>Yes, but the bigger point ucb is trying to make is - how do they survive day to day? </p>
<p>I mean, I don’t see anyone who makes 200k voluntarily quitting and going to a 50k job because oh look, we will get to go to Harvard for free. Resentment of 50k people for getting Harvard for free seems really misplaced to me. It’s like “envying” people who get food stamps. Well, I’d still rather be in the position of being able to buy my own groceries. </p>
<p>We are a full pay family. H and I have never even once complained about that. We know that our income is far higher than the median and even in the expensive area we live in we are able to live well (though not extravagantly) and also save. We feel very fortunate.</p>
<p>I don’t resent poor people going to harvard for free. I resent that harvard and other schools have let their costs spiral out of control (3X the rate of household income). </p>
<p>Private manufacturing companies have to keep a lid on costs, or there’s hell to pay in the marketplace. When colleges don’t keep a lid on spending, there seems to be no negative consequences for them. </p>
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<p>Of course, resenting “50k people” for getting financial aid doesn’t make sense, but I’m pretty sure that I’ve never encountered that resentment in real life. Otoh, there are people who have considerably more and look for ways to misrepresent their assets and income. I spend time on Bogleheads, a forum that generally holds to a high ethical standard, but there are posts there about how to game the FA system. </p>
<p>Similarly, I think nobody resents the use of food stamps unless they are used by people who obviously don’t need them, or use them for junk food. </p>
<p>^ I have heard people voice resentment toward people who are lower income and get substantial FA. The people who I have heard make these remarks always seem to be those who live quite well. I don’t get it.</p>
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<p>This, I too resent. Totally support those with TRUE need getting it, but not those who cheat.</p>
<p>@FallGirl, why do u not get it? Do u expect lower income people who get substantial FA to voice resentment?</p>
<p>GMT - I guess my post was not clear. What I do not get are the folks who have money and live quite well who bitterly complain about people who get a lot of FA.
Why would I expect lower income people who get substantial FA to complain? And why would I resent it? </p>