I was browsing a medical forum trying to read some reviews on residency programs for my husband.

This person posted their budget as a example of how they are still poor even as a attending. (obviously using a toungue and cheek reference) But showing how you can still easily spend a 250k salary and not having a lot to show for it.

So what is it...Poor...Or bad decisions?



Gross Pay $17,647

Fixed Expenses

Mortgage $3180
Other mortgage (still trying to sell it) $816
Taxes (Federal, State, SS, and medicare) $3925
Utilities $608
Insurance (Life, disability, property, liability-not malpractice) $700
401K $3406
Charity $1990

Subtotal of Fixed Expenses: $14,625

Variable Expenses
Gas $336
Food $829
Various other stuff such as entertainment, clothing, home furnishings, kids sports, gym memberships, "allowances", gifts, healthcare etc $1235
Savings towards next car, next vacation, emergency fund etc $622

Subtotal of Variable Expenses $3022

Total Expenses $17647

sorry. NOT poor.
They have more than enough and all of that IS NOT necessity
and being poor you don't even HAVE a vacation fund.

They are poor because of their decisions. They aren't living within their means. Honestly, they don't have to be donating almost $2k to charity... especially if it makes them poor.

Are you serious? LOL.. He has enough money to give to charity, savings, "extras", what have you.. He isn't poor. At all.

"Poor" is subjective. To me, poor means you are missing something in your life and that doesn't have to mean money. If they are happy and have everything covered, I don't see it as poor.

While I understand his point about being poor at income...I can't agree that he is "poor" in the sense that people living in poverty are.

While I admire his contribution to charity...I still feel like STFU.

They arent broke. They are putting over $600 a month into savings and $3,500 towards retirement. I don't know what charity they are giving to thats getting almost $2k a month that seems high but hey not my money. Also $1,200 a month for "fun" seems like they are living just fine.

they are not poor. they spend it all, so they are broke.

He isn't poor. He is simply financially stupid and unable to budget properly.

wow. ya i think its ridiculous spending. we are not poor. and we get about 1600 after taxes. we just spend it wisely. and we always have our bills paid and we always have left over 'play' money. i think people get too wrapped up in 'bigger is better' nowdays. which is not true most of the time.

They're not poor by far.

This is not poor. This is living above your means and then thinking you are poor.

<blockquote><b>Quoting *...*...*...*:</b>" I was browsing SDN trying to read some reviews on residency programs for my husband. (It's a pre-medical, ... [snip!] ... towards next car, next vacation, emergency fund etc $622 Subtotal of Variable Expenses $3022 Total Expenses $17647"</blockquote>




Not poor. Most of those are luxuries and not needs. They wouldn't survive if they were poor...

Quoting LolaMcKitten:" "Poor" is subjective. To me, poor means you are missing something in your life and that doesn't have to mean money. If they are happy and have everything covered, I don't see it as poor. "

Right. But this particular person was arguing the point that since becoming a attending his bills have increased and that all your hopes and dreams don't come true once you finish residency and become a attending.


Which I felt was ridiculous to claim that and post such large budgets on optional things.

I dont know about the original topic but money is never enough when you want to live comfortably especially when you have kids no matter how much income you have.

How much do they have left to spend for themselves every month op?