They're exactly at median for their county.

You don't know how people live here. I've lived here my whole life. Living simple is a way of life. Garage sales are rather popular.

I guess they know how to stretch a dollar.

Well, I'd say that if you think that > median income is "bare bones living" then you really have no idea what living just over the poverty line is like.

I imagine that it sucks.

This stat doesn't really change 55k isn't good for a duel income family. That's like 14 per hr.

For sure it is, especially if you don't have children or you have grown children. But like 50k with two kids (especially in not Iowa) is like right at the poor/not poor boundary imo.

They raised two kids while my dad was paying child support for my sister and me. I can ask him how he did it but I've done their taxes and know how much they make. They live pretty comfortable. They're all real fat too so I know they eat well :P (my step mom looooooves to cook, there's always cookies or brownies or something there when I go over).

Though for sure, anywhere else and that could be dumpster diving money but in ruralish Iowa it's pretty normal.

ETA: I just remembered he used to work a lot of overtime. His income while my brother and sister were little may have been like 10k/more per year. His job hasn't had much over time for awhile (couple years and I know he's been looking elsewhere) but they're not paying for my siblings any more.

They also got giant refunds from the government for taxes as he claimed 3 kids (2 siblings and he got to claim me from divorce decree) so they weren't paying anything really in federal taxes.

50k with two kids and both parents working full time in SF, Boston, NY, LA, or somewhere like that would be pretty grim.

Yeah, I made like 70k by myself in LA and I couldn't imagine what it would be like to throw 3 more people on there and subtract 20k.

And yet over half the county does just that (ok, maybe only 1/3 in SF, Boston [oops no Boston median <50k], NY, LA)...

I think there's a big lack of reality itt re: what the average American earns.

Or I understand what the average American earns and think that America has a lot of poors.

"Knowing" and "understanding" are two very different things. Also, you might want to look up "median" and compare that to "average."

No denying America has a lot of poor people, but if you define 50k as poor, you're an idiot.

Lol might want to read a little better before declaring other people idiots

there probably isn't some magical number where people are just fine and dandy...but if there is, it most likely is >50k

Says the single most frequently wrong poster in the politard forum. Let me know what Fox news tells you to think this week, mmmkay?

Thing is, it really depends on where you live.

Except that we're talking "median," not "fine and dandy." Median has a statistical definition, fine-and-dandy isn't even acceptable here.

I said I understand what the "average American makes" in reference to your post that mentioned the median income. Note this is different from the "average income". If you're going to be a nitty douche you might want to make sure you're right.

OK, where would you put the poor/not poor boundary for a two earner family of four? 50k isn't desperately poor but their budget is going to be very very tight. Like 50k is a waitress married to a security guard. If they're in any of the cities I mentioned they're struggling at least a little.

no, you are postulating that 50k = "not poor" (because it is the median). I am opining that you are wrong in some if not most cases.

as for the bold: yes, it does. so do "mean" and "mode"

How much does the "average American" earn, and how does that compare to median earnings? Your "I understand what the average American makes" statement SCREAMS "I don't actually understand what the average American makes, but I like to pretend I do."

Also, ~35k.

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/lis...omelevels.html

There's actually no standard definition for "low income," as it varies among government agencies. But TRIO is a start.

We can have this discussion if you want, but since I analyze data pertaining to Pell grant recipients for a living, you might not be able to offer much in the way of data-driven insight.

lol pell grants.

What is that even supposed to mean?

the correlation between your job and your opinions makes sense to me. seems like you believe something along the lines of: "Well, 50k income would disqualify a family from receiving a pell grant, therefore 50k must be well off!"

You don't seem to understand that I am not making a demographic argument. That is my whole point. I'm not saying "200k is top 5% of income, so those people are rich" or "bottom 10% of income is 15k, so those people are poor." I am starting with a lifestyle and working from there.

But seriously, I'd love to hear your threshold for a poor family of four in Boston. You think I'm stupid for thinking that 50k between two working parents with two kids is poor. Well, what do you think the threshold is?