Four Women, Four Income Brackets: A Candid Conversation on Their Lifestyles

Four Women, Four Income Brackets: A Candid Conversation on Their Lifestyles

Esquire has a really interesting series interviewing people at different income levels. They’ve recently featured four women who make $1,000,000, $350,000, $80,000 per year, and $650 per week.

1. $1,000,000/Year Woman, 34 Years Old:
– Just started budgeting.
– Spends $200 a week on groceries.
– Wants to travel more but feels stuck at her job.
– Plans on working indefinitely.
– Struggles with cash flow and feels “broke” if a deal gets delayed.

2. $350,000/Year Woman, 37 Years Old:
– A real estate investor who started in med school.
– Along with her husband’s salary and years of investing, she just reached $1,000,000 in net worth, feeling she should be further ahead.
– Spends over $2,000 a month on dining out.
– Can’t find enough time for family.
– Financed a car but paid it off quickly.

3. $80,000/Year Woman, 38 Years Old:
– Has a stay-at-home husband but still paying off student loans.
– Does not have an emergency fund and relies on credit cards for unexpected expenses.
– Plans to delay retirement to help her kids with college costs.
– Will be paying off student loans until she’s 47, just eight years short of retirement.
– Hopes to make $100,000 in ten years, factoring in a 3% annual raise.
– Prioritizes health over financial stability and lives with constant stress due to financial insecurity.

4. Poverty Line Woman, $650 Per Week, 38 Years Old:
– Lost most material possessions in a divorce.
– Has monthly expenses of $400 for rent, $360 for the car, and nearly $1,000 for groceries. Spends $40 on cable for her two autistic kids.
– Despite financial struggles, she feels they’re managing.
– Faces an uncertain future with moving plans in June but still claims to have a stable life.
– Finds laundry expenses high but hasn’t looked into cheaper alternatives.
– Never considered retirement and plans to earn $7,000 a month in ten years.
– Feels that taxes are too high.

What do you think? Do these stories reflect the average experiences of people at these income levels? Who would you rather be?