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The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

Date post: 17-Aug-2014
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A second look at a popular article shows glaring errors in how this number was reached.
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The American Dream at $130,000?
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Page 1: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

The American Dream at $130,000?

Page 2: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

1) Housing CostsUSA Today used a house costing $275,000 as its anchor because that was “the median price of a new home.”

Page 3: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

1) Housing Costs

The Problem• According to the National Association of

Homebuilders, new homes account for just 8%-10% of all home sales.

• The other 90% are sales of existing homes—which are much cheaper.

• The American Dream isn’t negated by buying an existing home.

Page 4: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

1) Housing Costs

The Solution• The median existing home price from the

timeframe USA Today used was $198,000.• By weighting the mix of new and existing

home sales, we arrive at a new median home price of $205,000.

• This new price knocks the annual cost of owning a home down to $12,623.

Page 5: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

1) Housing Costs

The Result

Total savings from previous figure= $4,439

New income “needed” for American Dream

$125,918

Page 6: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

2) Car CostsUSA Today assumed an SUV was essential for the American Dream. According to AAA, driving an SUV 15,000 miles in a year costs $11,039.

Page 7: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

2) Car Costs

The Problem• A mid-sized sedan can easily meet the needs of a

family of four, and is far cheaper and more fuel efficient than an SUV.

• The average American driver, according to the Federal Highway Administration, drives less than 10,000 miles per year, further reducing costs.

• An SUV is not essential to living the American Dream.

Page 8: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

2) Car CostsThe SolutionAccording to AAA, a mid-sized sedan driving 10,000 miles per year costs $7,616 per year to own and operate.

Page 9: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

2) Car Costs

The Result

Total savings from previous figure= $3,423

New income “needed” for American Dream

$122,495

Page 10: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

3) Food CostsUSA Today, using USDA numbers, said a family would spend $12,659 on groceries. An extra $3,662 was added for restaurant trips. That comes to $16,321 spent on food.

Page 11: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

3) Food Costs

The Problem• USA Today didn’t read the USDA’s fine print.

The USDA estimates assume, “that all meals and snacks are prepared at home.” [emphasis added.] That means no restaurants.

• These numbers are also significantly higher than what the Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average family spends on food—both at home and while eating out.

Page 12: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

3) Food Costs

The Solution• Normalized for a family of four, with two

children under the age of 18, the BLS figures say that the average American family spends $9,755 on food—both at home and away.

• The USDA guidelines haven’t been updated in seven years and simply don’t reflect the reality of average American eating patterns.

Page 13: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

3) Food Costs

The Result

Total savings from previous figure= $6,566

New income “needed” for American Dream

$115,929

Page 14: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

4) Education CostsUSA Today, while not revealing its methodology, assumes that the average family will spend $4,000 on education between two children.

Page 15: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

4) Education Costs

The Problem• According to the National Center for Education Statistics,

only 9% of the nation’s 55 million school children attend private elementary or secondary schools.

• The Pew Research Foundation says that there are 12.4 million stay-at-home parents, accounting for roughly 28% of all family households. These families typically don’t pay for childcare.

• Attending public school or having a parent stay home does not eliminate you from the American Dream.

Page 16: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

4) Education Costs

The Solution• It is difficult to understand these numbers,

since USA Today did not reveal its methods. • But given the vast majority of public school

students, and spreading out the cost of childcare over 18 years, we’ll assume (liberally) that the average family spends $3,000 per year on education.

Page 17: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

4) Education Costs

The Result

Total savings from previous figure= $1,000

New income “needed” for American Dream

$114,929

Page 18: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

5) Summer Vacation CostsUSA Today, using numbers from an American Express survey, say that the average family will spend $4,580 on a summer vacation.

Page 19: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

5) Summer Vacation Costs

The Problem• Again, USA Today didn’t read the fine print.

American Express readily admits that its survey includes “an affluent demographic, defined by a minimum annual household income of $100,000.”

• Obviously, the American Dream family will need over $100,000 if data is being pulled from this subset.

• You don’t need a $4,580 vacation to live the American Dream.

Page 20: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

5) Summer Vacation CostsThe SolutionMoney Magazine and AAA have conducted far more representative surveys. They estimate the average American family spends $1,600 on its summer vacation.

Page 21: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

5) Summer Vacation Costs

The Result

Total savings from previous figure= $2,980

New income “needed” for American Dream=$111,949

Page 22: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

6) Tax CostsAs the paper states: “Total federal, state, and local taxes were pegged at 30% for households at this income level, based on a model developed for Citizens for Tax Justice.”

Page 23: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

6) Tax Costs

The Problem• The CTJ includes ALL taxes paid, including sales tax.

By using these numbers, USA Today double-counted taxes on the tens of thousands of dollars already spent.

• The CTJ adds in unearned income from investments to one’s adjusted gross income. But according to USA Today’s model, all investments are in tax-deferred retirement accounts—meaning no unearned income is present.

Page 24: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

6) Tax CostsThe SolutionFirst, we would need to figure out your adjusted gross income (AGI). The major deductions you could take/consider:• A standard deduction of $12,200 for a married couple

filing jointly, which is the example USA Today used.• Four personal exemptions at $3,950 each for a total of

$15,800.• Remember, your 401(k) contributions won’t count

toward your AGI either.

Page 25: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

6) Tax CostsThe Solution• Your federal income tax bill would come to $6,280.• According to the Tax Foundation, the median average

combined state and local tax rate is 6.9% (varies wildly by state). Based on your AGI, you would pay $3,300.

• The New York Times calculated the average property tax rate in the United States at 1.38% (again, varies wildly). With a property worth $205,000, you would pay $2,830.

• Your new tax burden would be $12,401.

Page 26: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

6) Tax Costs

The Result

Total savings from previous figure= $19,956

New income “needed” for American Dream

$91,993

Page 27: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

7) Retirement CostsUSA Today encouraged maxing out 401(k) savings at $17,500, or 15%--which it stated was “in line with financial planners’ recommendations.”

Page 28: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

7) Retirement Costs

The Problem• There’s actually no problem here. If you can put

away the maximum into your 401(k), the more power to you.

• However, it would end up being far more than the 15% USA Today mentioned as a good guideline.

• You don’t need to put away this much to live the American Dream.

Page 29: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

7) Retirement CostsThe Solution• Using the new income level after all of our

adjustments, you would want to put away $13,175 per year in your 401(k) if 15% was your goal.

Page 30: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

7) Retirement Costs

The Result

Total savings from previous figure= $4,325

New income “needed” for American Dream

$87,668

Page 31: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

That’s one-third lower than USA Today’s

number!

Page 32: The American Dream Costs Much Less Than $130,000

Important Points to Remember

1. Assuming this new number, roughly one-third of U.S. households could have the American Dream—much better than one in eight.

2. However, almost no one’s situation will match this exactly. Everyone’s life situation (and definition of the American Dream) is different.

3. This simply illustrates some facts that weren’t taken into consideration.


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