Rich 45-year-old mom guesses that the average American makes $300K annually, freaks out after discovering it's closer to $50K: 'I spend that much on clothes every year!'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Mar 12, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

She's so out of touch that all you can do is laugh about it.

Have you noticed that the more money someone makes, the more out of touch they become? There are people out there who fully believe that you cannot afford to live in New York City unless you make $250K+. They find it inconceivable that anyone could live in one of the five boroughs for less than half of that, despite the fact that the median salary of New York City residents is $73,950. That means that half of NYC's population earns less than $73,950 per year and manages to live to tell the tale. 

There is obviously a difference between living "comfortably" and struggling to survive in an expensive area. I wouldn't judge someone who can afford to live like a king in Oklahoma for wanting to keep their economic freedom rather than opt for a shoebox in Manhattan. At the same time, it's out of touch to act like someone living outside of your comfort zone is living a miserable life of abject poverty. A renter might enjoy that lifestyle and will probably feel insulted if a homeowner treats them as if they are living in abject poverty. It's pretty clueless to say, "I could NEVER survive on only $70K a year," because many people live on much less and do fine. If you are the 1%, it's beneficial to be grateful for what you have rather than looking down on those who have less than you.

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  • A wealthy woman sitting on the grass in front of a mansion
    via Wesley Tingey (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The rich mom in this story is friends with a poor mom, but she can't help flapping her lips about how inconceivable it'd be to live on $50K a year. That's a tough pill to swallow for the stay-at-home mom of three kids who is living on $70K annually. 

  • My rich friends are incredibly out of touch with the average American

    I live in a very large city in America, my daughter is zoned for elementary school to one of the richest neighborhoods in America, but I live literally around the corner in apartments in the barrio.
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • But as a result I've made some upper class friends we have playdates with. The other day we went to a playdate and one mom said something super crazy about divorcing her (very rich) husband and easily replacing him.
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • Rich businessman flying first class and working on the plan and talking on the phone
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I said something like, well you know he's in the top 1 percent of income in the country?
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • And she laughed and was like, um, no?? So I asked her what she thinks the \average\ American makes, and guys...
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • She said-- I kid you not-- I dunno about $300 thousand? After almost choking I said, no ma'am, average is about $50k, my husband at 57 years old JUST started making $70k...
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • that's why we live in a crappy apartment (I'm a SAHM). And she said... I kid you not...
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • THERE'S NO WAY THE AVERAGE INCOME IS 50K I SPEND THAT MUCH ON CLOTHES EVERY YEAR YOU COULDN'T SURVIVE guess we're just out here living off $300k in a crappy inner city apartment with 3 kids because...???
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • An apartment building with balconies
    via Plastic Lines

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • CarelessSalamander51 Original Poster's Reply She is very attractive in the face, but 45 and about 100 pounds overweight. That's not even the issue though, her daughter is 7 with SERIOUS behavioral problems lol
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • bbonezbby_ I meaaaaannnn..... Nah jk. But deff network with her people, you can prob find a nice paying job thru them easily. Take any hand-me-down clothes or home decor/furniture she has, rich people throw away things us normal people consider nice things all the time. Become friends with more of her rich friends. Eventually you'll get a leg up!
    via u/bbonezbby_
  • CarelessSalamander51 Original Poster's Reply Oh BELIEVE ME, I get the BEST hand me downs. My rich friends are all actually very kind and they know we're broke. When I had my last baby I inherited a used $500 stroller, a really nice breast pump, a bassinet that rocks the baby to sleep, etc. They also give my 9 year old amazing clothes. I definitely have benefits just from befriending the elites lol!
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • Gizsmo Use this chance to benefit yourself. That's it
    via u/Gizsm0
  • CarelessSalamander51 Original Poster's Reply Lol should I steal her husband??
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • Quiet-Bandicoot-9574 some people are so disconnected. This is why most Americans lack empathy bc they live in a different reality
    via u/Quiet-Bandicoot-9574
  • CarelessSalamander51 Original Poster's Reply I mean, I don't think she's a typical American
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • TrickyInteraction 778 I mean, being able to live on one income and be a SAHM is also a privilege as most families can't survive on one income
    via u/TrickyInteraction778
  • CarelessSalamander51 Original Poster's Reply We're 5 people in a tiny apartment in a bad neighborhood wearing hand me downs and eating Ramen. It's a choice
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • LdyAce Not only do they state at the bottom of the post that they have 2 more children to worry about that could be too young for school, but finding a job that allows you to get your child off to school and be home for them after work with no childcare is harder than people think.
    via u/LdyAce
  • CarelessSalamander51 Original Poster's Reply My youngest was born in December. I could never afford daycare for a 2 1/2 month old
    via u/CarelessSalamander51
  • RealisticPower5859 The wealth disparity and how clueless a few are about how most of us live is astounding. I can't imagine $50000 on clothing. Like incomprehensible
    via u/RealisticPower5859

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