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Bringing home $13,000 a month after taxes would sound like financial comfort to many Americans. But one New York City couple says they are struggling to understand why they are saving so little despite earning what appears to be a solid income and carrying no debt.<\/p>\n
The couple shared their situation in the r\/DaveRamsey<\/a> community, explaining that they\u2019re in their early 30s, earn a combined $13,000 per month after taxes and health insurance, and still find themselves with only about $1,000 left over for savings at the end of most months.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel insane,\u201d the poster wrote. \u201cI feel ridiculous and have no idea how 2 people in their early 30s are apparently blowing through $5.5k a month.\u201d<\/p>\n Don’t Miss:<\/p>\n The Budget Problem <\/p>\n The poster said they pay $4,500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in New York City, including utilities. They\u2019re also spending roughly $2,000 per month on wedding-related expenses, including deposits and alterations ahead of a June wedding.<\/p>\n After accounting for those costs, they estimate they still have about $6,500 available each month for everything else.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think we live extravagantly,\u201d the poster wrote, adding that they go out to dinner a couple of times per month, generally cook at home and occasionally travel to nearby cities.<\/p>\n \u201cI keep going through our receipts for the month and there\u2019s no hidden mysterious purchases or anything,\u201d they added. \u201cBut we should be saving more<\/a> and we\u2019re not. I feel so embarrassed.\u201d<\/p>\n Many commenters argued that the issue wasn\u2019t income<\/a> but a lack of budgeting.<\/p>\n Trending: Everyone’s watching EV stocks \u2014 fewer are paying attention to the lithium powering them<\/a><\/p>\n One of the most common pieces of advice was that reviewing receipts after money has already been spent isn\u2019t enough. Instead, commenters encouraged the couple to create a detailed budget before each month begins and assign every dollar a purpose.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t tell your money where to go, you\u2019ll never know where it went,\u201d one commenter wrote.<\/p>\n Others recommended budgeting tools, saying they were surprised by how quickly small purchases like coffee, food delivery, cocktails, ride-share trips and subscriptions added up over time.<\/p>\n For households trying to balance high living costs with long-term savings goals, some experts recommend working with a financial adviser to evaluate budgeting, investment strategy and future planning decisions together rather than treating them separately. Tools like AdvisorMatch<\/a> help connect users with financial advisers who can assist with areas such as cash flow planning, retirement strategy and tax-efficient saving.<\/a><\/p>\n Wedding Costs And NYC Living <\/p>\n The discussion also turned to the couple\u2019s housing costs.<\/p>\n Many commenters focused on the $4,500 monthly rent payment, arguing that New York City living comes with financial tradeoffs.<\/p>\n \u201cYour zip code is an extravagance,\u201d one commenter wrote.<\/p>\n See Also: More Than Half of Americans Aren’t Prepared for Retirement \u2014 Including 62% of Gen Y<\/a><\/p>\n Not everyone agreed. Some pointed out that $4,500 is not unusual for many neighborhoods in Manhattan or Brooklyn and that moving farther away could result in longer commutes and additional transportation costs.<\/p>\n Several commenters also added that the couple\u2019s wedding expenses are temporary. Once the wedding is over, the roughly $2,000 monthly outlay could potentially be redirected toward savings.<\/p>\n In an update, the original poster thanked commenters for their suggestions and said the conversation had helped clarify the issue.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is nothing to be embarrassed about, this is common for a lot of Americans,\u201d one person added.<\/p>\n Read Next: Want to trade futures with more buying power without putting up a larger personal account? See how qualifying traders are using Apex Trader Funding to access funded accounts through evaluation programs.<\/a><\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.<\/p>\n Rad AI<\/p>\n RAD Intel is an AI-driven marketing platform helping brands improve campaign performance by turning complex data into actionable insights for content, influencer strategy, and ROI optimization.<\/a> Positioned within the multi-hundred-billion-dollar digital marketing industry, the company works with global brands across sectors to improve targeting precision and creative performance using its analytics and AI tools. With strong revenue growth, expanding enterprise contracts, and a Nasdaq ticker reserved under $RADI, RAD Intel is opening access to its Regulation A+ offering, giving investors exposure to the growing intersection of AI, marketing, and creator economy infrastructure.<\/p>\n Immersed<\/p>\n Immersed is a spatial computing company building immersive productivity software that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens inside VR and mixed-reality environments.<\/a> Its platform is used by remote workers and enterprises to create virtual workspaces that reduce reliance on traditional physical hardware while improving focus and collaboration. The company is also developing its own lightweight VR headset and AI productivity tools, positioning itself in the future-of-work and spatial computing space. Through its pre-IPO offering, Immersed is opening access to early-stage investors looking to diversify beyond traditional assets and gain exposure to emerging technologies shaping how people work.<\/p>\n Connect Invest<\/p>\n Connect Invest is a real estate investment platform that allows investors to access short-term, fixed-income opportunities backed by a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial real estate loans.<\/a> Through its Short Notes structure, investors can choose defined terms (6, 12, or 24 months) and earn monthly interest payments while gaining exposure to real estate as an asset class. For investors focused on diversification, Connect Invest may serve as one component within a broader portfolio that also includes traditional equities, fixed income, and other alternative assets\u2014helping balance exposure across different risk and return profiles.<\/p>\n rHealth<\/p>\n rHealth is building a space-tested diagnostics platform designed to bring lab-quality blood testing closer to patients in minutes rather than weeks<\/a>. Originally validated in collaboration with NASA for use aboard the International Space Station, the technology is now being adapted for at-home and point-of-care settings to address widespread delays in diagnostic access.<\/p>\n Backed by institutions including NASA and the NIH, rHealth is targeting the large global diagnostics market with a multi-test platform and a model built around devices, consumables, and software. With FDA registration in progress, the company is positioning itself as a potential shift toward faster, more decentralized healthcare testing.<\/p>\n Arrived<\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100<\/a>. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.<\/p>\n Masterworks<\/p>\n Masterworks enables investors to diversify into blue-chip art, an alternative asset class with historically low correlation to stocks and bonds<\/a>. Through fractional ownership of museum-quality works by artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, investors gain access without the high costs or complexities of owning art outright. With hundreds of offerings and strong historical exits on select works, Masterworks adds a scarce, globally traded asset to portfolios seeking long-term diversification.<\/p>\n Lightstone<\/p>\n Lightstone DIRECT gives accredited investors access to institutional-quality multifamily real estate opportunities backed by a vertically integrated operator with more than $12 billion in assets under management and a 40-year track record.<\/a> With more than 25,000 multifamily units nationwide \u2014 including significant exposure to low-supply Midwest markets where rent growth has remained resilient \u2014 Lightstone is positioning investors to benefit from tightening housing supply, strong occupancy trends, and long-term rental demand. Through Lightstone DIRECT, individuals can co-invest alongside the firm, which commits at least 20% to each deal, offering exposure to professionally managed multifamily assets designed to generate durable income and long-term appreciation beyond the traditional stock market.<\/p>\n AdviserMatch<\/p>\n AdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs<\/a>. Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.<\/p>\n Accredited Debt Relief<\/p>\n Accredited Debt Relief is a debt consolidation company focused on helping consumers reduce and manage unsecured debt through structured programs and personalized solutions<\/a>. Having supported more than 1 million clients and helped resolve over $3 billion in debt, the company operates within the growing consumer debt relief industry, where demand continues to rise alongside record household debt levels. Its process includes a quick qualification survey, personalized program matching, and ongoing support, with eligible clients potentially reducing monthly payments by 40% or more. With industry recognition, an A+ BBB rating, and multiple customer service awards, Accredited Debt Relief positions itself as a data-driven, client-focused option for individuals seeking a more manageable path toward becoming debt-free.<\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/p>\n This article NYC Couple Making $13K A Month Is Barely Breaking Even And Say They Feel Ridiculous And Embarrassed For Blowing Through $5.5K A Month<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. 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