I figure a lot of folks are doing their taxes these days, so it might be a good time to ask a budget and spending question. I’m curious as to how your annual spending compares to the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Here are the 2008 stats, find the number of people in your family and look at the column on the right.
2008 HHS Poverty Guidelines
Persons in Family or Household |
48 Contiguous States and D.C. |
Alaska | Hawaii |
---|---|---|---|
1 | $10,400 | $13,000 | $11,960 |
2 | 14,000 | 17,500 | 16,100 |
3 | 17,600 | 22,000 | 20,240 |
4 | 21,200 | 26,500 | 24,380 |
5 | 24,800 | 31,000 | 28,520 |
6 | 28,400 | 35,500 | 32,660 |
7 | 32,000 | 40,000 | 36,800 |
8 | 35,600 | 44,500 | 40,940 |
For each additional person, add |
3,600 | 4,500 | 4,140 |
I don’t know how many of you keep close track of your monthly spending, have a monthly budget or anything like that, but if you do, follow the steps below and fill out the survey questions.
- Find the Poverty line for your household size on the chart.
- Take your monthly or annual budget.
- Subtract from your monthly or annual budget any school loans.
- If you have a mortgage, subtract the Principal and Interest portion, and only include the taxes and home insurance. (Anything you’d continue to pay even after you no longer had a mortgage and completely owned the home).
- No compare your budget and the Poverty Guideline.
How do they compare? Fill out your answer in the survey below (it’s anonymous).
I know, kind of a bizarre question. I’ve posted on this topic before, but I’m working on some more financial related posts/articles and wanted to do a quick reader survey. Thanks for humoring me. Definitely post comments if you have any on the topic.