Am I house poor if I only have $200-700 left over after bills?

Question

By bills I mean after paying for everything I need to - including gas, food, phone, etc.

Answer

Everyone’s perspective on this is going to be different. If that is all you have left over after all your monthly living expenses are paid I think you are stretching yourself very thin and I hope you have several months of expenses put aside in an emergency fund. 
If that’s what you have left over after all living expenses, plus retirement savings, plus extra spending like gifts, vacations, clothing, etc, well then you sound comfortable and you should think about putting extra aside in investments if it’s accumulating in your bank account. 
I think some people are confusing “house poor” with poverty and the two are very different. Your mortgage and utilities should only account for a certain amount of your monthly budget, when it exceeds that you are house poor.

Answer

I guess the fact that you have any leftover at all is really good. Some people don’t get that luxury.

Answer

Really wasn't a dumb question

Answer

I don’t think that’s a lot to have left over.

Answer

i don’t think your question was dumb, you were just looking for an outside perspective. to answer your question, no, i wouldnt consider you “house poor.”

Answer

Does this include putting some away for retirement too?
If so, then I think you’re doing pretty well.

Answer

After bills we have 300 left sometimes and sometimes more, but I wouldn’t consider it being poor. Not everybody has money, and I would rather be comfortable knowing my bills are paid and my kids are fed with a roof over their heads than me to have money and not feel accomplished at all. I’m not poor even if I had less than 100. Because I have a home and everything else, it’s not poor to not have money at all. Some people are just less fortunate than others.

Answer

That is really a wide gap between 200 and 700. Besides paying bills are you putting money in a retirement account? Do you have a long term and short term(as in emergency) savings account? Habe you already accounted for fun money such as eating out, vacations, etc.?

Answer

I hope nothing goes wrong with your house because that $700 you have left after bills is going to be gone in no time. Just calling a plumber to look at a problem it’s $75-150. If you can’t afford repairs to your home or don’t have the money saved for it, you’re definitely house poor. I also hope your house is already furnished because once again $700 ain’t gonna cut it.

Answer

I think that’s fine if it’s money you can save and put away!

Am I house poor if I only have $200-700 left over after bills?

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