I think their wastefulness is the key to understanding their spending. It defies logic.
I didn't realize that so many people would want specifics.
Have you met, well, us?
You're 1500 posts into this forum and thought we'd just sit idly by without the juicy details?
I've met a few families with income like that who aren't suffering or close to bankruptcy, but they are seriously cash-poor living paycheck to paycheck. A dual-military couple (both O-4s) with two children I used to know had very expensive habits and spent their money like it didn't need to be counted. They make combined $230k with only $180k of it taxable. I happened to be with them at their house for dinner one evening where they got into an argument about the checking account being damn near empty.
Their financial situation looked roughly like this:
-They just bought a $300k house and it is packed with furniture and electronics
-She drives a brand new SUV, he drives a fairly new Jeep
-She likes wine, he likes cigars. He barbecues every couple nights. They're not Whole Foods shoppers, but man do they buy a lot of food (especially meat).
-He owns a "classic" car (1950s fancy something) that he's restoring.
-Their garage has a ton of tools, ski equipment, and a couple kayaks.
-They're sending "some" money each month "somewhere" for investments. Those quotes are hers.
What you are describing is pretty much DHs entire military office. He's in a "unique" unit and those guys spend SO. MUCH. MONEY. They earn more than the average enlisted guy because of high special pays and it shows.
Literally 70k trunks everywhere. Guys in his office have been ripping on him for a year to get a new truck, some of them literally upgrade...yearly. We live in a teeny tiny townhouse while most of the places we've been in cost 600-800k. Boats, motorcycles, trips etc. It's insane to watch. We've been around for a good while now and so far, have only met one person that's saving at a decent level.
The military, especially in the enlisted ranks, is about keeping up with the Jones'. Most officers don't give a damn, at least from the ones I know.
I've seen cases where the husband has a "modest" $55k pickup truck and the wife is driving a beat up Japanese sedan on it's last legs. And she's the one driving the kids to school morning and evening. Or if both spouses are enlisted, both have nice top-of-the-line rides, but tell their kid she can't go to a party as there's no money in the budget for gifts. (I can say I've heard this over 10 times in 6 years.) There's a lot of brag talk every Monday and Friday about what cars/computers/guns/etc they're going to spend on and boozing and partying.
Now I deal more with officers, and their attitude with money is relatively healthier. Most bring their own lunch, it's a waste of time standing in lunch queues. Weekend talk is more like "I grilled this, and made my own BBQ sauce" or "went to see natural wonder locally with the family" or "just did yard work and laid back with a beer".
Chalk and cheese.
Horses for courses.
