100-Person Poll: Service Workers, Teachers, Suits - The Money Guide -- New York Magazine

100-Person Poll

Compare Spending and Saving Habits
• SERVICE WORKERS • TEACHERS • SUITS (↓)

(Photo: Eric McNatt)

SUITS

Gender
Male . . . 76
Female . . . 24

Age
20–29 . . . 33
30–39 . . . 39
40–49 . . . 18
50–59 . . . 5
60 and over . . . 5

Are you married?
No . . . 50
Yes . . . 47
Living with partner . . . 3

How many kids do you have?
None . . . 56
1 . . . 17
2 . . . 17
3 . . . 8
4 or more . . . 2

What’s your approximate salary?
Less than $35k . . . 4
$35k–$50k . . . 6
$50k–$75k . . . 15
$75k–$100k . . . 16
$100k–$150k . . . 16
$150k–$250k . . . 27
$250k–$500k . . . 9
$500k–$1m . . . 2
$1m–$5m . . . 3
More than $5m . . . 1

Are you underpaid or overpaid?
Underpaid . . . 50
Overpaid . . . 8
Paid the right amount . . . 42

How much would someone need to live comfortably in New York?
$100,000 . . . 18
$300,000 . . . 43
$500,000 . . . 16
$750,000 . . . 4
$1 million . . . 9
$10 million . . . 2
It’s never enough . . . 6

Do you worry that New York is becoming a city only for the wealthy?
Yes . . . 61
No . . . 35

Where do you live?
Queens . . . 14
New Jersey . . . 9
Downtown . . . 13
Connecticut . . . 6
Upper West Side . . . 12
Westchester . . . 5
Upper East Side . . . 10
Bronx . . . 1
Midtown . . . 10
Long Island . . . 1
Brooklyn . . . 10

Do you rent or own?
Rent . . . 52
Own . . . 43

How much do you spend on housing per month?
Under $1,500 . . . 28
$1,500–$3,000 . . . 45
$3,000–$5000 . . . 18
$5,000–$10,000 . . . 8
Over $10,000 . . . 1

What’s your biggest money worry?
Retirement . . . 18
Housing . . . 15
Tuition/college loans . . . 6
Kids/family . . . 8
“Job elimination,” “retirement care for aging parent,” “not getting more,” “the IRS,” “paying for the shore house,” “not being able to buy a house for my kids”

How much credit-card debt do you carry?
Pay it off every month . . . 51
Less than $5,000 . . . 31
$5,000–$10,000 . . . 12
$10,000–$15,000 . . . 1
More than $15,000 . . . 4

How much do you save for retirement?
At least 10 percent of my monthly income . . . 60
I put a little away when I can . . . 27
I’ll start saving when I make more money . . . 6
None. I’ll work until I die . . . 4

How often do you eat out each week?
Never . . . 3
Once . . . 20
Twice . . . 29
Three times . . . 30
Almost nightly . . . 17

What’s the most you’d spend on dinner for two?
$25–$74 . . . 5
$75–$149 . . . 8
$150–$249 . . . 25
$250–$499 . . . 29
$500+ . . . 12

The most you’d spend on a pair of shoes?
$25–$74 . . . 3
$75–$149 . . . 21
$150–$249 . . . 30
$250–$499 . . . 18
$500+ . . . 10

Do you ever think twice about taking a taxi because the subway is less expensive?
Yes . . . 47
No . . . 51

Which of the following do you consider necessities?
Cable TV . . . 72
Car . . . 56
Gym membership . . . 40
Place to go away on weekends . . . 26
Eating out at least four days a week . . . 24
Private school for kids . . . 22
Maid/nanny . . . 20
Designer clothes . . . 19
Doorman . . . 15
“Making more money than I can spend,” “glamour care,” “Sunday nights at Pastis,” “good food and wine,” “online poker”

What item have you splurged on in the last year?
iPod . . . $250
Painting . . . $400
Purse . . . $500
Plasma TV . . . $2,000
Mountain bike . . . $3,000
Artwork . . . $4,000
Trip to India . . . $5,000
Engagement ring . . . $9,000
Guitar . . . $12,000
Used Mercedes. . . $14,000
New car. . . $70,000
Divorce attorney. . . $100,000
Shore house . . . $500,000

Polls conducted by Wren Abbot, Amos Barshad, Ariel Brewster, Ilana Diamond, Jocelyn Guest, Ben Mathis-Lilley, Julia Ramey, Emma Rosenblum, Nitasha Tikul, and Wesley Wade.