My Husband & I Make $160,000 a Year & 'We Live Paycheck to Paycheck' Raising 4 Kids

Life is really expensive right now. There is no denying that many families are feeling the effects of inflation at the gas pump, the grocery store, and even with things like streaming services. It seems nothing is immune to an increase in price. Yet, for a lot of people, salaries aren't rising at the same rate as the cost of living, and budgets are tight.

During the holidays, money is even tighter for families who need to provide the necessities for their families but also want to do extra things for their kids. A mom with a six-figure annual family income shared her financial frustration on TikTok, and a lot of parents felt the same pain.

Expenses have gotten out of control for this family.

TikToker Maddie, aka @mdncyr on the social media platform, stitched a video of a mom asking how people are affording life right now. Maddie lives in Florida with her husband and four kids and claims that even with an annual household income of $160,000, her family is struggling.

Maddie and her husband have a mortgage, insurance, car payments, and all of the other expenses that go along with a family of six, and even with two incomes, she claims they still have financial issues. "We live paycheck to paycheck," she says in the clip.

Maddie says her budget is tight.

In the TikTok, Maddie says that groceries alone cost $200 to $300 a week. They have a baby who needs special milk and diapers, so Maddie coupons "like crazy" so the family can afford to eat out occasionally. But even that has to fit into the budget.

"We're at a point in our lives where if something like was to mess up like our hot water heater or one of our appliances, we would not be able to afford that," she says with astonishment.

Talk to moms about mom stuff. And make money doing it.

When Maddie was a kid, life was different.

She explains that her parents made about $100,000 a year when she was growing up, and their family lived "comfortably." They took vacations and bought what they wanted at the grocery store, never discussing budgeting.

Maddie says they've cut off all extras, and she and her husband talk about it all the time. "How are other people doing this?"

Maddie's home life is not unique.

Commenters empathized with her family's struggles, with many noting their families are in similar situations.

"We make $100k. The most we ever made in 16 years of marriage. Our house is $1300. No car payments. We are barely making it," one person shared.

"70k a year with a 650 mortgage, 2 car payments and 5 kids. more money than we have ever had we are struggling," another person commented.

Other families have added side hustles to make ends meet.

"We're at about $100k. But my husband also works a multitude of 2nd jobs (he officiates sports - football/baseball/volleyball. And in the off season," someone wrote.

"you got that exhausted rasp in your voice. I feel you sis," another comment reads.

Some people feel like others just don't get it. Like the person who wrote, “I hear ya! We are in the same boat. It's wild. Gas, groceries, utilities, insurance, car payments, kids schooling, etc. Something has to change."

Some were critical of the frustrated mom.

There were commenters who felt like Maddie's math wasn't adding up.

She clarified in another video that her family's gross income is $160,000 but they are bringing home much less. She added that the family's mortgage is $1,700 monthly, and they pay more than that in day care.

Other Floridians chimed in. "In Florida 160k would translate to about 112k after deductions or about $9,300/mo. With 2 cars and 4 kids, yeah it goes quick," one person wrote.

But not everyone bought Maddie's story.

"Still doesn't add up. My house has the same income and we do just fine. I am also partially paying for my son's college," someone commented.

And one person pointed out something that many people agreed with: "People are missing the point. When you work hard to make the amount, you should NOT be struggling."