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General discussion

What do you spend most on with your disposable income?

Sep 12, 2007 8:50AM PDT

What do you spend most on with your disposable income?

-- Entertainment (Please specify.)
-- Vacation (Please specify.)
-- Hobbies (Please specify.)
-- Luxury items (Please specify.)
-- Donations (Please specify.)
-- What disposable income? Are you talking about the pennies that you drop?
-- Others (Please specify.)

Discussion is locked

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travel
Sep 14, 2007 4:31AM PDT

We're recently retired; most of our disposable income goes toward travel to Europe.

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What do I spend most of my disposable income on?
Sep 15, 2007 6:21AM PDT

Actually, I am a very frugal fifth grade teacher. Most of my spending goes into my classroom. As an individual, spending for myself, it would have to be my hobby, surfing the web, and eBay.

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What IS "Disposable" income?
Sep 16, 2007 11:18AM PDT

After housing payment, food, insurances, dry cleaning, car payment, gas and repairs is the rest disposable? If so, my disposable income goes to cable TV, internet connection and some replacement clothes.

On the other hand, after someone near and dear to me pays the payment on a $5,000,000 house, horrendous heat and air conditioning, his three cars with insurance, repairs and gas, other insurances, up-to-date clothes, travel, food, house cleaning services, dating expenses, cable, internet, phone services, etc., it's really kind of tight! What little "disposable income" there is goes to a much needed relaxation hobby of car racing.

What is the definition of "disposable" income!

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From my macroeconomics textbook...
Sep 16, 2007 11:25AM PDT

..."disposable income is gross wages - taxes - other deductions."
Basically the same as net pay.

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What is "Disposable" Income vs "Discretionary" Income
Sep 19, 2007 7:49AM PDT

Yes, the definition of Disposable income is in fact basically "net" income or that income from all sources after taxes have been paid that is available to you for saving or spending. It does not exclude the essential cost for basic housing, food, clothing, etc.

I think most people confuse "Disposable" income with "Discretionary" income. Discretionary income is, "The amount of an individual's income available for spending after the (necessary) essentials (such as food, clothing, and shelter have been taken care of. " It is income that can be saved or spent on basic goods and services wanted, but not needed for survival.

However, definitions for both is "fuzzy". (see Disposable/Discretionary reference.info.com/)

Maybe the question should have been "How do you spend your "Discretionary Income"? with the understanding of what "basic" means.

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What dispoable income?
Sep 19, 2007 3:13AM PDT

All of my money goes into paying bills, gas and food! I'm looking for another or part time job right now.