Couple Earning Astonishing $70,000 A Month Say They 'Feel Broke'

To give you a bit of perspective, the average American in 2021 made roughly $75,000 annually.

Yes, that's for the whole year, not just a month.

So, for most folks, earning $70,000 in a single month would be beyond their wildest dreams.

Yet, for Sandra and Brad, a couple in their 40s with a significant net worth and a good grasp on their monthly expenditures, this dream income seems not to have brought the financial peace one might expect.

Despite what sounds like an enviable financial position, Sandra doesn't feel they're doing all that well with their money.

During an episode of Ramit Sethi's podcast, "I Will Teach You to be Rich," Sandra opened up about their financial feelings: "On paper we're not broke, but it feels like we are."

The couple say they 'feel broke'. Credit: Getty Stock Photo

Over the 25 years since their marriage, Sandra and Brad have accumulated a net worth of around $1.3 million.

However, despite this achievement, they find themselves at a crossroads regarding their financial management.

Sandra reflected on the podcast, "[Budgeting] became easy when we were making a lot of money."

"When it's not easy, it's watching everything and being meticulous with where the money's going and keeping track of it and being stressed about it."

Sethi suggested that part of the couple's financial turmoil could stem from "false money identities," particularly influenced by Brad's career in the mortgage industry, where he makes between $60,000 and $70,000 a month, depending on the housing market's performance.

This inconsistency in earnings contributes to Sandra's feelings of financial insecurity.

"The identity you have created for yourself around money might not be fully accurate with reality," Sethi explained to her.

The couple are not the best at financial planning. Credit: Getty Stock Photo

Furthermore, Brad's strategy of compensating for his lower-earning periods through high-risk investments has only added to Sandra's financial worries.

Although these gambles can sometimes result in gains, they also introduce a layer of unpredictability that makes Sandra uneasy.

Sethi also highlighted that fluctuations in Brad's income have hindered the couple's ability to plan for the future and manage their finances effectively.

The millionaire said: "They use [variable income] as an excuse not to move forward, when in reality, it's the tiniest of speed bumps."

"And by using that as an excuse, they get to avoid doing the real substantial, often hard work."

"Managing money is focusing on high value areas, like deciding what your rich life is, setting up appropriate categories and discussing what kind of monitoring you want for those categories." 

Addressing the communication gap between Sandra and Brad, Sethi urged them to clarify what financial security means to them and how they intend to achieve it.

He advised, "I understand the fear, [but] being frantic is not going to get you what you want."

"It's actually going to be more important for you to connect with Brad."