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💵 Today’s Top Stories
You (or your family member) can make $80,000, $90,000, even $100,000 a year without ever graduating from a four-year college. Here are some career paths that pay well and require little education. Read more.
Team Clark loves finding ways to make your streaming bill cheaper. A few solid options include leveraging your credit card for cash back, specific streaming benefits and statement credits. Read more.
Where you live determines the minimum coverage you need by law. Here’s how much you actually need based on your finances. Read more.
Before you order your next set of tires online from Tire Rack, read this. You may save money, but only if you avoid a few common mistakes. Read more.
💵 How Much Income You Need To Be Middle Class in Every State
Earlier in this email, we linked to a Team Clark story on how much you need in each state to retire comfortably.
But what if you aren’t yet retirement age? How much income do you need by state to qualify as middle class?
According to data from SmartAsset, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Pew Research Center, it takes at least this much money in the highest-end states to enter “middle-income range” (median home listing price in parentheses):
1. Massachusetts: $69,900 ($716,225)
2. New Jersey: $69,500 ($529,000)
3. Maryland: $68,600 ($400,000)
"In the top three states, a middle-class income would be able to afford a home priced between $315,000 and $320,000, assuming today's mortgage rate (6.11%) and a 10% down payment," Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones said.
The headline: There’s a difference of more than $30,000 to qualify as “middle-income range” depending on your state.
Check out the same numbers for the states on the other end of the extreme:
50. Mississippi: $39,400 ($294,700)
49. West Virginia: $40,500 ($242,000)
48. Louisiana: $40,700 ($270,513)
You’d be able to afford a home in the $180,000 to $190,000 range at that level in those states.
Of course, there are a lot more elements that go into a decision about where to live, including family, career and culture.
But from an expense standpoint, your dollars will go much, much further in some states than others.
📊 Stat of the Day
✈ 46%: Share of U.S. airline passengers that admit to being “somewhat or very nervous” when flying. That’s despite just 11% thinking flying is not safe at all or not very safe.
💰 Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
🎙 Podcast
Gas prices are climbing again, and the "price gap" between stations is wider than we’ve seen in years. Clark shares his "Half-Tank Rule" to help you navigate these spikes and explains why used EVs are becoming an unbeatable bargain for the right driver. Also, are you tired of being ripped off by printer ink? Clark breaks down the "cheap printer, expensive ink" trap and reveals smarter ways to save.
☎ Need Money Help?
The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.
