A West Coast couple who earn a combined $200,000 is struggling to pay their bills, according to the New York Post. Now Natalie Fischer and her boyfriend Keldon are forced to drastically restrict her lifestyle. For example, now you both want to give up expensive gym memberships, vacations to Europe, and trips to local restaurants.

A couple who earned $200,000 a year didn't know “where the money was going”

They both work in the technology industry in the American metropolis of Seattle, but, according to the New York Post, their salaries barely allowed them to pay for their wedding, which was supposed to cost $20,000 (18,500 euros). “One of the main reasons we decided to downgrade our lifestyle is because we didn't know where our money was going,” says Natalie.

Despite living in a relatively modest two-bedroom apartment in Seattle and not owning a car, the lifestyle has drained the couple's bank account faster than they expected, despite their austerity measures. Since the beginning of the year, they have avoided restaurants entirely, cooked more at home, gone for runs instead of going to the gym, and checked their credit cards to get rid of the ones that charge the highest fees.

“As we start to earn more money, we treat each other more”

“Just five years ago, we were students and broke. As we started making more money, we treated ourselves more. We weren't too worried about spending money. But I noticed that it was getting harder to keep track of our account. how much we spend,” Natalie said, according to the New York Post. And yet, she says, “I consider my husband and I to be middle class.”

However, this evaluation is only partially valid. According to Investopedia, the average middle class income in the US for two people is just under $72,000. On average, annual income here ranges from $42,000 to $127,000.

Even online, people disagree with Natalie and her middle-class assessment. There are many incomprehensive comments under the TikTok video in which she talks about her budget cuts. One user writes: “These statements show me that some people live in a completely different world than me.” Another adds: “I laugh a lot at videos like this. The amount of money young people spend is absurd. No wonder they can't afford anything!

At 25 years old, Natalie is part of Generation Z. This generation already has a new relationship with money and the “middle class salary.”