What made me chuckle was the mortgage. 1.6 million home! Wow! Hence the $3,700 monthy mortgage + the property taxes. This tells me this family places living in a luxury home in an affluent area, expensive new car above living within ones means.

This budget perfectly reflects many americans' feeling of entitlement and need to live at the materiel level they believe their salary/position/social circle would have them. A dose of humilty/gratitude for the $400 grand income would have them living a notch or two lower and would leave them not with $34 at the end of the month but maybe $3400 or more , less stress and setting a better example for their children.