[tanknetter]

Picture # 1 - no one making $52k is paying 35% and if she is complaining about her taxes, she is in the wrong movement. And anyone’s job could be gone in a moment.

If she lives or works in NYC (65 mile daily commute?), with not only Federal, but very high state and city taxes, she probably is paying 35%.

Which boils down to poor choices on her part. She needs to find something in a lower cost of living area.

[PMAS]

I live in NY and state taxes for her income bracket is not that high maybe 3 or 4 %.

If she lives or works in NYC, she could take a train for $200 a month instead of paying for a car, insurance, gas, tolls etc.