Purchasing Power (Salary after Costs and Taxes) of Europe, 2023.

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In P&P do we know many specifics about Mr Gardiner's income? For Mr Bennet to believe that he has ten thousand pounds readily available to bribe Wickham, wouldn't Mr Gardiner's income be considerable? And even larger than Mr Bennet's if Elizabeth cannot fathom how the Bennets could repay even half such a sum?

The most we know is what you've said.

She had a sister married to a Mr. Philips, who had been a clerk to their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.

Most people agree this means it wasn't the slave trade. But it doesn't say if the line is particularly profitable or not. What we do know is that they dress and act well enough to be mistaken for people of higher rank:

Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly superior to his sister, as well by nature as education... “What will be his surprise,” thought she, “when he knows who they are! He takes them now for people of fashion.”

And of course, we know that Mr. Bennet believed that his brother could easily bad or borrow £10,000 pounds. What that indicates about his income is unclear because he may have assets that would serve as good leverage against a loan of that size, I doubt he had that amount in money. Similar to how a store has thousands of dollars of inventory at one time, but their income is not that high.

I have always thought the Gardiners are doing very well for themselves. There were certainly tradesmen making it rich in this era, as we see in with the Bingleys and trade heiresses in Austen's works.

More than 115,000 Calgarians living in 40,000 households are at high risk of falling into homelessness, a new report published by the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy suggests, and one of the study's authors says governments could tap into "relatively inexpensive" supports to help.

The report focuses on Calgarians who have just enough income to keep a roof over their heads, despite doing everything they can to minimize costs.

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How Much Does it Take to be the Top 1% in Each U.S. State?

by VisualCap

how to create a budget: for beginners

budgeting doesn't have to be daunting, especially if you're just starting out. here are some simple steps to help you create a budget as a beginner:

track your expenses: start by tracking all of your expenses for a month. this includes everything from rent and groceries to dining out and entertainment. use a spreadsheet, budgeting app, or pen and paper to record your expenses and categorize them.

calculate your income: determine how much money you bring in each month after taxes and other deductions. this includes your salary, freelance income, side hustle earnings, and any other sources of income.

set financial goals: think about what you want to achieve with your money, whether it's saving for a vacation, paying off debt, or building an emergency fund. set specific, achievable goals that align with your values and priorities.

categorize your expenses: organize your expenses into categories such as housing, transportation, groceries, utilities, entertainment, and savings. this will help you see where your money is going and identify areas where you can cut back if needed.

create a spending plan: based on your income and expenses, create a spending plan that outlines how much you'll allocate to each category. aim to prioritize essentials like housing, food, and transportation, while also setting aside money for savings and debt repayment.

track your progress: regularly review your budget and track your spending to see how well you're sticking to your plan. make adjustments as needed to stay on track with your financial goals.

build an emergency fund: aim to set aside money each month in an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses like car repairs, medical bills, or job loss. start with a small amount and gradually work your way up to having three to six months' worth of living expenses saved.

be flexible and patient: budgeting is a learning process, and it's okay to make mistakes along the way. be patient with yourself and stay flexible as you adjust to your new financial habits. remember, every step you take towards managing your money better is a step in the right direction.

This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.

Walt Whitman, in the Preface to Leaves of Grass

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