TV Characters Way Too Poor To Realistically Afford Their Lifestyles
When you're sitting through the best TV shows to speed watch, it’s natural to suspend disbelief. So when a TV character obviously can't afford the beautiful home they live in, you may not notice at first. After all, you’re basically taking a short break from real life to enjoy the drama of fictional characters, so you don’t necessary expect their lives to be 100% realistic. There are plenty of cases where characters are obviously bad at their jobs, such as fictional TV writers who are terrible at writing, and no one bats an eye.
But sometimes, screenwriters and creators push things way too far, especially when it comes to practical stuff like explaining how characters can manage to live in high-cost neighborhoods and buy expensive clothes when they’re supposed to be struggling with cash. How can Carrie Bradshaw afford to live in Manhattan while all she does is write a weekly column, for crying out loud? It can be frustrating to watch a TV character who is supposed to be poor sport a designer jacket while living in a spacious loft in Brooklyn like it’s no big deal. TV creators sometimes come up with a gimmick that explains their lavish lifestyle, which usually involves a spectacular apartment being rent controlled (as if).
Honestly, seeing your favorite characters struggling to make rent while sipping pricey cocktails, having extensive wardrobes, and brunching like there’s no tomorrow is distracting and can rob you of the pleasure of truly enjoying the show. If you can’t go out and blow your entire paycheck on fancy shoes and a lavish night out, console yourself with the fact that some of your favorite characters would be financially ruined in reality. Then check out this list and vote up the TV characters who shouldn't be able to afford their lifestyles.
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TV Show: SATC
Okay, so a lot of ink was spilled over this one. Carrie is a columnist for a weekly newspaper who basically only writes four articles per month, but somehow can afford to live in a fancy Manhattan apartment, buy tons of designer clothes, and wear Manolo Blahniks. While the show did devote an entire episode to Carrie’s disastrous finances, it’s a mystery how she never thought about getting a side hustle until she was faced with losing her home.
Someone actually estimated how much Carrie’s lifestyle would cost these days and figured she would spend around $6,954/month, while earning only around $3,166. Of course, her income would increase once she starts writing successful books. But for the first few seasons, viewers are left baffled.
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TV Show: Girls
In an episode of Girls in Season 6, Hannah gets pregnant and starts listing reasons why it’s insane to think she could have the baby. One of them was pretty straightforward - “I will make less than 24K this year.” Ever since her parents cut her off in the first episode of the series, her financial life has been a bit unrealistic especially because she abruptly quit her high-paid GQ job. But with less than $24,000 per year, it’s hard to imagine she could afford to live in a New York apartment, even with Elijah as a roommate.
And then, she suddenly gets a high-paid teaching job with health care and enough cash for her to afford a big house somewhere upstate? Talk about unrealistic.
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TV show: Glee
Rachel and Kurt’s Bushwick apartment apparently costs only $1800 per month in the Glee universe. Let’s say that's believable, even though being able to ride your bike in your New York apartment would obviously mean the rent would be higher. Still, when first moving there, Rachel is a student and Kurt is an unpaid intern. How could they possibly swing nearly two grand a month?
Their parents might have helped, sure. But it still would have been incredibly tough when you bring day-to-day expenses into the mix.
Is this unrealistic?- 4
Chloe And June
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TV show: Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23
Here’s another classic sitcom case of rent being explained in terms of some weird landlord/tenant control deal. The only issue? Chloe’s sole stream of steady income comes from providing entertainment to diplomats at the United Nations once a year. Other than that, scams which often land her in trouble also provide her with free food and spending money from time to time.
Meanwhile, June works at a coffee shop and it's a question of whether if she can even cover utilities. Even if the rent were zero, Chloe and June would both have a hard time living in the city. Luckily, June eventually gets a job with a Wall Street firm.
Is this unrealistic? - 5
Dev Shah
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TV show: Master of None
Dev Shah is an underemployed commercial actor who spends most of his time with his friends and eating at restaurants. He lives alone in a gorgeous apartment (seriously, that kitchen is the stuff dreams are made of) and he moves to Italy on a whim after his girlfriend breaks up with him.
Now, commercial actors do make a good bit of money, but Dev is often shown working as an extra, not principal talent. That means he makes $366.37 for a full day's work during the week. That's a healthy wage, to be sure, but Dev only works sporadically, and he spends cash like it's going out of style. Even with his mid-Season 2 career move to host on Clash of the Cupcakes, there is just no way he has "screw it, I'm moving to Italy" money. He'll surely be spending all those cupcake checks on credit card interest for a while.
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TV Show: The Big Bang Theory
As a waitress at the Cheesecake Factory, it’s doubtful Penny had the cash to pay for a one-bedroom apartment back when she was single, let alone afford all those bottles of wine and extremely cute clothes. While she did hang with the geeks next door mainly for the free food and was often portrayed to be struggling financially, Penny never really seemed to be in dire trouble with money. Maybe her parents helped her out?
Thankfully, she later finds a better-paying job and lives with Leonard. We can only hope she’s paying down the debt she must have accumulated in the show’s early years.
Is this unrealistic?- 7
Max And Caroline
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TV Show: 2 Broke Girls
As the title suggests, Max and Caroline are always broke, which makes sense since they work as waitresses at a diner while simultaneously living in New York. What doesn’t make sense, however, is their ridiculous apartment. Don’t let the exposed brick or the fact that Caroline sleeps on a Murphy bed fool you - the loft is in Williamsburg, it’s spacious, and it comes with yard space for Chestnut. They should be paying way over $2,000/month in rent alone.
While it’s refreshing to see two girls struggling with their finances every week, their digs are far from realistic.
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TV Show: Parenthood
Parenthood was always a show that felt real, mainly due to its honest portrayal of complicated family dynamics. For instance, while Joel and Julia were pretty well off, the rest of the family all experienced money troubles at one point or another. But still, out of all the siblings, it’s hard to understand how Adam and Kristina could afford their lifestyle.
Adam has a solid job that earned him a hefty salary, true – first as a manager at a big company, then as co-owner of the Luncheonette. However, consider his expenses during the show’s fourth season. The guy is putting Haddie through college, supporting a child with special needs, taking care of an infant, and covering Kristina’s medical bills while she's fighting cancer. Meanwhile, Crosby, who is the other co-owner of the recording studio, asks for a raise because he finds it hard to get by with only one child.
It was also implied that Adam burned through most of their savings during the time he was unemployed, so where did all the money come from? It remains a Braverman mystery. Moreover, Kristina later goes on to run for mayor, and then they open a charter school. The Bravermans are really stretching the definition of middle class.
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TV Show: Supergirl
Kara is an editorial assistant who lives in a huge apartment. It’s literally big enough that she can fly in and out of it. According to the show’s creators, Mrs. Needleberg, who lives next door, gives Kara a break on the rent in exchange for Kara "being her super." Now who wouldn’t say yes to that deal?
Is this unrealistic?- 10
Cisco And Caitlin
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TV Show: The Flash
Back when STAR Labs was financed by Harrison Wells, it made sense that both Caitlin and Cisco made a decent living. But now, who is paying their salaries? While we’re guessing they have more pressing issues than figuring out how to afford lunch, it’s baffling that these two can keep their modest apartments and not even attempt to look for a gig on the side.
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TV show: New Girl
There's no doubt that the Los Angeles loft shared by the New Girl characters is ridiculous. For that much space, they should each be paying close to $2,000/month. It's understandable how Schmidt, Winston, and Jess can make rent, since they all have some source of decent income, but what about Nick? Especially in the early seasons, before he invests in the bar and becomes a writer.
The show makes a point to emphasize how poor Nick is. He doesn’t have healthcare, his credit score is laughable, and he’s always short on cash. The sad truth? He would be even poorer in real life.
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TV Show: Friends
There’s been a lot of controversy over how Monica and Rachel could afford that gorgeous apartment, but Monica always said it was rent controlled. So, technically, the girls could be paying less than $500/month in rent. While it would have been easier for Monica to get by on a chef’s salary, Rachel is obviously struggling at the beginning of the series while working as a waitress. Remember when she wasn’t able to save enough money to go on a skiing trip with her family?
Still, while earning around $24,000/year, she manages to cover her share of rent/utilities and her living expenses. Let’s hope Monica was kind enough to buy all the groceries for those first few months. At least Joey was more than open about the fact that Chandler had to cover for him on a regular basis.
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TV show: How I Met Your Mother
Marshall’s career certainly took off as HIMYM kept scoring renewals. During the show’s early seasons, he is a law student. But as a student, how could he possibly afford his share of the rent for the spacious New York apartment? He was never portrayed as being a big spender, but day-to-day expenses quickly add up.
Ted had to have helped him. Otherwise, Marshall would have accumulated quite the credit card debt, which, coupled with his student loans, would have eventually led him to financial ruin. It’s enough that the guy marries a girl with a shopping problem.
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TV show: Parks and Recreation
Before his numerous business endeavors, concluding with the successful Tom’s Bistro, Haverford used to live on a government salary, earning around $43,000/year. And yet, he was able to afford a stylish apartment stocked with cheese plates, chocolate fountains, fresh flowers, and gossip magazines on every table. And even kept the heat at a consistent 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ann admits Tom used to be deep in debt, but you wouldn’t want to see his credit card statements. After all, if he were more financially responsible, there wouldn’t be a Treat Yo’ Self Day.
Is this unrealistic?- 15
Blake, Adam, And Anders
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TV show: Workaholics
The three fellows work at a telemarketing company. The average telemarketer salary in California is approximately $12.21/hour. Yet they live in a big house and seem to have plenty of discretionary income to blow on illicit substances. Although they may not be splurging on fancy furniture, a two-story home in Rancho Cucamonga doesn't come cheap.
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TV Show: Full House
Danny Tanner is paying for a huge house in San Francisco, a very high-cost area, on the salary of a host of a local morning show. In addition, he's raising three daughters and paying for their living necessities and expenses. According to Movoto, 133% of Tanner’s income would be required solely for house payments. Now that’s unrealistic.
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Matt Murdock
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TV show: Daredevil
Matt Murdock lives in a roomy Hell’s Kitchen loft which sports big windows, a bar in the kitchen, and plenty of open space. Now, if his law practice was profitable, it would make sense. But, during the first season, Murdock and Foggy are constantly reminding viewers that their clients are so poor they may need to shut down any minute. So what’s up with that?
Murdock explained at one point that he got the place at a significant discount because the living room is lit up by a huge, bright ad sign that runs all night. But it's doubtful the seller accepted peanuts. Meanwhile, Jessica Jones, who is actually seen being paid in cash by customers, lives in a run-down apartment which doubles as a home office. The world is unfair. Even in the Marvel universe.
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TV Show: Gilmore Girls
At the beginning of the series, Lorelai manages an inn and is supporting her teenage daughter through high school. Now, the show is pretty sensitive when it comes to portraying money issues and both Lorelai and Rory are supposed to be thrifty. Things get real when Lorelai has to repeatedly borrow money to pay for Rory’s tuition or fix the house.
And yet, it’s baffling how they could afford to eat out as often as they did and purchase to-go coffees like it was their part-time job. Lorelai would earn around $53,000 for managing the Independence Inn and then proceed to spend almost $200/day on take-out, gas, coffee, and movie rentals. Even considering that life in Stars Hollow would be cheaper than in a big city, these costs quickly add up. Saving for retirement probably isn’t high on her priority list.
Is this unrealistic?- 19
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TV Show: Married with Children
Al Bundy was a shoe salesman. And yet, he's able to afford a two-story, three-bedroom house. He is the only one who brings in any kind of income, so it’s safe to say that his entire salary would go towards mortgage payments and utilities. The Bundys are always creative when it comes to food though, so at least there’s that.
Is this unrealistic? - 20
The Dunphys
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TV show: Modern Family
Modern Family's Dunphy house actually sold for $2.15 million. At the beginning of the series, Claire is a stay-at-home mom. While Phil is a talented real estate agent and likely earns a lot, they still have three children to support. In reality, this house is way out of their price range. A smaller one would be much more believable.
While there is a later episode where it's discovered that Jay Pritchett actually paid for the down payment of their home, a $2.15 million dollar home would have monthly mortgage payments around $10,000. Given the Dunphy family's lifestyle, it seems highly unlikely that Phil made close to that amount each month.
Is this unrealistic?
