Venice’s free breeze can’t hide the fact that housing now consumes 40–60% of take-home pay, inflation’s shelter component is up 4.1% YoY, and combined state and sales taxes shave heavily at your wallet. This guide lays out a data-driven 50/30/20 budget on a $200k salary, three high-impact plays—from maxing tax-advantaged buckets and ADU house-hacking to EV rebates—and practical seasonal, policy, and tax-timing strategies to keep your lifestyle balanced and your future goals o
