I never understood this mindset. All of my budgeting / financial calculations are based on the amount of money that shows up in my bank account each week. That

I never understood this mindset. All of my budgeting / financial calculations are based on the amount of money that shows up in my bank account each week. That number is significantly lower than what I"m "paid", but is the actual number that matters from a financial point of view. I have friends who like to talk about how much they make per year and how that means they can afford x,y,z. But it's always the sticker price, not the in the bank amount after all the taxes and benefits are taken out.