Whats a good salary to you?

[alecvg]

My wife only works 3 days a week but she’s in the medical field.

My wife is as well, right now she works four days a week, but would love to cut that down further.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Someone without kids lecturing others with kids and how to raise and school them…..

Got it.

Man, I learned a long time ago that you can’t imagine life with kids until you have them.

Then you can’t imagine life without them

Kids rocked my world! Went from hunting 100+ days to about 10 if I’m lucky… it’s a season though. 2.7, 9 months and Youngest (an oopies from a failed vasectomy will come this October) but I know I’ll get more time back in a few years, but man they are wonderful, my mom said it best: children are the sandpaper that rub all the selfishness off your heart, pretty darn true…

 

[cnelk]

What if that person was an educator who has been involved in teaching, curriculum development and administration while also working on state education boards for the better part of 25 years but decided to not have kids of their own, are that persons opinions about education still invalid since they don’t have kids?

People always think that because they have kids they are experts when in reality, the kids spend more time with their teachers and friends than they do with their parents.

I’m retired from a large school district after 25+ years (not an educator)
I was on employee executive boards, participated with employee negotiations, daily discussions with Asst Superintendents, Directors and Educators.

I know for a fact that all educators are not created equal. And the opinions of some I wouldn’t give a nickel for.

 

[TN2shot07]

Yeah 100%. We decided not to have kids and it’s been great. We make good money, have things paid off, I can hunt and fish whenever I want without sweating the financial aspect of it, vacations each year….of course I will die alone in an assisted care facility but whatever.

A lot of people with kids die alone in government nursing homes, at least you’re having a good time getting there. We also don’t have kids right now, there are definitely some pluses

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’m retired from a large school district after 25+ years (not an educator)
I was on employee executive boards, participated with employee negotiations, daily discussions with Asst Superintendents, Directors and Educators.

I know for a fact that all educators are not created equal. And the opinions of some I wouldn’t give a nickel for.

I agree with you 100% but to that end, I’d say the same about anybody in any field.

If an echo chamber is what you want (which it seems like it is) then brush off any opinions of people who don’t have kids. But if you were wise you might listen a bit because people without kids don’t have to convince themselves they are doing the right things or making the right choices. In the debate of public school/himeschool, parenting etc, I don’t have a dog in the fight. I’m just saying what I see from an unbiased perspective.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

My wife is as well, right now she works four days a week, but would love to cut that down further.

Being married to medical professionals is 100% where it’s at.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Kids rocked my world! Went from hunting 100+ days to about 10 if I’m lucky… it’s a season though. 2.7, 9 months and Youngest (an oopies from a failed vasectomy will come this October) but I know I’ll get more time back in a few years, but man they are wonderful, my mom said it best: children are the sandpaper that rub all the selfishness off your heart, pretty darn true…

Failed vasectomy….you got the worse of both worlds on that one. Surgery on your balls and it failed….damn.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

A lot of people with kids die alone in government nursing homes, at least you’re having a good time getting there. We also don’t have kids right now, there are definitely some pluses

I had a family member die young, it absolutely destroyed 2 of his 3 kids lives. They uprooted themselves and their families due to his long term illness. He begged them not to but they did and still are not recovered financially or socially even though it’s been 5-6 years.

 

[mostlybirch]

This is such an absolutely wild thread to view. Graduated with my MS with no debt in 2023 and went directly into a PhD program.

Currently, I live on 32K a year while my tuition, fees, and health insurance are paid from another portion of my grant. All in all I’d say the total salary when accounting for those expenses being covered is approximately 42K since I am not having to pay those school related expenses. There are people in this thread that are paying half of my salary in taxes on one paycheck. I also live in Missoula so we all know the cost of living there.

If it weren’t for my own hunting obsession and bad spending habits, I would be saving money consistently. I’ve brought some debt on in the last year and it’s actively being paid down right now even with hunting a considerable amount last fall. This is as a single guy with 0 kids though. The one caveat being no retirement savings whatsoever to this point. Working on my Roth when I can but it’s seldom. $20-$100 here and there when I have it.

I look at future jobs as I am about 3 years out still and see salaries at ~75K for jobs that I would be absolutely over the moon to have. Wild how different in perspectives are across here. I know it takes me out of the dating pool for women that want to be stay at home moms, but I sure love what I do and feel like it allows me to be really happy even while I’m approaching the poverty line. I think that will be a long term benefit with my ability to be a good partner and father in the future.

Been there ! I lived on graduate student stipend of ~$30k/year quite easily at the time even putting away for retirement. But that was back when Reno was cheap.

As someone else mentioned, it is pretty wild to be in an environment where you know that everyone makes around the same wage and the difference in spending habits. The mental gymnastics one can perform when they want a new truck is impressive.

For me a baseline salary is one where after basic living expenses are paid off you can still afford to reasonably fund your retirement. A good salary is that plus the ability to reasonably afford a modest home. And a great one is that which gives you the most free time.

 

[4cMuley]

Comparison is the thief of joy

 

[TN2shot07]

I had a family member die young, it absolutely destroyed 2 of his 3 kids lives. They uprooted themselves and their families due to his long term illness. He begged them not to but they did and still are not recovered financially or socially even though it’s been 5-6 years.

I’ve seen something similar and I have also seen kids (middle aged adults) realize the nursing home is getting their inheritance and completely write off their parents.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Failed vasectomy….you got the worse of both worlds on that one. Surgery on your balls and it failed….damn.

Ummm that’s only the 1/2 of it man… the wife is not pleased to say the least…

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Comparison is the thief of joy

That’s just something people who aren’t satisfied with their lives say.

People got paid to come up with things like that to put on hallmark cards.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’ve seen something similar and I have also seen kids (middle aged adults) realize the nursing home is getting their inheritance and completely write off their parents.

Terrible but probably far more common than we realize.

 

[wyosam]

Being married to medical professionals is 100% where it’s at.

Being one has its perks, too. There is zero chance I ever go back to a 5 day work week. I’ve done it occasionally in my life, and I don’t know how people do it for a whole career. I have 2 7 day stretches off a month. I can’t believe people work 5 days a week and get two weeks off a year.


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[thinhorn_AK]

Ummm that’s only the 1/2 of it man… the wife is not pleased to say the least…

Yeah I bet she’s pissed. Did you at least get a refund for the failed vasectomy?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Being one has its perks, too. There is zero chance I ever go back to a 5 day work week. I’ve done it occasionally in my life, and I don’t know how people do it for a whole career. I have 2 7 day stretches off a month. I can’t believe people work 5 days a week and get two weeks off a year.


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Yeah for sure. I wish I’d made better decisions, I could really get into a 3 day work week.

 

[TheTone]

When you look at all your finances, can you see what is causing you to feel this way?

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Most of every raise I’ve received has been eaten up by increased insurance rates, increased retirement rates, increased utility costs, increased grocery prices, increased property tax and increases in fuel prices. Add in daycare and I’m more behind that I used to be. The day I’m done with daycare things will obviously improve

 

[Hnthrdr]

Yeah I bet she’s pissed. Did you at least get a refund for the failed vasectomy?

The VA did it… so you get what you pay for hahaha and people want “free” healthcare

 

[Hnthrdr]

Being married to medical professionals is 100% where it’s at.

Definitely the golden goose