Whats a good salary to you?

[Mangata]

It pretty disgusting how we get taken advantage of.

Annually, my dad makes between 700-800k. A regular salary of a CEO, I'm the president and we make about the same salary wise. But he owns the properties the business locations are on and takes in $35k monthly. He has to pull dividends each year just to pay taxes. It's just crazy.



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Spent my 20’s to mid 30’s in school & training. Work Emergency Medicine and have been in a fortunate practice setting. Added below just to put numbers to the taxes you mentioned in your post. It does sting see that amount go out in taxes!

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Coastal money is what rocked CO’s housing costs…

Killed ours as well. Our housing went up 2.5x, maybe more, and land I’m sure is much more. A dump for a house now is $200k

 

[Fullfan]

My pension of 120k a year is working out well. The wife making 150k a year helps.

 

[Tanner]

I thought 100k was enough until I started having kids.

In Colorado if you’ve got kids and a home and your household isn’t grossing into the high 100s or low 200s, I think you’d be pretty tight on money to invest at the end of the month…

 

[grfox92]

When I was house shopping 6.5 years ago I looked at a house listed for $190k. It is now back on the market for $409k and it will likely sell for close to that. You’re right when you say the “cost of living” raise doesn’t even come close to keeping up.

I moved to Wyoming in 2020. Houses that sold for $289k in 2020 are back on the market right now for $599k, with no improvements or renovations. Same house, more than double the price.

I wish I knew then what I know now, because I could have easily bought one in 2020. Now with 7% interest rates on top of doubled prices, I'm priced out of the market.



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[rookieforever33]

Sitting in a room with 15 coworkers that all make the same money its amazing how different everyones finances look at surface level.

 

[rookieforever33]

Ive seen people pass opportunities for more money because they didn't want some of the inconveniences that came with it. Ive seen people chase money blindly and discount anything else. Ive seen both end in pretty serious regrets. Im trying to land somewhere in the middle. So far it has worked out well. To the OPs question it varies. I live in the transition zone between rural and a major city. Half hour farther than me a family making 100k can live ok. Half hour closer than me it takes 200k.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Killed ours as well. Our housing went up 2.5x, maybe more, and land I’m sure is much more. A dump for a house now is $200k

Yeah ours has jumped about 2x in 6 years though, decent starter homes are 500-650, totally unrealistic for a lot of people since wages haven’t changed much

 

[TN2shot07]

I’m a firm believer in it has considerably more to do with matching your lifestyle to your income than a salary number. Most people in this country could live just fine on an average salary and retire with dignity but they have to have everything they want right now. House bigger than they need, way more car than required, stuff everywhere that just dollars you to death, kids playing travel sports, etc. It’s about learning to tell yourself and your family no to some things.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Yeah ours has jumped about 2x in 6 years though, decent starter homes are 500-650, totally unrealistic for a lot of people since wages haven’t changed much

I gave 125k for my house in 2015. It would sell around 300k now. It’s nothing fancy. 3 bedroom and a basement. I personally make quite a bit more than I did then, but I’ve had probably 3 promotions. My wife is about the same salary as when we bought, but for the last 3 years she was about 20k higher, but her company closed the doors. Luckily she was able to find a m-f 730-430 job. Being home more, no weekends, and no missed kids events and we won’t miss the difference.

 

[nelsNcompany]

Yeah, it's crazy how little 100k seems now compared to when I was growing up. That being said I'm below that 100k mark. With combined salaries my wife and I are well above it, but I sure don't feel rich.

Good morning, it all depends on where you live honestly. If you're in a metropolitan area, it won't feel like much. May not even feel like much if you're in the suburbs. However, if you are in a smaller town or a rural area being self-employed making 100K, that's a damn good living. So this is very subjective honestly. Those of you who don't make 100K don't feel bad. I currently believe 100K is still high in this country. Hate saying it but children cost a lot of money so young people unfortunately are having to decide those pros and cons which was never really a thing back in the day..... Everyone had kids and many kids typically.

nelsNcompany

 

[Loo.wii]

I’m a firm believer in it has considerably more to do with matching your lifestyle to your income than a salary number. Most people in this country could live just fine on an average salary and retire with dignity but they have to have everything they want right now. House bigger than they need, way more car than required, stuff everywhere that just dollars you to death, kids playing travel sports, etc. It’s about learning to tell yourself and your family no to some things.

But isn’t that the American dream?
Win capitalism, be king of the castle, have/do cool stuff ?

 

[jpmulk]

But isn’t that the American dream?
Win capitalism, be king of the castle, have/do cool stuff ?

The American dream in that sense I believe is just chasing after the wind. If that is the motivation, I think it leads to lack of fulfillment and contentment.

I guess I believe living a life motivated by biblical values and service leads to fulfillment and contentment.

 

[BigBender]

With a single bread winner? 150k

 

[tradman]

I feel bad for teachers. My wife teaches first grade and makes $60k a year. I make more than 6 times that and work less hours than she does. I know she gets holidays and her summer break is about 2.5 months…still, its a grind being a teacher. Parents don't discipline anymore at home and their kids are disrespectful little shits.

I agree. I'm also a teacher making the same range

 

[brca005]

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s perspective on what a good salary is or what it costs for them to live their lifestyle. I will fully agree it is all location based for what a good salary is, so one general number isn’t going to work nationwide.

We are a family of 4, we don’t live high on the hog by any means, we have a roof over our heads, are able to put food on the table, kids are happy and healthy, and bills are getting paid, so for me, that’s enough for me.

My wife and I used to make very good money, but I wasn’t around for the first 6 years of my youngests life, when I was around I was either sleeping or just a zombie because of all the odd and long hours I was working. One day we had a conversation on what was our main priorities, mine was to be happy and be around for my kids, so we changed our lives accordingly and I wouldn’t change it for the world. My kids are only gonna be around so long and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. To be around and have a relationship with my kids means more to me than making the money I once did or chasing a bigger paycheck.

Time is the only thing in life you can’t get back or buy, when it’s your time, it’s your time, no stopping it.

For our area, making $125K or so, is the living wage, drive 45 minutes south of us and you’re gonna be scraping by, drive 45 minutes in the other 3 directions and you’re gonna be just sitting comfortably or living high on the hog.

 

[TN2shot07]

But isn’t that the American dream?
Win capitalism, be king of the castle, have/do cool stuff ?

I think the American dream is the opportunity we have, not the entitlement that is currently consuming us.

 

[vaquero]

Married filing jointly with 2 kids on 100k a year is poverty level pretty much anywhere

 

[vaquero]

Spent my 20’s to mid 30’s in school & training. Work Emergency Medicine and have been in a fortunate practice setting. Added below just to put numbers to the taxes you mentioned in your post. It does sting see that amount go out

Spent my 20’s to mid 30’s in school & training. Work Emergency Medicine and have been in a fortunate practice setting. Added below just to put numbers to the taxes you mentioned in your post. It does sting see that amount go out in taxes!

View attachment 863190

A business startup and a really good CPA could fix that problem for you

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Killed ours as well. Our housing went up 2.5x, maybe more, and land I’m sure is much more. A dump for a house now is $200k

I’m working on buying another 5 acres right now here in AZ and haven’t pulled the trigger due to price.

What was 10K an acre 5 years ago is going for 25K an acre because of BS solar farms driving up the price of bare land.