Whats a good salary to you?

[roadrunner]

Maybe you’ve missed the part where I mentioned that he is not happy with his wife’s choice.

You don’t need to take all of this personally, I can tell what I’m saying is bothering you.

Let me re-cap what I’ve been saying about this specific dude:
-he makes very little money
-he wants his wife to work
-his wife refuses to work
-they are so broke that strangers worry about their kids and give them stuff
-they have a shitty life.

I'm not the one taking it personally because it doesn't bother me the way it has seemed to have bothered you. You brought it up, remember?

When I say hope your health holds, when it doesn't, people quickly realize just how petty money and self indulgence really is...

 

[roadrunner]

No but given the details shared I came to a conclusion. But if I were introduced to more details my opinion would likely change.

She may be bull-headed about it and she may have a good reason that the co-worker husband doesn't like because of his choices. Seems a few others on here ride their spouse's tail coats that make more money than them.

I won't pass judgement. I especially wouldn't pass judgement being a DINK household...

 

[roadrunner]

In fairness, the topic is asking for personal opinions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I, I, I, me, me, me is more than an opinion...

 

[roadrunner]

I can certainly be out of touch with reality, but I would like to know how to pay someone $35/hr and it only cost me $250k for nearly 2 decades of service. My bosses would be very happy with me.

Typo. BFD. $35 an hour for a normal work schedule is $73k per year.

Even then, if we're speaking about daycare only, it's still only 5 or 6 years until they go to school, so $73k for 5 years is $365k.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Somewhat agree, even if you are smart with your money good luck buying a home or renting a decent place where I live. Now middle America or the south, not a problem, but I’m sure pay will be adjusted accordingly.

That’s whole deal with this thread. $100k in California is not what $100k is in Tennessee where I live. Me and my spouse have grossed over $100k. Most would never know it. We live like peasants. Mainly cause I wanna retire at some point with a little stash. We could keep up with the jones. Or at least give them a good run, but I don’t wanna be beat down with debt. We owe a bit on the house, and a truck that should be paid off in the next year. Most don’t live frugal.

 

[roadrunner]

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.

Seems like your trying to convince yourself that you're right as well by making the choice to not have kids, which is fine.

The difference is, when you have kids there is an investment in someone else's wellbeing and that it's not only about you.

There are a slate of decisions you have to make that will bring wisdom you won't gain any other way. If you're invested in it, selfish desires take a back seat and most of the time for the better.

 

[HornPorn]

Depends on what I’m doing, where I’m living, and how many people are depending on my income.

From what I can tell these days, seems like most people make their lives harder than they need to be by having more kids than they can afford, buying new cars, and other keeping up with the Jones’ habits.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Seems like your trying to convince yourself that you're right as well by making the choice to not have kids, which is fine.

The difference is, when you have kids there is an investment in someone else's wellbeing and that it's not only about you.

There are a slate of decisions you have to make that will bring wisdom you won't gain any other way. If you're invested in it, selfish desires take a back seat and most of the time for the better.

I’m convinced that I’m right. At least for me. I’ve seen how much people struggle travelling around with kids, worrying about them, spending money on them. I’ve seen how devastating it is to families when their kids discover the joys of sex, drugs and alcohol etc etc.

The fact of the matter for me is that I didn’t get married until I was 35, if I’d had kids in previous relationships, I’d either be a single parent or paying child support and fighting for a kids affection with en ex.

In my mind, being a single parent or dealing with child support and sharing kids would be worse than death itself so for me, my situation and the circumstances of my life I’m more than convinced that things worked out for the best. Having kids was never something that I felt like I needed to do, even less so now at 45 watching my friends that can’t even get out fishing for an afternoon, much less a week long moose hunt.

I also have buddies who had kids then Got divorced, it’s an absolute nightmare, those guys aged 25 years overnight. There’s no my working out, hunting trips, etc when you are missing your kid and your ex is shacking up with another dude who’s buying your kids affection.

Call me cynical but I’ve seen enough shitty things happen to people over the years that I’m ok not putting myself in that position.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I, I, I, me, me, me is more than an opinion...

No, it isn’t and I’m not the only one doing it in this thread. You’re just singling me out and getting butthurt because you know I’m right and it’s hitting too close to home for your comfort.

 

[Hnthrdr]

That’s whole deal with this thread. $100k in California is not what $100k is in Tennessee where I live. Me and my spouse have grossed over $100k. Most would never know it. We live like peasants. Mainly cause I wanna retire at some point with a little stash. We could keep up with the jones. Or at least give them a good run, but I don’t wanna be beat down with debt. We owe a bit on the house, and a truck that should be paid off in the next year. Most don’t live frugal.

Agree, but man the last 6-7 year Co exploded, never thought in a million years I would make deep 6 figures a household, also live frugally, but man I was getting out bid regularly on homes in 2022… like WTF who are these people?

 

[Jpsmith1]

Was definitely possible up until about 6-7 years ago

6 years ago, I wasn't even making over $100k.

I also owned a home, 2 vehicles and supported a wife and 2 children.

My wife has never needed to take a job outside the home and she STILL doesn't.

I'm not balling swaro optics and viking armament rifles and I STILL haven't made it west of the big river but we have a nice home, a retirement fund and a little bit of money for "extras" barring injury that keeps me from working, I'll make it out to the big mountains eventually. Might die there, but it'll be worth it.

It's hard for me to call our lives "poverty" for a lot of reasons.

 

[Hnthrdr]

6 years ago, I wasn't even making over $100k.

I also owned a home, 2 vehicles and supported a wife and 2 children.

My wife has never needed to take a job outside the home and she STILL doesn't.

I'm not balling swaro optics and viking armament rifles and I STILL haven't made it west of the big river but we have a nice home, a retirement fund and a little bit of money for "extras" barring injury that keeps me from working, I'll make it out to the big mountains eventually. Might die there, but it'll be worth it.

It's hard for me to call our lives "poverty" for a lot of reasons.

Location matters! So does when you bought your house, I make right at 100, wife makes bank, but before we met and started a family I was fine cause I bought my house pre covid and refinanced at 2.5%… my buddies who make as much as me without a house have a hard line to toe…

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Agree, but man the last 6-7 year Co exploded, never thought in a million years I would make deep 6 figures a household, also live frugally, but man I was getting out bid regularly on homes in 2022… like WTF who are these people?

Those people are the ones with California money. Or Florida money. I can’t compete with them either, and our housing market has went stupid as a result. Fact is, people can still buy a house on less than $100k and live ok. They probably can’t have 2 car payments, the latest and greatest toys, boat payment, and a sxs payment. I couldn’t do that either when I bought my house, and don’t have that now either.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Location matters! So does when you bought your house, I make right at 100, wife makes bank, but before we met and started a family I was fine cause I bought my house pre covid and refinanced at 2.5%… my buddies who make as much as me without a house have a hard line to toe…

The original comment I was replying to said "pretty much anywhere" I don't live in "poverty" I'm not a "rich" man, but I have a pretty comfortable life and I'm not worried where my next meal is coming from or if the utilities are going to be paid this month.

We bought 2008 and refinanced during COVID. Our interest rate is insanely low.

I think that, knowing what I know today and seeing the future I see, I'd do a lot differently but I think we can all say that, right?

 

[Hnthrdr]

Those people are the ones with California money. Or Florida money. I can’t compete with them either, and our housing market has went stupid as a result. Fact is, people can still buy a house on less than $100k and live ok. They probably can’t have 2 car payments, the latest and greatest toys, boat payment, and a sxs payment. I couldn’t do that either when I bought my house, and don’t have that now either.

For sure they are the costal money was out of control, yeah I mean you might be able to comfortably afford a house about 2.5 hours from the metro or in a really shady part of the metro. But man the 7% interest rate and a starter home for over 500k really kills a budget bringing home about 6k a month. Really hope this changes I want people to want to have families and be able to afford a home especially when they make 100k

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Location matters! So does when you bought your house, I make right at 100, wife makes bank, but before we met and started a family I was fine cause I bought my house pre covid and refinanced at 2.5%… my buddies who make as much as me without a house have a hard line to toe…

Absolutely. My mortgage is 2.1%, got it right during Covid. Now I see guys paying 2500/month in rent. It’s crazy.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

For sure they are the costal money was out of control, yeah I mean you might be able to comfortably afford a house about 2.5 hours from the metro or in a really shady part of the metro. But man the 7% interest rate and a starter home for over 500k really kills a budget bringing home about 6k a month. Really hope this changes I want people to want to have families and be able to afford a home especially when they make 100k

That’s the difference tho. A starter home here would cost you $200k. You can get a really nice home $300k, but at 7% it hurts.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Absolutely. My mortgage is 2.1%, got it right during Covid. Now I see guys paying 2500/month in rent. It’s crazy.

2500 is super cheap rent for a house in my area… it’s closer to 3000… it’s nuts

 

[Snowwolfe]

My son has been the greatest joy in my life and my number 1 hunting and fishing partner until he left the house. We made fly in trips to Kodiak to hunt deer since he was about 10 years old and river trips to the Koyukuk to hunt moose when he was older. Literally hundreds of fishing trips in our boats for halibut and salmon. I never once felt like he was an obligation or a "chore'. It was more like a honor to be his father.
I can understand if someone chooses not to have children. But there is much joy to being a parent that can't be replaced by anything. I actually feel sad if you view parenting as sad or otherwise inconvenient.
And now with a 3 year old grand daughter I can start the cycle all over again and do even more since I am retired with more disposable cash.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

2500 is super cheap rent for a house in my area… it’s closer to 3000… it’s nuts

Yeah I’ve seen posts on Facebook of people 3k+ to rent a house out. It’s pretty wild. I think some places like California have been like that for a very long time.

Years ago, like ~ 2007 I was dating this gal who moved to Santa Barbara to be a teacher, she was all excited because where we lived at the time teachers made like 40k/year and in Santa Barbara she was going to make over 80k. I went out to visit her and 4 teachers were living in a 2 bedroom apartment, 2 to a room. Apparently that was common even then because at 80+k/year people couldn’t even make rent with a room mate. Granted that’s Santa Barbara but still. 80k was a good amount of money for a teacher in 2007.