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The thread about what you consider to be rich made me start wondering what everyone makes. I'm adding a poll since most people (myself included) would probably not want to openly share their salary. Even if you and your SO don't live together/aren't married, just vote for what you'd make combined.
And of course, feel free to share if you're comfortable, or just tell me if you think the average from the poll is high or low.
I've seen these polls a few times, and the only problem with it is the fact that the amount of money you make doesn't mean anything depending on where you live. So for you, what makes some people feel rich, would be poverty in say NYC :)
@MrsSl82be: Exactly, DH and I are in the 150 - 200k range and not remotely rich.
My FI and I both pull in anywhere from 90-100k depending on how bonuses go... and we live in Tennessee so we are comfortable
@LGenz: And see, that salary range would be the cream of the crop where I live.
I work for a non profit and do graduate school and he does graduate school and works as a TA. We are living the simple life, that is for sure! Hopefully once we are both out of school we will be able to do things, like eat food again. I'm kidding, sort of. But it will be nice when we have our advanced degrees and hopefully higher paying jobs!
It's somewhere between 150k-175k but we live in the midwest so we are comfortable and don't have to worry about anything. Also we have no debt all cars and homes are paid for.
Edit: I thought I would add our ages I'm 22 FH is 38. I don't work (stay at home Mom) and he owns a company that fixes machinary (bobcats, cranes, etc.)
Also, it depends on where you are in life. If you are 21 and just graduated college, it is very different than if you are 35 with a 20 year work history and 2 kids you are supporting.
I agree with the post about where you live makes a difference. We are in the $125-150 category right now and we are no where near "living large". Cost of living is very different in parts of the US.
@MrsSl82be: Oh I know, but since the average household income is $50k (as referenced on the "rich" thread) I was just curious what the Bee average is. In theory it should end up the same once there are enough votes.
@Wonderwoman217: Same here.
@red dino: Lol, I feel the same about the food! When people claim to be poor, my personal thought is, "If you can afford to eat 3 meals a day (without government assistance) then you aren't poor."
@eeniebeans: I was going to say the same. I'm 21 and still in college so I think I make a lot for where I am in life, but definitely don't make anywhere near what some of the PP's said!
We make good money but in CT, and are comfortable, however my bff lives in GA and we make the same combined salaries, and they are living like kings.
We do OK but my FI is a full time student, once he graduates in 2 years the picture will be completely different. I am fortunate in that my 2nd job brings in what a lot of people in our area make per year and my main job pays all our bills.
We make about $40,000 or so. In Gainesville, it's not "rich" per se, but we're definitely not hurting for $.. We put 25% of each paycheck in savings/loan payments and still eat well and go out and pay rent :)
ETA: In response to coffeegal, we're 22 and 23, and these are our first "real" jobs starting out after undergraduate, so you're right - it's probably not accurate to compare us to others more established in their careers.
I always see these polls and wonder what age the bee's and their SO's are. The older you get and the more experienced you are, the more money you're going to make. As I gain more years of experience, my salary will go higher, and so will SO's. So comparing salaries of 20-somethings to 30-somethings to 40-somethings isn't going to be completely accurate.
We make just under $160, but the fact that THIS 1700 sq ft house, built in 1924 is currently listed for 1.5 MILLION dollars... means it doesn't stretch too far.
I agree. I'm 31, DH is almost 29 and we make just over 100k and live in Ohio. In our area, it's very comfortable but we also have no debt, just our mortgage. 5 years ago we both probably barely cleared $40,000 combined.
I made a mistake and entered the wrong amount, but we are in the $100k-125k range. But we are definitely NOT rich. Can't afford the "rich" areas of the City, can't afford to own our own home, etc. I would say that we range from being comfortable to being broke depending on the season.
My FI and I make about $150k combined base salary (not including bonuses, etc). We'll be over that if I get the promotion I'm hoping for (fingers crossed). I'm 23, he's 33 because PPs asked about ages. It doesn't stretch as far as you'd think it would...
@coffeegal85: Well yes, since FI and I are both in school (but working) we're definitely on the low end. But I was thinking more along the lines of comparing to the average American household, which was $50k from the census.
@SapphireSun: I was going to say you have GOT to be kidding me until I saw that you live in Vancouver. Holy craaaaaaap!
FI and I are probably considered poverty - especially in the state of New Jersey. Luckily we are able to survive off of what we have. It's extremely tough for him to keep a consistent job in this economy working as a plumber. He doesn't have his license yet, but he's 1.5-2 years away from that point. So, working for others is almost never. A classmate of his hooked him up with her father's company so he's currently working, but I'm not sure how long that'll last especially with winter approaching.
I am 23 and he's 28. We seriously make do. Things would be tons better if the economy would straighten up.
It's okay, I'm sure I'll survive ;)
@coffeegal85: Okay, not trying to be mean at all, but your comment made me chuckle out loud a little. Under $50k not enough to have Internet? $50k is average household income. I'll tell you have have much much much less than that and I have Internet and am planning a wedding. And working at Walmart I will guarantee you that plenty of people have kids and are below poverty line. Also, in HS we learned that according to surveys, 80% of people waiting in food lines (think Salvation army, churches) have cable TV and Internet. Are you in the big city? Because $50k a year would be a decent amount of money to me but obviously not to NYCers.
@coffeegal85: The two of us combined make less than 50K. We are living pretty decent. Not enough to go balls to the wall, but as I mentioned above, we make do. Jersey is one of the expensive states to live in. Granted it's tough to save for our wedding because of a particular situation we were placed in, but we can always revise our plans and have something wonderful.
ETA: I have cable and internet. No phone. We have our cells. We both have our cars and insurance. My bills are paid off except a student loan. He's the only one that has a bit of debt. Food is what mostly kills us.
@galloway111: That comment definitely made me giggle a bit too.
I'm jaded on what is a livable salary because I grew up in LA, then lived in NYC, and now live in London. I just keep moving to more expensive cities!
But I have friends living in much less expensive places who live very well on much lower salaries.
@galloway111: Yeah, we make under $50K and don't have internet but we could. We just choose to use that $ on other things/save it. I know lots of recent college grads who barely make their rent and have no savings but still have cable and internet ... sigh.
I make about $60k (once I graduate, I have the offer right now and did an internship there so it's pretty safe to say I'm staying) and I'm 22. My SO makes under $20k because he's following his passion and teaching ballroom dance. Unfortunately with this economy no one can afford to take lessons for their weddings or take lessons on their own for fun. I can't wait for the economy to be better. He also does technology consulting for dance studios but needless to say who can afford that... They'd rather stay with pen and paper when they're all losing so much money.
@galloway111:If you don't have enough money to put food on the table, why in the world would you have cable/internet? Cable/internet is not a necessity to live. But that's another discussion.
I guess you're right about the 50K...for some reason, I was thinking 50K was less than it actually was. I forgot that some people only make 50K a year, and live just fine. My bad...its been a long day.
I am 26, DH is 31. I make about 52K and he makes about 25K. We live in the midwest and are ok. I bought our home before we were married on my own so it's easier now having a combined income. We live north of Chicago, so if we were to go any farther south toward the City we wouldn't be doing as well. Hoping DH gets a promotion next year which would bump his salary up considerably so we can actually get a good savings going.
@coffeegal85: Lol, it's okay, I wasn't offended I just thought it was pretty funny. And I agree with you about the cable, but I personally can't afford to eat but I need Internet because I'm in college and almost all of my homework and study resources are online.
@galloway111: Yeah, I was going to say that internet is pretty much ALMOST a necessity regarding school, jobs, etc. I know that I have to take "classes" for my job once in while through our website. I'll be back in school soon as well. I know there's places to go for these sort of things and you can stay at school, but I can't focus in those sort of settings.
Combined we make about $127,000, but in our suburb of Philly, that doesn't go that far. We live in a townhouse and all new houses being built start in the $400,000's. Would love to keep our salaries and move down south! :)
Well I voted wrong. That's what I get for not reading the question :P I make $34k and FI makes $49k, so combined, $83k.
Sam is starting his own business, so what I make is about $24k. That pays the for a 2 bedroom upper of a house, internet, heat/electric, groceries, and $ for going out and etc. We're actually living quite comfortably.
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