What do you consider "good money?"

CLRracer

CLRracer

Mopar Nut
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Archer Lodge
Stealing this from pirate, mainly because the diversity of the answers quite frankly surprised me. Basically, what annual salary do you consider "good" or "adequate" or whatever adjective you wish to use.

Not asking anyone to share personal salaries, but since mine and my wife's are public I'll share. Looks like we'll bring home around 75k this year combined, which is down a little from past years but I didn't work any part time this year.

We live comfortably, food on the table, roof over our heads, all bills current, etc, but not much extra every month. I could work some part time to help out, but at the cost of time with my daughter, so not really eager to do that (I am taking a pay cut with my new job though, so might have to work some part time this coming year.)

Since leaving school and entering the work force, the "magic number" to me always seemed to be 100k a year combined. Still seems like a good goal to me given my current life style. Anything past that would be icing on the cake.

Duane
 
In my opinion so many factors come into what people will consider "good" money. The big one is cost of living. For me , that means I could live 30 minutes away from my current home, and the same house would cost 1/2 as much. I am happy with my and my girlfriends current income because we are comfortable, and have a little extra to waste on dumb stuff like a jeep.
 
I make 57k not counting OT or travel. I'm definitely not upset about it and I'm never worried about making ends meet, but I'm also a saver and a bit of a Hebrew when it comes to spending. I'll do without something until I've saved the entire amount, buy it, and then start saving for the next item...all the while not touching my actual savings account reserve.

I think it varies so much because of cost of living differences.
 
Ok ill play..mines not the normal answer I promise that. I raised 5 kids on 10-12.00 an hour, with side jobs here and there. Recently had 16.00 an hour until hand injury and that was best consistent money yet. Just me wife and daughter now and for me, if I made consistent 20hr, I could really do a lot. I don't view finances like most though so I might not count on this topic lol. I think it also goes along with our life preference. I don't desire much like most, growing up in 3rd world country I believe has lots to do with it. Just me but I've always been amazed at the thought of making 45-50k a year..OMG I would be rich in my lifestyle lol with that kind of money. Well there's my thought anyways!
 
Without throwing out any numbers, as my annual income went up, so did my bills in kind. I still eat the same foods I did in college and can’t afford the toys “I want”.
 
Right at 30k take home with 401k, health Ins, payed vacation. Single home owner. No kids. That is a great number for me. I would be fine with 5k take home less and still manage the same life style but I'm a huge (problem) spender
 
Comfy would be 125k with all finances I have now! I'd still drive ole 20 year old trucks tho, with a badass rig behind it and be up in the mtns right now instead of getting off the river bank and not catching shit except a buzz...
 
shawn said:
Depends on what's baked into your number, and how you're calculating it.
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Well get out your easy bake oven and start baking. There are numerous things you can figure into the question, so bake your answer however you want.

BigBody79 said:
Exactly, 60k with vacation, health care and retirement is a lot different than 60k without all those things.
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Yes it is.

Duane
 
I had a 50k job, payed insurance, payed uniforms, and 6 weeks paid vacation. Left it for another job with even better potential in basicly a lateral move. Left one to get away from b.s. and no ladder left to climb.

The lateral move landed me smack in the middle of swing shift 365 days a year. Hated it and developed a distaste for the whole place because of it.

Was graciously hired back the first job. Same b.s. and lasted a little more than a year or so. Left that to pursue self employment. Learned a bunch, made huge mistakes along the way. Aside from part time teaching almost no income. Bought some sweet equipmmet!

Now I teach. State employee. State insurance and pay rate for about a 10 year teacher with degree. I made more money as a shop foreman 20 years ago before the 50k job.

Raised a kid on a single income a lot of those years. One divorce one marriage. House mortgage, Camper payment, building debt, normal bills. Wife now has equivalent income. Are we blessed? Most definitely. Are we independent of debt? No where near it. Could a higher income help? You bet. Giving up family time or taking on extra b.s. created by others not worth it. Was living easier and full of time and money when I was single and a foreman?Sure, but no family of my own.

If I had one thing to change it would be the time I spend commuting. Since I remarried I have gave up 2 hours a work day commuting without pay. That is something you cannot put a price tag on.
 
Short answer. 75k with normal benefits that would come with such a pay rate. Few people make that kind of number without them. Small exspense account for the required travel. I would like to land a job with some travel time. Some,just not every week. At this time my kid is almost grown. When he becomes an independent adult this is my goal. Get paid to see a few places.
 
^^^ that hour drive is "wind down" time. I actually like my hour commute. I've found that when work was 15 minutes down the road I constantly had work on my mind thinking about the day and what to do the next day all while at home for the evening. No long commute in the morning to prepare for the day and get organized.

Call me strange I guess.
 
No offense to the OP, but I don't think anything good can come from a thread like this.
 
rockcity said:
^^^ that hour drive is "wind down" time. I actually like my hour commute. I've found that when work was 15 minutes down the road I constantly had work on my mind thinking about the day and what to do the next day all while at home for the evening. No long commute in the morning to prepare for the day and get organized.

Call me strange I guess.
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I only have a 45 minute commute, one way...it is decompression time for me as well. We moved further away from work, but now have much lower overhead, more land for the Son & dogs. Biggest perk is arrive home, park truck, walk into shop, crank stereo up, & do whatever the evening provides - usually dogs running in & out while my Son helps me "tinker" on whatever project.

Back on the topic, the point where the pay & family time balance out to cover "all" your needs, that is good money, IMHO
 
broncosbybart said:
So, what would you do if you had a million dollars? :)
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Nothing different. A million dollars is not exactly a lot of money these days

million.JPG
 
I'll be more comfortable when the student loans are paid off. That's like gaining the amount of money in Shawn's health insurance figure for a family of four.
I'm paying them down slightly more aggressively than I need to at the moment, but they started off slightly large...

I don't need more money, I just need to keep more of it.
 
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