Good salary

[wall*e2008]

I keep reading we make good money, we have a good salary and the like. I wonder what that means.

As has been pointed out. $100K is good money in the midwest but scraping by in NYC.

I am using low cost of living are as places like the mid-west, mid cost as the coast but not the big cities and high cost as big cities.

 

[AlternateEgo]

LOL... yeah $50K a year in my area is GREAT! I think the average income in my area is $30K a person. I make about $25K and FH makes about $40K

 

[daleswife]

We are lucky to keep the jobs going around here. I live in the coal fields of WV and they are laying off people left and right because of the whole "coal is bad" campaign everyone has going now. My family is lucky, My DH works in natural gas (which I figure will be the next target) and he's got a stable job. He makes under $50K a year. Most people around here make under $50K a year and $15K is the norm here.

 

[Piecey]

I'm not sure what our average income is here... we're in a more populized area of West Virginia [no coal mines or anything like that close by] but I know DH makes less than 50k and we're above average.

I'm quitting my job because we can survive HERE on his income alone.

He works for the government, though, so his job is secure and the pay is guaranteed to go up every year.

 

[ccgirl]

As you mentioned in your OP it is all relative to where you live. I make 65K, DH makes 60K and we both have to work full time. A 3 BR 2 BA house here will cost just over $300,000. We can't afford our mortgate and car payment on just one salary but we're not struggling to pay the bills on two salaries. When I was laid off we were charging groceries. So thankful I don't have to do that now and we're back to being able to take vacations and eat out. I was smart and finally started putting enough $$ in a savings account. Live and learn I guess.

 

[KirstenB]

We're in a low cost area, and I voted 100k.

 

[daleswife]

I'm not sure what our average income is here... we're in a more populized area of West Virginia [no coal mines or anything like that close by] but I know DH makes less than 50k and we're above average.

I'm quitting my job because we can survive HERE on his income alone.

He works for the government, though, so his job is secure and the pay is guaranteed to go up every year.

HEY Fellow Mountaineer!!!! What part of WV are you in?? I live in a small town called Ikes Fork. Its in Wyoming county about 1 1/2 hours north of Bluefield and 2 hours south of Beckley.

 

[Piecey]

Parkersburg

 

[crisi]

Its really relative.

I live in a mid cost area (Twin Cities) - we make good money for the national average. We make good money for even the East Coast. We do not make good money for the Western 'burbs of the Twin Cities (Minnetonka, Minnetrista). We don't make good money compared to the country club set....we are impossibly rich compared to most of the Somali immigrants.

"Good" is a relative term that changes depending on whom I'm talking to. I wouldn't ever say I don't make a good income when I'm talking to those Somali immigrants - I'd never claim a good income when talking with those people who are really wealthy.

 

[mjkacmom]

I live in a high COL area (one of the highest), and I'd say over $200,000 (not us, unfortunately). The average income here is almost $80,000.

 

[eliza61]

I'm in one of those "high cost of living areas" . I'm 9 miles outside of Philly in NJ so I think a family of 4 making 150-175K is pretty middle class.

 

[JoyG]

I was listening to Dave Ramsey on the radio today and he said the average household income in America is 48K...that's per family not individual.

I think my city is a low cost area and that is a good household salary where I live.

 

[sylvenmaid]

We live in a low cost area in South Louisiana so $50K and above is definitely a good salary. It's not awesome but not shabby. I voted $100K since that would be a really great salary. My hubby is making $40K so we are definitely not struggling. He makes more than enough for us, but I really want to go back to work. I got a job working at my son's school f/t next month and am very excited. Luckily I live 1/2 mile away so gas isn't an issue, and I already have enough clothes in my closet. I'm just going to bank my whole salary which will be his college fund and our retirement. My hubby maxes out his 401K so we should have a good chunk saved but we plan on both working until retirement in 30 more years.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I picked High cost - > $200K


We don't make nearly that combined! I think we are poor, though. We can't afford to buy a house within an hour's drive of our work location.

But, I would LOVE to make what I make (me alone) in some of you areas! I'd be rich, rich I tell you!

 

[MissMichelle]

We are in southeastern MA and I make $40,000 and dFiance makes $62,000 so we make over $100,000 combined and I feel like we struggle some in this area.

 

[happygirl]

50,000 around is excellent

 

[Marva]

This is funny

 

[Belle5]

I think if we had 1-2 kids we would feel very well-off with our income. With having 6 kids (three in college, braces, soccer teams, scouts,cars,insurance etc.) sometimes I feel like we make a third of what we do. I will vote as if we had three kids and I think $125K would be comfortable here.

 

[yigara]

We are POOR POOR here in NY... DH makes more than 60k , I'm ASHM. Thinking of moving to NJ.

 

[delmar411]

I voted 100k low cost would be good money here although 50k is comfortable really.

DH definitely does not make 'good money'.