What is "good" money.

[FINFAN]

according to that site, housing whre I am at is 169 and 89 where I would like to go...everything else is within 5-10 points . I compared Naperville and Sarasota:

http://www.bestplaces.net/col/?salary=100000&city1=51751622&city2=51264175

looks like my desire to head south makes sense on paper...now for the job.....

 

[mom2faith]

She doesn't tell you what city they live in but her show is from Canada.

I would agree that $139K for a couple is good money. She said you each make good money so that would mean that she thinks of $52K as good money for a single person.

Everyone from TDDUP is from Toronto.

You should try to catch her new show Princess!! It is hilarious to see what these girls think they are entitled to!! Last episode I watched, she negotiated to start paying rent to her mom, but her mom agreed to still pay for her cigarettes and vet bills. Gail said NO WAY!! What landlord is going to do that.

 

[punkin]

The job's a problem. Naperville has jobs (and Chicago nearby) while Sarasota has mainly retirees.

I want to move to Florida too, but I am only 43 and DH is 44. There is no way we can make anything close to what we are making here (even COL factored in). We have a long way to go before we can even consider it.

 

[FINFAN]

The job's a problem. Naperville has jobs (and Chicago nearby) while Sarasota has mainly retirees.

I want to move to Florida too, but I am only 43 and DH is 44. There is no way we can make anything close to what we are making here (even COL factored in). We have a long way to go before we can even consider it.

we're 48 and DH is almost 50...we are hoping within the next 3-5 years. I ahve seen too many people wait until they are mid to late 60's to move..that si 10 years too late in my book. Actually, the median age in FL is about 35...and while there are a ton of retiree's, it is a mix, especially in Sarasota. I would actually live in a smaller town, but that was about as apples/apples as I thought ...my family is in Olde Naples, but I'm a few million short of that dream

 

[mdrob214]

You took my "good" the wrong way...I meant that amount is good because DH and I don't make that much. But around here, you can live on less than that.
But, that being said, military households are quite a bit different. I don't know how things work for you, but my sis (substitute teacher) and her Air Force hubby bring in less than DH and I, BUT their mortgage is paid for, their medical needs are covered, and they get other benefits as well. She lives in a higher COL area than us, makes less, and is doing fine thanks to these perks.

Just to clarify a few things. Military folks are given a housing allowance. If their mortgage payment falls within that allowance, then they are very smart! I don't want people to think that the military gets free mortgages! Medical needs are no longer covered as they used to be--very little is "free" these days. There are other benefits, of course. The Commissary (for some--it is for me) can be a big savings. It all depends on the base and the area surrounding it, as well as other circumstances. Of course, the possible separations and other job requirements are part of the equation as well. I would say that your sis and her hubby have done an excellent job of living within their means!

 

[brergnat]

Just to clarify a few things. Military folks are given a housing allowance. If their mortgage payment falls within that allowance, then they are very smart! I don't want people to think that the military gets free mortgages! Medical needs are no longer covered as they used to be--very little is "free" these days. There are other benefits, of course. The Commissary (for some--it is for me) can be a big savings. It all depends on the base and the area surrounding it, as well as other circumstances. Of course, the possible separations and other job requirements are part of the equation as well. I would say that your sis and her hubby have done an excellent job of living within their means!

DH is military (field grade officer). We are a family of 4. I have been a SAHM since my kids were born 7 years ago. We are young 30's. I think DH makes VERY good money, and we live in a very high cost of living area. While DH's base pay is in the range of about $72K, our housing allowance is close to $2600/month (that's TAX FREE). We are renting an apartment that costs $2200/month, so we are making money on our housing. Of course, buying a house here would set us back approx. $750,000, so that's why we're renters!

Add to that, the FREE medical care (and not military either, we use civilian network providers) and the tax breaks you get during depolyments (i.e. you pay NO income tax when you're deployed to a combat zone, and you get tax free incentive pay as well) and I think the military's pay (real world comparable) is very competitive.

Of course, the majority of people around here would die laughing if I told them that I thought DH made "good money", but it's good enough for us to have both cars paid off (only 3 years old each), a significant savings, a roof over our heads, food in the kitchen, college savings for both our boys, a hefty retirement savings, and the ability to take nice vacations every year.

I don't buy expensive stuff, though. That's the rub...

 

[Disney-Kim]

yes I think that is GOOD money....some of these responses floor me....

no matter where you live $139k a year is good money...I don't care if you work in NYC...min wage workers are not making $20 hr....working class are still making working class wages......no matter where you are.....so maybe it matters for white collar jobs??? imho.......

its almost as if some are trying to justify that their GOOD wages are not enough....

 

[SunnyP4Disney]

We live in a low cost area, I just googled the median income and it's 36,000 dollars for families. We make a lot more than that and live great here. However, we might be transferring to the D.C. Area in the summer and our dual incomes won't go that far there. We are in the low six figs and we are stressing about nice affordable areas to live with great schools. Were looking at Burke Va and the houses there are quite expensive. Like someone said, there are many factors to determine "good money".

 

[punkin]

yes I think that is GOOD money....some of these responses floor me....

no matter where you live $139k a year is good money...I don't care if you work in NYC...min wage workers are not making $20 hr....working class are still making working class wages......no matter where you are.....so maybe it matters for white collar jobs??? imho.......

its almost as if some are trying to justify that their GOOD wages are not enough....

No, no it's not necessarily. $139K per year in my town is equivalent to making $45K in a small town in Mississippi (I picked one out of a hat). Now, it's definitely a livable wage, even a good wage, but you can see that it is not exactly living high on the hog.

 

[FINFAN]

yes I think that is GOOD money....some of these responses floor me....

no matter where you live $139k a year is good money...I don't care if you work in NYC...min wage workers are not making $20 hr....working class are still making working class wages......no matter where you are.....so maybe it matters for white collar jobs??? imho.......

its almost as if some are trying to justify that their GOOD wages are not enough....

actually the opposite....DH is making now what we thought decades ago would have allowed us to live very comfortably,,,he worked his butt off getting his masters while working full time and now kills himself in his career..what irritates the crud out of us is that the salary is basically a check to check existence, and no we do not live high on the hog, but when your real estate taxes are equal to your mortgage payment each month, time to change the debt/income ratio. When you look to replace a 15 year old van and it's equivalent today is $30 grand? $139 is good money but ry raising a family , paying for college for multiple kids, caring for aging parents, saving for retirement..it is gone PDQ.

 

[indimom]

Just to clarify a few things. Military folks are given a housing allowance. If their mortgage payment falls within that allowance, then they are very smart! I don't want people to think that the military gets free mortgages! Medical needs are no longer covered as they used to be--very little is "free" these days. There are other benefits, of course. The Commissary (for some--it is for me) can be a big savings. It all depends on the base and the area surrounding it, as well as other circumstances. Of course, the possible separations and other job requirements are part of the equation as well. I would say that your sis and her hubby have done an excellent job of living within their means!

Sorry, should have clarified about the mortgage. They aren't living in a mansion, just a nice 3bed, two bath. But, like another poster, they actually "make a little" on the allowance, enough to cover some of the utilities, so it's a nice situation for them.

 

[karice2]

Maybe I am a nervous Nelly but "good" money for me is what some people consider enough for two. I think for a single anything between $80,000 and up is good money.

Recent studies have shownt $75,000 is the amount that financial happiness is. Anything more than that is extra.

That being said, what I make is considered really good money to some and adequate to others.

 

[meriface11]

yes I think that is GOOD money....some of these responses floor me....

no matter where you live $139k a year is good money...I don't care if you work in NYC...min wage workers are not making $20 hr....working class are still making working class wages......no matter where you are.....so maybe it matters for white collar jobs??? imho.......

its almost as if some are trying to justify that their GOOD wages are not enough....

$139k for a couple in NYC is peanuts. a 2 bedroom closet in NYC is going to run you about $3000 a month. you have to pay federal, state AND city income tax. groceries are a fortune and your kitchen is barely big enough to cook in. you don't need a car, but a monthly metro card is going to run you what a small car payment would. most of the early career kids i work with make about $45k a year, live with 4 people and are broke.

 

[karenos]

yes I think that is GOOD money....some of these responses floor me....

no matter where you live $139k a year is good money...I don't care if you work in NYC...min wage workers are not making $20 hr....working class are still making working class wages......no matter where you are.....so maybe it matters for white collar jobs??? imho.......

its almost as if some are trying to justify that their GOOD wages are not enough....

I live within commuting distance of NYC and $139K is below average where I live. My property taxes alone are low 5 figures. And you can't really buy a decent house for anywhere under $400,000. It really is all relative.

karenos

 

[Swimalie]

However, we might be transferring to the D.C. Area in the summer and our dual incomes won't go that far there. We are in the low six figs and we are stressing about nice affordable areas to live with great schools. Were looking at Burke Va and the houses there are quite expensive. Like someone said, there are many factors to determine "good money".

You might want to look a little farther west of Burke. If you go just 10 miles west you'll find schools that are ranked as some of the best in the state (Prince William and Loudoun County just tied for the highest number of highly ranked middle schools and that's just for starters) and you'll get a bigger house for the money. There are also good commuting options father out as well.

 

[Kat&Dom]

Your question made me remember riding on the bus in Calgary a few years ago and listening to a conversation between 2 guys in their late 20's. The one guy was so excited because he had got a new job and was making $9 per hour. His buddy said to him "That's Good Money!!!"

Money is just a tool to help give a person quality of life. I am a firm believer that people can always find a way to get what is important to them.

The one thing that I love about Disney is that it is affordable for every budget. A person can spend as little or as much as they desire and still have a totally amazing time. Once you enter the gates of the park, everyone receives the same experience.

 

[Forevryoung]

according to that site, housing whre I am at is 169 and 89 where I would like to go...everything else is within 5-10 points . I compared Naperville and Sarasota:

http://www.bestplaces.net/col/?salary=100000&city1=51751622&city2=51264175

looks like my desire to head south makes sense on paper...now for the job.....

Using bestplaces.net, I had a good laugh. My current area for housing is 392 (no typo). I'm renting, I'll never be able to buy here.

The median home price here is over $700,000 (according to that site). And we aren't the most affluent neighborhood in the area.

$100,000 a year here and you are struggling if you own a home.

 

[StephMK]

We live in a low cost area, I just googled the median income and it's 36,000 dollars for families. We make a lot more than that and live great here. However, we might be transferring to the D.C. Area in the summer and our dual incomes won't go that far there. We are in the low six figs and we are stressing about nice affordable areas to live with great schools. Were looking at Burke Va and the houses there are quite expensive. Like someone said, there are many factors to determine "good money".

Hi, just had to respond because I grew up in Burke Centre & raised my kids there until we moved to the mid-west 4 yrs ago. Everything in that area is pricey but Burke is such a great place for families! Let me know if you have any questions about it.

 

[cm8]

Your question made me remember riding on the bus in Calgary a few years ago and listening to a conversation between 2 guys in their late 20's. The one guy was so excited because he had got a new job and was making $9 per hour. His buddy said to him "That's Good Money!!!"

Money is just a tool to help give a person quality of life. I am a firm believer that people can always find a way to get what is important to them.

The one thing that I love about Disney is that it is affordable for every budget. A person can spend as little or as much as they desire and still have a totally amazing time. Once you enter the gates of the park, everyone receives the same experience.

I believe that good money is anything that allows you to comfortably have and do all the things you enjoy with out creating a struggle:goodvibes

 

[enchantingodin]

The average income for a family in my area is 65k. Which to me - would be "great" money. "Good" money would be anything over 50k (for a couple). And anything over 75k would be "phenomenal"... Hubs and I only made 40k last year. So I guess we're "poor". But we own a home, have very little debt, and manage to take a week long vacation every year to Disney...