Texasguy, how old are you? Sounds like life is working out nicely for you so far.
I’m 24, and this year I’ve made around £36k. I have no debts, enough savings to live without a job for about 5 months, some assets, and I rent a place for the time-being.
People will be doing better, the same or worse financially than you at all ages - it doesn’t mean shit as long as you are happy with where you are. If not, work harder.
[quote]PonceDeLeon wrote:
I’ll bite, as I don’t see what the big deal is. I’ll never meet any of you, let alone work with you.
I’ve made anywhere from 40k-50k per year (less when I first started college, maybe 25k), given my skill set and experience level but not with a degree - yet. I have had virtually no debt during those times.
I am not a spendthrift but I do wish I had better planned emergency savings. I’ve got a budget sheet now that has a simple plan laid out, along with my monthly expenses and income.
Unemployed right now, though, but looking for work.
And tootles is right about debt to income. Throw in cost of living and someone’s salary won’t be enough to wipe your own ass with in another part of the country/world.[/quote]
Cost of living is pretty important too.
I would have about half of what I have now if I were in LA or New York or something on the same dollar for instance.
A lot of people underestimate how much they need to make to live the kind of lifestyle they want. For someone who is living on their own with little debt (except a mortage, car payments), 70000/year would be quite a bit.
Now lets say you make 100000/yr. Pretty decent (depending on where you live) but if you throw in: family-sized house, 2-4 kids, a dog, a stay at home wife (or works a lower paid job), groceries, 2 cars and their expenses, utilities, line of credit, entertainment money, etc. At the end of the day, you’ve got jack shit for yourself, plus you are trapped and fully entrenched in this particular lifestyle. This scenario isn’t far fetched either, as much as I’m trying to exaggerate.
I’m not trying to take a shit on people who have a family, nor am I bitter and depressed. Mostly just looking at the money/happiness thing from both angles. That being said, the inability to pack up and leave whenever I want would be slightly terrifying, unless I was truly sure that was where I wanted to be.
Not much!
I’ll be making a bit more come next week at my new job, but it’s still not much.
Watch out though, in 2 years I’ll be the richest man on earth. YOU JUST WATCH
just under 27k/year, I work for a non-profit organization. I supplement that with working as a bouncer for $10/hr (tax free) on an on call basis.
admittedly, I feel poor all the time, but the enjoyment and satisfaction of the work is more important than material goods (to me…).
oh and there’s the debt thing too, getting raped by late payment fees to certain lending institutions right now… motherfuckers.
[quote]RSGZ wrote:
Texasguy, how old are you? Sounds like life is working out nicely for you so far.
I’m 24, and this year I’ve made around £36k. I have no debts, enough savings to live without a job for about 5 months, some assets, and I rent a place for the time-being.
People will be doing better, the same or worse financially than you at all ages - it doesn’t mean shit as long as you are happy with where you are. If not, work harder.[/quote]
I’m 26. I graduated a year ago with a bachelors degree in business from a large university here.
I have worked hard and I’m kind of lucky too, both work nicely in my favor as I take my opportunities as gifts and do what I can to make them grow, rather than burn out and wonder what is next.
I was always the kid looking for money when young. I got an allowance from my parents and they provided much more than my basic needs, but I wanted more and I wanted it to be mine if that makes sense.
I had lemonade stands when really young (my parents bought the lemonade and drove me to a local park with a jogging trail to set up of course. I would have never made my money back on $0.25 cups but they let me keep it.)
At 14, I tied my old wagon to the back of my bike and carted my old mans lawn mower/edger through the neighborhood mowing lawns for $20. Pops charged me for gas, more to teach a lesson than get his, at the time, few cents per lawn back.
For all intents and purposes, I was a jr. high millionaire and decided I loved money.
I kept this up through high school and bought a power washer too. I was making more money mowing lawns/powerwashing than my buddies at various pt jobs. I’d even recommend to people at the $40-50k level. YOu can make that easily if you do it full time. (I worked “full time” in the summer and it was really a boon. weekends in the spring, early fall) I spent a lot but saved a lot too.
In college, I worked part time for beer/party money at an hourly job. My parents generously paid my tuition and living expenses. I kept and added to my savings.
I was elected President of our Chapter of the American Marketing Association two years in a row which opened lots of opportunity to network with professional chapters and marketing pros. This led to a bad ass, well paid internship and eventually the job I have now.
I took part of my savings (which, believe it or not, began amassing in jr. high) and put a down payment on the condo I own, after shopping an area way too rich for my blood at this time for the deal I more or less found luckily on the back page of a “for sale by owner” mag. No picture, and a three line ad. I called the number on a hunch. I had a funny feeling. I get those sometimes. Intuition maybe? Usually the scenario plays out favorably when I do. A buddies older brother is a loan officer at a bank, in a manager position. I got an excellent rate.
My company offers us (Account Executives, basically business development) a nice car allowance. I negotiated a lower monthly amount for a lump sum, which I used for my trucks down payment.
the left over negotiated amount still covers my monthly bill and insurance.
Edit: Per mile
They pay gas per gallon so I keep a log when I’m out entertaining.
Earning and having the forsight to save is what allowed me to basically jump ten years on my financial life compared to most. I’m not rolling in the dough and buying up cool shit on my salary + commission.
I save and have been taught the value of leveraging opportunity from my dad , which will ultimately lead to real wealth barring unforseen troubles.
negotiating car allowance for instance. This allowed me to buy a vehicle I wouldn’t have been able to afford, even with the offered monthly amount. I needed a bigger down payment, which consequently decreased my monthly payment. I now own a nice vehicle and more of it thanks to the dp than I otherwise could have. Of course, it required college and years of networking to earn the position I have which gave the car allowance to begin with.
I wouldn’t have had the liquidity to do it all with out leveraging savings, luck of generous parents (no debt) and the ability to win people over in social settings (now business settings) + plus a good work ethic, even when things tended to be given to me. ( I didn’t take my money and buy a super bad ass truck in college for example, blow it on trips to vegas etc and wind up graduating with no money and a just a bushy tail hoping to make it back.)
I partied hard in college, but I was up early networking, working and planning how to stay on top.
And here I am.
Working with what you have and budgeting is key.
[quote]miroku333 wrote:
just under 27k/year, I work for a non-profit organization. I supplement that with working as a bouncer for $10/hr (tax free) on an on call basis.
admittedly, I feel poor all the time, but the enjoyment and satisfaction of the work is more important than material goods (to me…).
oh and there’s the debt thing too, getting raped by late payment fees to certain lending institutions right now… motherfuckers.[/quote]
Some of the happiest people I know don’t make much and don’t intend to. They are social workers and love their jobs. They make a tough living but go to bed at night feeling like they really affected people positively and that is worth more than money to them.
I think it is really pretty commendable. But not for me.
And imo, unnecessary loans are bogus. I believe if you can’t afford something (unless it is a house or vehicle which most people can’t just buy outright) you shouldn’t buy it. Save until you can afford it. Use your time to gather the money rather than a lending companies credit. Now you still don’t have money and you owe.
Just my 2 cents. Credit is the devil.
[quote]FormerlyTexasGuy wrote:
miroku333 wrote:
just under 27k/year, I work for a non-profit organization. I supplement that with working as a bouncer for $10/hr (tax free) on an on call basis.
admittedly, I feel poor all the time, but the enjoyment and satisfaction of the work is more important than material goods (to me…).
oh and there’s the debt thing too, getting raped by late payment fees to certain lending institutions right now… motherfuckers.
Some of the happiest people I know don’t make much and don’t intend to. They are social workers and love their jobs. They make a tough living but go to bed at night feeling like they really affected people positively and that is worth more than money to them.
I think it is really pretty commendable. But not for me.
And imo, unnecessary loans are bogus. I believe if you can’t afford something (unless it is a house or vehicle which most people can’t just buy outright) you shouldn’t buy it. Save until you can afford it. Use your time to gather the money rather than a lending companies credit. Now you still don’t have money and you owe.
Just my 2 cents. Credit is the devil. [/quote]
I agree with credit = evil.
I managed to make it until I was 24 before uncontrollable events left me with few options and I was seduced by lenders…
but I’ll make it, I always do, I just need a sugar-momma 
I’ve helped people move from walkers to canes then walking unassisted.
I helped a woman lose enough weight to be able to safely donate a kidney.
I’ve got a lot of stories…
this kind of stuff doesn’t pay the bills, but you can’t buy that kind of satisfaction. and I need to get my ass back in school so I can do the same kind of work as a physical therapist I think…
At 16 years old I have no bills to pay, and parents buy food for me.
So the 300 euros I make a month are pretty much spent on alcohol, weed, supplements and gas for the dirtbike.
I’ve always been taught that you don’t ask someone how much an item costs, the age of a lady, and not to brag about what you have.
I don’t know if taboo would be the word I use with money. Everyone loves money, well at least I might.
You will usually find that the poeple that are constantly telling others about their wealth, possessions, or even accomplishments emblish a great deal.
Now I do venture from this thinking sometimes… as we say in TX, if you’ve done it, it ain’t braggin’…
[quote]JGerman wrote:
I’ve always been taught that you don’t ask someone how much an item costs, the age of a lady, and not to brag about what you have.
I don’t know if taboo would be the word I use with money. Everyone loves money, well at least I might.
You will usually find that the poeple that are constantly telling others about their wealth, possessions, or even accomplishments emblish a great deal.
Now I do venture from this thinking sometimes… as we say in TX, if you’ve done it, it ain’t braggin’…
[/quote]
Most professionals will avoid giving intense details about their income at all costs…and that is even with other professionals in the same field. It is competitive. You can pull up a basic guideline of income ranges of just about any profession. Worrying about how much someone specifically makes is a waste of time, especially over the internet.
For the record, I am convinced that people who brag about their supposed income make nowhere near as much as they would like others to believe…much like some rappers who only have one cd out but act like they live next door to Bill Gates.
[quote]Yo Momma wrote:
I make money in my basement.[/quote]
I thought that was a federal offense.
[quote]ctschneider wrote:
Yo Momma wrote:
I make money in my basement.
I thought that was a federal offense.[/quote]
Maybe she’s an amateur ‘chemist’ and makes…uhmmm…‘supplements’.
[quote]miroku333 wrote:
FormerlyTexasGuy wrote:
miroku333 wrote:
just under 27k/year, I work for a non-profit organization. I supplement that with working as a bouncer for $10/hr (tax free) on an on call basis.
admittedly, I feel poor all the time, but the enjoyment and satisfaction of the work is more important than material goods (to me…).
oh and there’s the debt thing too, getting raped by late payment fees to certain lending institutions right now… motherfuckers.
Some of the happiest people I know don’t make much and don’t intend to. They are social workers and love their jobs. They make a tough living but go to bed at night feeling like they really affected people positively and that is worth more than money to them.
I think it is really pretty commendable. But not for me.
And imo, unnecessary loans are bogus. I believe if you can’t afford something (unless it is a house or vehicle which most people can’t just buy outright) you shouldn’t buy it. Save until you can afford it. Use your time to gather the money rather than a lending companies credit. Now you still don’t have money and you owe.
Just my 2 cents. Credit is the devil.
I agree with credit = evil.
I managed to make it until I was 24 before uncontrollable events left me with few options and I was seduced by lenders…
but I’ll make it, I always do, I just need a sugar-momma
I’ve helped people move from walkers to canes then walking unassisted.
I helped a woman lose enough weight to be able to safely donate a kidney.
I’ve got a lot of stories…
this kind of stuff doesn’t pay the bills, but you can’t buy that kind of satisfaction. and I need to get my ass back in school so I can do the same kind of work as a physical therapist I think…[/quote]
PT’s make good money! And there is always a need.
[quote]Sick Rick wrote:
At 16 years old I have no bills to pay, and parents buy food for me.
So the 300 euros I make a month are pretty much spent on alcohol, weed, supplements and gas for the dirtbike.[/quote]
That is fucking stupid.
You have years ahead of you with no real financial obligation. Have fun but save and even invest. It is totally worth it. Once you get involved in life you will find yourself bound to financial ties that are necessary but take a large portion of your earnings every month and it will be difficult to get ahead.
Go in to it with a nest egg and you will find starting life a breeze.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
JGerman wrote:
I’ve always been taught that you don’t ask someone how much an item costs, the age of a lady, and not to brag about what you have.
I don’t know if taboo would be the word I use with money. Everyone loves money, well at least I might.
You will usually find that the poeple that are constantly telling others about their wealth, possessions, or even accomplishments emblish a great deal.
Now I do venture from this thinking sometimes… as we say in TX, if you’ve done it, it ain’t braggin’…
Most professionals will avoid giving intense details about their income at all costs…and that is even with other professionals in the same field. It is competitive. You can pull up a basic guideline of income ranges of just about any profession. Worrying about how much someone specifically makes is a waste of time, especially over the internet.
For the record, I am convinced that people who brag about their supposed income make nowhere near as much as they would like others to believe…much like some rappers who only have one cd out but act like they live next door to Bill Gates.[/quote]
Walk tall.
And competition does subdue conversation. Knowing what a person in a similar position at a rival company earns could potentially cost them their job.
Should I apply for less then they make (if it’s still more than me) or vice versa, there is a strong possibility of being replaced.
[quote]elano wrote:
LSUPOWERDC wrote:
As my father once said…none of your goddamn business!!
My dad said the same thing once.
Big Aristotle wrote:
your parents ought to have taught you that money, politics, and religion are off-limits. everyone knows that
My dad told me that once too. Nobody an ever agree on it so its best to leave alone[/quote]
Are you saying teh three of you are brothers?
T-mag - reuniting families since 2008
I tried to post this earlier but the board got all screwy on me. Maybe it will magically appear like it normally does.
Apparently the topic is taboo…
To expound on Professor X’s assessment, my peers and I never share details about our earnings and we work within 20’ of each other. We have a general idea about what each of us are earning based on performance (we’re all in sales), but that’s about it.
With that said I make an excellent living; even in a sorry economy. I have no credit card debt, no car payments, just a mortgage on a modest home. I have 2 girls, but they’re certainly not a financial burden as one poster mentioned about kids previously.
I’d share my income but far too many people on here would cry bullshit.
I believe Marvel Girl equated talking about income to men talking about their dick size. Eh, Perhaps that’s true for the insecure among us who feel they need to prove something to the rest of us.
I’ve earned my keep.
[quote]GVkid wrote:
Very nice. - working for a B.S. in CJ[/quote]
Good luck. Hurry up and graduate so those bastards at the alumni association will have someone else to call for donations. Actually, stay in school as long as you can - drink all the alchohol you can and screw anything that is remotely attractive. Also, spend as much time on the beach at Grand Haven or Hoffmaster as you can. Working a real job sucks.
My minor highjacking of this thread is officially over.
haha that was a gem KBC.