Jeremy87 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 I live in Vancouver Canada which when taking a peek at real estate costs in Chicago, appear to be similar although a bit less. Can't say for certain cost of living is similar but very likely. $120K wouldn't go far here, at least for a family of three or four. Probably one vehicle and if you're a great saver, a three bedroom condo. As a comparative, my last two bedroom condo was worth over $500K. A 2 bedroom can be had in chicago or most american cities for 200k, easy, in a good part of town. I'm not familiar with Vancouver but if a 2 bedroom costs 500k its very expensive city unless you upgraded with all the bells and whistles. 1
Jeremy87 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Friendly reminder: this isn't about how well you live on 80k as a kid out of school; this is about starting a family. friendly reminder that I can raise a family, easy, on 80k. Are you really a really hot guy? LOL
kaylan Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Id say 120k combined is rather comfortable for a family. My family did ok on 80k combined, though sometimes it was tough. If we had an extra 40k, things woulda been a hell of a lot smoother.
Dust Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 friendly reminder that I can raise a family, easy, on 80k. Are you really a really hot guy? LOL Yes he's really hot and earns over 120k just go with it. Raise family on 80k... where under a rock catching bugs for food and drinking from puddles?
Star Gazer Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 friendly reminder that I can raise a family, easy, on 80k. Are you doing so now?
aj22one Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 I actually wasn't aware that Californias total income taxes (state + fed) were all that much more than other states (those with income tax, anyway). Hmph. Higher than what I pay.
Chicago_Guy Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Additionally, guys with money tend to shy away from high earning women for a number of reasons. That is true at least in my experience. The high income female accountants, consultants, and lawyers I have met tend to be very aggressive, bossy, and opinionated, which is not feminine and is unattractive. Maybe there are some good ones out there, but I haven't meet them where I live.
threebyfate Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 A 2 bedroom can be had in chicago or most american cities for 200k, easy, in a good part of town. I'm not familiar with Vancouver but if a 2 bedroom costs 500k its very expensive city unless you upgraded with all the bells and whistles.My condo was in a suburb, not the main city. Had I bought an identical unit in the more exclusive parts of Vancouver, it would have been twice to four times the price. Cruising through some real estate in Chicago, 2 bedroom condos appeared to go anywhere from $150 - $400K. A three bedroom would be quite a bit more which is what you'd need if you have two children. Can someone provide me with a couple of decent suburban neighborhoods in Chicago for pricing? Not expensive but decent.
Jeremy87 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Are you doing so now? I can easy, but I CHOOSE not to for the time being. I'm having fun and don't want to be tied down. Are YOU raising a family? NO NO NO
Star Gazer Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 I can easy, but I CHOOSE not to for the time being. So you have no personal experience on being able to raise a family in a large metropolis on an $80K salary, which in California would amount to about $48K. Okay, just wanted to make sure I understood where you were coming from.
Jeremy87 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 My condo was in a suburb, not the main city. Had I bought an identical unit in the more exclusive parts of Vancouver, it would have been twice to four times the price. Cruising through some real estate in Chicago, 2 bedroom condos appeared to go anywhere from $150 - $400K. A three bedroom would be quite a bit more which is what you'd need if you have two children. Can someone provide me with a couple of decent suburban neighborhoods in Chicago for pricing? Not expensive but decent. I have a friend there in the city. He paid 240k for a 2 bedroom and that place was very nice. large rooms, good location with shopping, low crime, restaurants and fun venues nearby. the good life for sure. I don't know the suburbs. Damn Vancouver is expensive.
Jeremy87 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 So you have no personal experience on being able to raise a family in a large metropolis on an $80K salary, which in California would amount to about $48K. Okay, just wanted to make sure I understood where you were coming from. My parents raised THREE of us on LESS THAN 80K ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION and put all of us through college. They taught me the value of a dollar. Growing up my sis got her own room and I shared with my bro a nice big room. Sharing a bedroom, the horrors! If that isnt personal experience I don't know what is
tigressA Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 My dad raised my brother and me and he was a maintenance worker in a small town. I never knew how much money he made, though you can imagine it wasn't much. All I knew was that he raised us well and I never really experienced discomfort due to lack of income while under his care. 1
reallyhotguy Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 So you have no personal experience on being able to raise a family in a large metropolis on an $80K salary, which in California would amount to about $48K. Okay, just wanted to make sure I understood where you were coming from. "No further questions, your honor." 1
threebyfate Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 I have a friend there in the city. He paid 240k for a 2 bedroom and that place was very nice. large rooms, good location with shopping, low crime, restaurants and fun venues nearby. the good life for sure. I don't know the suburbs. Damn Vancouver is expensive.Thanks for the comparative. Yes it is, which is why $120K wouldn't get you very far, at least here. Within the suburb that I lived in, you could buy a two bedroom for $300 - $350 but it would be at least 20 years old, wooden and needing quite a bit of repair, which is something to be very conscious of, particularly if the condo strata's contingency fund is low. You also have be careful of 10 - 20 year old condos and homes, due to all the leaky condos built around that time. An assessment for repairs which could mount up to $30 - 40K per unit, would kill a family of four trying to live on $120K. Anyways, fun in the big city.
reallyhotguy Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Okay, this is insane. It's just numbers on the internet; this is not something to get so worked up over. This salary talk is a distraction and it's also way too hostile. Let's take it easy. The discussion has to do with planning, not numbers.
tigressA Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Okay, this is insane. It's just numbers on the internet; this is not something to get so worked up over. This salary talk is a distraction and it's also way too hostile. Let's take it easy. The discussion has to do with planning, not numbers. How can you say that when the OP herself introduced numbers into the discussion with her mention of 120k? Isn't that a number? I agree that people are getting worked up, though money does have the tendency to do that. Some need to spend a little of all that moolah they're making on a nice bottle of red, light a couple Yankee Candles, and mellow out. 3
Star Gazer Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 How can you say that when the OP herself introduced numbers into the discussion with her mention of 120k? Isn't that a number? I agree that people are getting worked up, though money does have the tendency to do that. Some need to spend a little of all that moolah they're making on a nice bottle of red, light a couple Yankee Candles, and mellow out. Nice bottle of red: $25 Couple of Yankee Candles: $25 $50 just to mellow out. That's over $83 before tax.
tigressA Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Nice bottle of red: $25 Couple of Yankee Candles: $25 $50 just to mellow out. That's over $83 before tax. Oh, like you can't afford it.
Star Gazer Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Oh, like you can't afford it. Meh. Yes, but, I've grown cheap in my old age. Must be because I'm "preparing to breed," as TBF would put it. "Breed." :::shudder:::
musemaj11 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 My sister and I used to grow up having our parents making a combined income of $60k. We also lived in Orange County, California. Of course obviously we didnt have a high life. But I never ever felt like I missed out on anything. I felt like I got everything I needed materially. We always had foods on the table, we could afford eating out together regularly and we had enough money to fund annual family vacation. Yes, everything we did was done on a budget but we were happy. My family arent savers. We are just not wasteful. For example my mother never bought pricey jewelry nor designer's clothes because she finds them useless. She would rather use the money for family vacations or a bigger fridge.
Els Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 I didn't think there were enough inflammatory threads on this forum today. We can pretend that money shouldnt matter, but when it comes down to planning a future, especially for those who want children, its foolish not to consider your prospective mates finances. A woman would be a fool to sign up to be both a caregiver, and breadwinner. Please discuss. My personal requirement is that the guy be able to modestly support a wife and a couple of kids... Something I should be able to do in a few years, in my career; therefore making it, in my mind, a reasonable expectation. IMO that translates to a salary of about 120k per year in my area, the key word being, modestly. Just curious. If the bolded is your concern, and you can genuinely make 120k/year by the age of, what, 30? Why not sign up to be only the breadwinner, and seek a family-minded man who is good with household chores and wouldn't mind being a SAHD if you have kids? That would broaden your options a lot, especially in the modern times. Also, seeing as you love your job and it is that lucrative, are you certain you would even want to be a SAHM when the time comes? Not many people have that (a job they love that pays very well), and if you do have it, it seems rather silly to give it all up and also narrow your options because you need those men to provide what you already can, just because of traditional gender roles. 1
phineas Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 How can you say that when the OP herself introduced numbers into the discussion with her mention of 120k? Isn't that a number? I agree that people are getting worked up, though money does have the tendency to do that. Some need to spend a little of all that moolah they're making on a nice bottle of red, light a couple Yankee Candles, and mellow out. Can I splurge of a 6 pack of Caged alpha monkey IPA & blaze up a macanudo instead? 2
phineas Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Nice bottle of red: $25 Couple of Yankee Candles: $25 $50 just to mellow out. That's over $83 before tax. Da fook?!?!? bottle of smashed grapes (with screw-top) $3 Scented candle at Big-Lots $1. .8% tax. mellow out.....can't put a price on that.
phineas Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 Biggest mistake I made in my life was marrying & having kids with a woman who made very little money herself. She cheated, living with her new BF & somehow i'm still supporting her. Yeah, the state calls it child support but it's more than I actually spend to support my kids when I have them half the week. My advice to guys planing on getting married & raising a family is to marry a woman who is in your tax bracket & never let her become a stay at home mom because if it goes south you are responsible for keeping her in her current standard of living because she is unemployed & considered having given up her career to raise your kids. Except, their only YOUR kids when it comes to finances. Their HER kids where everything else is concerned according to the state. If any woman here looking to be a stay at home mom doesn't think a well to do guy hasn't already considered this, their wrong. 1
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