You're right. A lot of crap that costs an arm and a leg could easily go - cell phones, satellite tv, etc. Any fool who can't make it on 90 grand should have his ass kicked. However, our takehome (after insurance etc) is closer to 47. It doesn't matter how much you make, it is never enough. From 1971 to 1978 I lived on approx. $100 month SSI and family goodwill. I don't think my happiness quotient is much different now than it was then. Here is a quick look at our budget. How does it stack up to everybody else's? 800 house pmt. 500 car pmt. 300 car ins. 300 utilities 400 damned credit card 150 cable, internet, phone 250 cell phones 300 medical shit 300 food, family of four 175 house tax, ins. 250 gas for cars 300 clothes and supplies etc for kids, one a 16 yr old daughter (God help me!) Income (net) 2300 me 1600 wife 3900 total monthly
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:35:52 -0500Subject: Re: FW: [QUAD-L] Affording thingsTo: [email protected] i'm with willis - i left a programming job at 76k and now between retirement and ssdi, i'm around 48k, wife is arount 40k as a tech dispatcher. if you have a number where you think you would be happy, my buddy grosses around 600k and whines about taxes and insufficient money. go figure. dave In a message dated 12/22/2007 9:00:23 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: $90,000!!! And you can't afford a $30,000 van? Wow! You must live in one of those expensive to live in state like CA. My income is about a quarter of yours' and I live in my own house, bought a van in 1999 for $24,000 - paid it off in 4 years.DanAt 09:00 AM 12/22/2007 -0500, William Willis said something that elicited my response: I have a fairly decent salary as a teacher and my wife is a restaurant manager. Together we make about $90,000. There is still no way we could afford a $30,000 van along with house payment. My van is a 96 E-150 with 140,000 mi. that I bought on ebay for $13,000. My wife drives a Taurus that cost $5400. In the words of CCR "I aint no fortunate son." All things considered, I do consider myself blessed to have had a wonderful family and the opportunity to hold a rewarding job. God bless all of you, my Q-list pals. May you have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:04:58 -0500 Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Affording things To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] In a message dated 12/21/2007 6:58:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Only a few people gave me their input and only one was brave enough to say that he kept quite a bit of cash on hand to not report. I am talking about new vans, the latest computers and gadgets and programs, vehicle insurance, fancy cell phones that are hands-free, a whole list of books that they want, etc. etc. etc.. The sky is the limit. Within reason I mean... I don't mean buying a mansion or something like that. I guess many people just go without or have family give them money or keep cash in different areas. I remember hiding mine when I was dependent on the county for home health care and I'm glad those days are over! Lori I was fortunate to borrow the money from my father for my van. 27k cash. I needed his help because I bought it from e-bay. I pay him so much a month for it though.Dianna See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter. Get the power of Windows + Web with the new Windows Live. Get it now! See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter. _________________________________________________________________ The best games are on Xbox 360. Click here for a special offer on an Xbox 360 Console. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/wheretobuy/
