is there really any point to making $120k instead of $80k? (srs)

[Ted Nugent]

was just taking a dump and deep in thought

cliffs:
-is it really worth working a job you hate when you're still only in the $80-120k bracket as opposed to working a job you love for a lower but still comfortable wage, say $60-75k
-if you're working m-f/"9-5" you're going to have roughly the same amount of free time with either job, once you get the fancy house/car/etc, wtf else are you going to buy/do with the extra money each year and still rather limited free time? theres only so much sh*t you can buy, and so much you can do with 2 day weekends

-obviously once youre closer to $200k and above its a whole different ballgame, but for the low 100's/high double digit range, after you buy all the cool sh*t and the buzz of that wears off, whats the real appeal of the hating 40+ hours of your week for slightly extra money?




disclaimer: this is just poverty musings from an average plebian. i dont make $80-120k, just thinking about everything ive wanted money for, once i got it the fun eventually wears off and then its on to the next thing

[mjf100215]

I'd buy retirement with the 'extra'
If you don't have time for more toys or hobbies, invest the extra and retire early.

[sixgn]

No - within that range itself, things don't change much if at all.....however

once youre closer to $200k

is a different story. @ that level everything is much easier, decisions can be made on their own merits rather than based on a "budget" so to speak, so that freedom is good to have. Making decisions based on a budget AND the merits of the choices is what overly stresses people out.

[SpartacusNYC]

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/09/...-75000-a-year/

[crsaen010]

In on last page

[ugottabjoshinme]

Retiring earlier would definitely suck. Good call opie

[brahdude]

I make $120k n after my 2k rent and monthly expenses I have very little to save. I don't think humans were designed to work 9 to 5 for a corporation and be happy. Don't think I can even survive on anything below 90k srs. 75k is poverty

[Ted Nugent]

No - within that range itself, things don't change much if at all.....however

is a different story. @ that level everything is much easier, decisions can be made on their own merits rather than based on a "budget" so to speak, so that freedom is good to have. Making decisions based on a budget AND the merits of the choices is what overly stresses people out.

yeah thats basically what i was thinking. not sure how taxes work as you go up, but im sure those play a big role too

[engj]

I know every miscer is a financial guru who bought a GTR with a wad of cash they earned from their passive income streams, but I will tell you coming from my point of view.

I have moved through the range you are talking about in a 9-5 life, and really your happiness doesnt scale with income. You tend to scale your life to your income, or modify your plans based on career advances. You drive a little bit nicer cars, live in a little nicer house, and stay in a little nicer places when you travel.

Stress level is down...Your retirement accounts look better, your not worried about bills or expenses that come with kids. You forget when payday is, you dont think about when your insurance or mortgage comes out of your account.

Stress levels come down, but I am not really any happier. If you are unsatisfied with $80k a year, you become just as unsatisfied at $120/150/180/200k as well.

[alphafreak]

Its a bad idea to do a job you hate just because it pays more money dont let your life be controlled by greed, do the job that you are passionate about even if it pays less you will be happier in the long run.

[ragealot]

Retire early, send your kids to school, take nice vacations, leave a fat inheritance for your kids since they're probably going to be useless like all kids are these days.

[Ted Nugent]

Retiring earlier would definitely suck. Good call opie

say you save an extra $20k a year, assuming you live as long as you think you are, you can retire maybe an 10 years early? is that worth the preceeding 20-30 years of really not enjoying your job?

No job that pays well is fun unless you're a fukken movie star brah.

not sure if srs

[Hemunit]

sometimes i wonder if there is any point in working at all




is that why we were put here? to work a job for 30 years spending a majority of the days hours away from family and loved ones, hopefully retire securely, and maybe enjoy 15 more years before sickness and chit sets in?


sometimes want to move into mountains of Japan and fish and farm for living with my family


but then can't misc

[ScissorMeSlowly]

"There's only so much **** you can buy"

Strong personal finance skills. Hmm maybe you could, oh I don't know, invest the extra $40k per year for 10-15 yrs and retire a hell of a lot sooner.

Now is that worth it if you don't enjoy the job? Guess that's up to you. But don't paint the picture like there is no advantage of making an extra $40k/year.

[regl8r]

It can make a huge difference if you let it. If you are just an amplified version of yourself it won't make any difference. Spending more on things like alcohol, clothes, cars, etc will make no difference in your happiness.
Now if you essentially live the same lifestyle you did at 75k and do smart things with that money how could you not be happier?

BRB Trips/Experiences
BRB Investments / Side Business
BRB Side Business Booms
BRB Quit Regular Job
BRB Early Retirement

[FitnessCPA]

Save the extra $40k a year and retire a decade or two sooner.

[SolidOakie]

I made 200k in the last three years and now yearn to become part of the 9-5 ratrace. The rule of thumb for "optimal income" is 60k a year. That is the magic number where you make well enough to live a good life, but not enough to where you start bleeding money on things you don't need. Once you make beyond 60k you start having financial problems with things you normally wouldn't own like boats, motorcycles, backyard pools, etc. A co worker of mine lives in a really nice neighborhood and had to get a new roof. Not just any roof, though. Neighborhood association rules dictate which roofing material to use and surprise surprise it's expensive as fuark. My folks are loaded and have spent over 7k on indoor elevator problems.

Personally I'd be happy with 48k. That's 4k a month. My bills are 2k, that's 500 a week left over. Plus my wife works, too. Currently looking for 48k job

[Ted Nugent]

I know every miscer is a financial guru who bought a GTR with a wad of cash they earned from their passive income streams, but I will tell you coming from my point of view.

I have moved through the range you are talking about in a 9-5 life, and really your happiness doesnt scale with income. You tend to scale your life to your income, or modify your plans based on career advances. You drive a little bit nicer cars, live in a little nicer house, and stay in a little nicer places when you travel.

Stress level is down...Your retirement accounts look better, your not worried about bills or expenses that come with kids. You forget when payday is, you dont think about when your insurance or mortgage comes out of your account.

Stress levels come down, but I am not really any happier. If you are unsatisfied with $80k a year, you become just as unsatisfied at $120/150/180/200k as well.

mirin old man wisdom. went to rep but apparently its been too soon since the last one

Its a bad idea to do a job you hate just because it pays more money dont let your life be controlled by greed, do the job that you are passionate about even if it pays less you will be happier in the long run.

dont get me wrong, im a materialistic skank i love buying cool sh*t and doing fun stuff, money is awesome, but like i said ive realized that the fun always will eventually wear off and since the average person will spend majority of their awake time working, wouldnt it make sense to love it?

Retire early, send your kids to school, take nice vacations, leave a fat inheritance for your kids since they're probably going to be useless like all kids are these days

lol'ed. im not having kids but i see what youre saying

[FitnessCPA]

I make $120k n after my 2k rent and monthly expenses I have very little to save. I don't think humans were designed to work 9 to 5 for a corporation and be happy. Don't think I can even survive on anything below 90k srs. 75k is poverty

I make $120k salary myself and I am saving a ton of money. What's your situation? Where do you live? Wife, kids, other dependents?

[midcoastking33]

science says no, at least in terms of happiness

[FitnessCPA]

Also, you could golf a lot more.

[KennyPowers123]

Make 180k... still can't buy all the toys I want. feelsbatman.

[btb925]

40k isn't necessarily "slightly extra money." That is a 50% increase from your original salary of 80k. Nonetheless, money isn't everything. I am much happier now than I was before and I made much more money before but worked nearly everyday. All work and no play sucks but so does the vice versa. You need both to balance in order to appreciate the other.

[badmathguy]

If you think 9-5 m/f is limited time then you are either +45 yo or a stupid pussey.

I work 9-5 4 days a week, 1 night shift and i'm going to college, i still don't consider my time as limited.

[Ted Nugent]

"There's only so much **** you can buy"

Strong personal finance skills. Hmm maybe you could, oh I don't know, invest the extra $40k per year for 10-15 yrs and retire a hell of a lot sooner.

Save the extra $40k a year and retire a decade or two sooner.

wtf am i going to do when i retire? i have a ton of free time now, close to 2 weeks off a month and im already bored as fuk, the hell im supposed to do when im like 40+ years old and have 100% free time? sit around drinking and reminiscing how i hated my life for 20 years so i could fast track it to sitting around and being retired?

I made 200k in the last three years and now yearn to become part of the 9-5 ratrace. The rule of thumb for "optimal income" is 60k a year. That is the magic number where you make well enough to live a good life, but not enough to where you start bleeding money on things you don't need. Once you make beyond 60k you start having financial problems with things you normally wouldn't own like boats, motorcycles, backyard pools, etc. A co worker of mine lives in a really nice neighborhood and had to get a new roof. Not just any roof, though. Neighborhood association rules dictate which roofing material to use and surprise surprise it's expensive as fuark. My folks are loaded and have spent over 7k on indoor elevator problems.

Personally I'd be happy with 48k. That's 4k a month. My bills are 2k, that's 500 a week left over. Plus my wife works, too. Currently looking for 48k job

yeah i see that a lot with the guys i work with, they make dam good money but have terrible family problems, have poverty savings, etc.

youre oilfield crew so im sure you can relate.

[pantiespending]

was just taking a dump and deep in thought

cliffs:
-is it really worth working a job you hate when you're still only in the $80-120k bracket as opposed to working a job you love for a lower but still comfortable wage, say $60-75k
-if you're working m-f/"9-5" you're going to have roughly the same amount of free time with either job, once you get the fancy house/car/etc, wtf else are you going to buy/do with the extra money each year and still rather limited free time? theres only so much sh*t you can buy, and so much you can do with 2 day weekends

-obviously once youre closer to $200k and above its a whole different ballgame, but for the low 100's/high double digit range, after you buy all the cool sh*t and the buzz of that wears off, whats the real appeal of the hating 40+ hours of your week for slightly extra money?




disclaimer: this is just poverty musings from an average plebian. i dont make $80-120k, just thinking about everything ive wanted money for, once i got it the fun eventually wears off and then its on to the next thing

Depends on where I was living and what the difference in responsibilities were. I mean even if it was rough but I loved it I wouldn't bother me. The only reason I want more money is to get things started to help friends. Would have to be analytical about the situation and determine the trade offs at hand.

On this list of to do's:

1) Buy grandmothers home so she doesn't have to be put in nursing home/may keep it in the family.

2) Get company off ground and employ close friends that received felony convictions that aren't gonna make it without me.

Still if my expenses weren't great and was still able to save, while the additional responsibilities were greater....... Hmmm can not be decisive without more information about these positions.

Don't have any intentions of retiring early soooooo. Just mainly bring security to my old friends who are struggling/family.


Just off what you've stated. Start at lower with less responsibilities. Get in groove. Decide if it were right at the moment to take on more.

[j.w.13]

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/09/...-75000-a-year/

came to post this

[pantiespending]

wtf am i going to do when i retire? i have a ton of free time now, close to 2 weeks off a month and im already bored as fuk, the hell im supposed to do when im like 40+ years old and have 100% free time? sit around drinking and reminiscing how i hated my life for 20 years so i could fast track it to sitting around and being retired?


yeah i see that a lot with the guys i work with, they make dam good money but have terrible family problems, have poverty savings, etc.

youre oilfield crew so im sure you can relate.

Travel to south america and spend rest of life on beach with hot girl and rum?

This plans for me to do when retires. Venturing back, only when necessary so I can remain US citizen.

[BrownRice123]

lol @ thinking jobs that pay well are fun. THERE IS A REASON THEY PAY WELL BRAH.

Again, unless you're in the entertainment industry.

You think doctors love their job? fukken lol

You think engineers love their job? fukken lol

You think programmers love their job? fukken lol

You think people working in finance/accounting love their job? fukken lol

You think traffic controllers love their job? fukken lol

You think pharmacists who live @ Walgreen's for their entire life love their job? fukken lol

You think lawyers/attorneys love their job? fukken lol

just fukken lol

this guy gets it

[FitnessCPA]

wtf am i going to do when i retire? i have a ton of free time now, close to 2 weeks off a month and im already bored as fuk, the hell im supposed to do when im like 40+ years old and have 100% free time? sit around drinking and reminiscing how i hated my life for 20 years so i could fast track it to sitting around and being retired?

Beats me. I'm just answering your question "is there really any point to making $120k instead of $80k?"

I could find plenty to do if I did not go to work five days a week.