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keepITup
251 Posts
I'm still in college, so this has me worried if people are labeling $39,000 as hard to live off of. I always thought it would be amazing if I could make any where near that out of school (doubtful, I know). So could you live off a $39,000 salary? Do you think teachers have it rough? I'd give my personal view but I obviously don't have the experience. But I always thought that teachers cry way to much about an otherwise good career to have. I'm probably wrong though.   | ||
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StarN
United States2587 Posts
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Hot_Bid
Braavos36379 Posts
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The6357
United States1268 Posts
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Chromyne
Canada561 Posts
This was about a decade ago though. EDIT: It does matter where you live as well. | ||
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LeperKahn
Romania1845 Posts
On February 23 2010 03:06 Hot_Bid wrote: theres a difference between a guy supporting his family off 39k and you supporting yourself. even living in a really nice city, 39k for a single person is plenty assuming you don't spend a ton of money on luxury items. but for a family, 39k is quite low. Supporting a family is hella expensive. | ||
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Biochemist
United States1008 Posts
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emucxg
Finland4559 Posts
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ItsYoungLee
Korea (South)227 Posts
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mdb
Bulgaria4059 Posts
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TeabagInsurance
Canada320 Posts
I don't really know the neccesary amount to live off of while supporting a family, but if you are smart with your money I can see it happening with 39k. I wouldn't exactly call it amazing though. | ||
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NonFactor
Sweden698 Posts
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Zilver
Finland282 Posts
On February 23 2010 03:20 NonFactor wrote: I live with my parents. ok | ||
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eXigent.
Canada2419 Posts
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Patriot.dlk
Sweden5462 Posts
I guess you need quite a lot to support them with collage and health care | ||
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St3MoR
Spain3256 Posts
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Chef
10810 Posts
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MannerMan
371 Posts
I don't know if I could support myself and 3 others on it though | ||
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KOFgokuon
United States14899 Posts
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Weaponx3
Canada232 Posts
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Saturnize
United States2473 Posts
On February 23 2010 03:06 StarN wrote: largely depends on where you live. with property in rates in places like New York I find it would be very hard to support a family of 4 with a 39000$ salary. Then again if you taught in New York you wouldn't be making 39k a year. | ||
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FaCE_1
Canada6177 Posts
Alone, at 39k, I wouldn't be able to live with the house just starting to get pay + the cars (p.s. my house isnt big and I got a really small car  )If the guys have his house pay and his car pay, then 39k is enough. I could do an essay on the cost of living ...oh snap, I'm a templar now :D | ||
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stack
Canada348 Posts
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Comeh
United States18919 Posts
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Hidden_MotiveS
Canada2562 Posts
On February 23 2010 03:44 Chef wrote: Does his wife not work? Maybe he has a lot of kids. Also, he wrote a book on living off $39000 so I assume not. | ||
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ejac
United States1195 Posts
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Jibba
United States22883 Posts
That saidd, I think his situation is possible in a decent city as long as you used a lot of second hand goods and were careful about food. It'd be very difficult though and would take a "team" effort from the family. And good health fortune. | ||
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OhThatDang
United States4685 Posts
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KingKRule
United States84 Posts
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KOFgokuon
United States14899 Posts
On February 23 2010 04:04 stack wrote: can I ask what you guys do for a living? i'm a grad student, i make ~30k a year and live in cambridge ma | ||
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GreEny K
Germany7312 Posts
On February 23 2010 03:20 NonFactor wrote: I live with my parents. -_- go back to lurking On February 23 2010 03:06 Hot_Bid wrote: theres a difference between a guy supporting his family off 39k and you supporting yourself. even living in a really nice city, 39k for a single person is plenty assuming you don't spend a ton of money on luxury items. but for a family, 39k is quite low. Yeah, if youre just out of college and get that as starting you can support yourself quite comfortably. If you worked up to that amount and also need to support a wife and kids then you might be in some trouble. Just because this one teacher did it doesn't mean that others can do it as well, and now with that book coming out and this publicity he wont need to worry about it anymore. | ||
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GreEny K
Germany7312 Posts
On February 23 2010 04:04 stack wrote: can I ask what you guys do for a living? College student and work part time for a law firm in the IT department. Double majoring in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. | ||
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BlackJack
United States10574 Posts
1. First thing you should do is supplement your income by writing a book on how to live off $39,000 salary. 2. Avoid buying things you don't need, like stupid books on how to live off $39,000 a year. I really hope that's the first chapter of the book. You open it and it says "Stop spending all your money everytime someone writes a book." Actually it's perfect because if someone is spending money on his book it's actually the exact same person he needs to help. Seriously 39k is probably more than enough to live on. The problem is America's definition of "getting by" is different from most people's definition. The average "poor" family as defined by our government typically has cable television, air conditioning, cell phones, their own car, etc. The reason people have trouble getting by on 40k a year is because our country has a terrible record with saving money. We spend it all on snuggies and shamwows and other useless stuff we don't need. Actually what really costs a lot of money is buying stuff like cell phones and new clothes. You can get a perfectly acceptable pair of pants at a church sale or gargage sale for a buck, no reason to spend $40 for designer jeans that, ironically, are purposefully torn, lol. | ||
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Halfpastnoob
United States191 Posts
On February 23 2010 04:52 BlackJack wrote: Here's how to live off $39,000 salary: 1. First thing you should do is supplement your income by writing a book on how to live off $39,000 salary. 2. Avoid buying things you don't need, like stupid books on how to live off $39,000 a year. I really hope that's the first chapter of the book. You open it and it says "Stop spending all your money everytime someone writes a book." Actually it's perfect because if someone is spending money on his book it's actually the exact same person he needs to help. Seriously 39k is probably more than enough to live on. The problem is America's definition of "getting by" is different from most people's definition. The average "poor" family as defined by our government typically has cable television, air conditioning, cell phones, their own car, etc. The reason people have trouble getting by on 40k a year is because our country has a terrible record with saving money. We spend it all on snuggies and shamwows and other useless stuff we don't need. Actually what really costs a lot of money is buying stuff like cell phones and new clothes. You can get a perfectly acceptable pair of pants at a church sale or gargage sale for a buck, no reason to spend $40 for designer jeans that, ironically, are purposefully torn, lol. QFT. | ||
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BlackJack
United States10574 Posts
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Jibba
United States22883 Posts
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zer0das
United States8519 Posts
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KingKRule
United States84 Posts
On February 23 2010 05:07 BlackJack wrote: Also I watched a documentary, might have been Guiness World Record related, not sure, about the "world's cheapest man." His "job" is going around dumpster diving and scavenging and he makes about 9k a year off that. He has his own house and family. He does things like reuse paper towels by hanging them out to dry and filling up ketchup bottles with small packs of Mcdonalds ketchup. That's the book I want to read. Not some schmuck that makes a book about living on $39k when there are already probably 50 million people that live on less than 39k. Actually, that was ripley's believe it or not Believe it or not. | ||
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University
United States263 Posts
As for the news report, I guess it is a testament to our country's incredible standard of living that we can write a book about the hardships of a 39,000 a year salary. Even if the guy lives in NYC with two kids, it is possible. It's not like anyone is starving. | ||
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University
United States263 Posts
On February 23 2010 04:37 KOFgokuon wrote: i'm a grad student, i make ~30k a year and live in cambridge ma Haha... good place to be a grad student. | ||
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BlackJack
United States10574 Posts
On February 23 2010 05:10 Jibba wrote: Phones and cars have become necessities for many people, not simply luxuries. I should clarify, I meant for kids. It seems like almost every high school kid has his own cell phone these days, which is not a "necessity" by any means. | ||
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FuDDx
United States5008 Posts
Oh and we do have two children. | ||
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illu
Canada2531 Posts
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FreshNoThyme
United States356 Posts
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yesplz
United States295 Posts
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semantics
10040 Posts
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KOFgokuon
United States14899 Posts
On February 23 2010 05:29 illu wrote: I think it's a total overkill. That much money can support 100 families in the Third World. yea, cause prices in america are totally comparable to prices in a third world country | ||
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GreEny K
Germany7312 Posts
On February 23 2010 03:57 FaCE_1 wrote: Well, it all depend what his situation. I currently live alone with 45k and it's not so easy. I bought a house, I got my cars, electicity, food, assurance, etc.etc.etc..... Alone, at 39k, I wouldn't be able to live with the house just starting to get pay + the cars (p.s. my house isnt big and I got a really small car )If the guys have his house pay and his car pay, then 39k is enough. I could do an essay on the cost of living ...oh snap, I'm a templar now :D Idk, if you have problems living single off 45K maybe you need to reevaluate where the money goes? Not trying to insult you but thats a lot of money for 1 person to spend and you said "The cars" maybe thats where the problem is? On February 23 2010 05:29 illu wrote: I think it's a total overkill. That much money can support 100 families in the Third World. Wow... Is captainobvious taken as a name on TL? Maybe you should request it, he does not live in a third world country and therefore does need to complain because it gets a family consisting of children, wife and husband what they need to live but not enough to save much. You can compare a third world country with where he lives -_- | ||
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Navane
Netherlands2749 Posts
Lol I remember the euro and dollar being about the same, haha. Now that is very few to run a familiy on yes. | ||
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artofmagic
United States1951 Posts
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micronesia
United States24733 Posts
I'm a single teacher where pay is good but cost of living is high... I can definitely support myself without any difficulty once I'm done paying grad school but it's tight otherwise. If I'm willing to live in a small crappy inconvenient one bedroom apartment by myself then it's like 800/mo plus some utils... but if I'm willing to share a house/apt with other ppl then it's very affordable (not what I want at all though). On February 23 2010 07:14 artofmagic wrote: my mom support my family(dad+3 kids) with 15k a year in NYC. What is the cost of housing jeez... seems difficult. | ||
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illu
Canada2531 Posts
On February 23 2010 06:49 GreEny K wrote: Wow... Is captainobvious taken as a name on TL? Maybe you should request it, he does not live in a third world country and therefore does need to complain because it gets a family consisting of children, wife and husband what they need to live but not enough to save much. You can compare a third world country with where he lives -_- Thanks for elaborating for me. I was obviously being sarcastic. | ||
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Jonoman92
United States9104 Posts
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asdfTT123
United States989 Posts
After my expenses, I have plenty of money left over to spend on whatever...though I suppose it's wise for me to learn to better budget and save more for later. There's a huge difference between 39k for yourself and 39k for a family. 39k for yourself is very easy in most places assuming you know how to budget a little and don't go crazy with your credit card. 39k for a family is definitely more challenging, but doable...certainly not news worthy. -_- Of course, other factors weigh in such as location (obv. NY is going to be more expensive than a little suburb in AL), transportation costs, etc... Personally, I live in a large city on the east coast where rent is notably more expensive than other areas. | ||
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il0seonpurpose
Korea (South)5638 Posts
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JeeJee
Canada5652 Posts
supporting yourself on 39k is trivial, shouldn't even be an issue. A whole family is also very possible; when we first came to canada (around 10yr ago, family of 4), my dad had a $20-25k job (dont remember, around low 20s), and we managed just fine. Now prices have gone up of course, but 20k and 39k aren't exactly the same number either. Laptops, cars, houses, cellphones, tv's, cable, brand-name food/clothing/anythng, those are all luxury items. When you accept this, money becomes a lot more plentiful. There's certainly nothing amazing about 39k. Hell, as teens, me n my bro even had some real luxuries back then too, like bicycles (yeah, two of them. sup?) | ||
IntoTheWow
is awesome32277 Posts
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Slaughter
United States20254 Posts
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d3_crescentia
United States4054 Posts
For the love of god don't forget the fucking taxes. | ||
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Hypnosis
United States2061 Posts
On February 23 2010 03:17 mdb wrote: i live with 5500 usd a year :D About the same for me LOL im so fuckin poor | ||
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kb.RepulsE
China124 Posts
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FaCE_1
Canada6177 Posts
On February 23 2010 06:49 GreEny K wrote: Idk, if you have problems living single off 45K maybe you need to reevaluate where the money goes? Not trying to insult you but thats a lot of money for 1 person to spend and you said "The cars" maybe thats where the problem is? Wow... Is captainobvious taken as a name on TL? Maybe you should request it, he does not live in a third world country and therefore does need to complain because it gets a family consisting of children, wife and husband what they need to live but not enough to save much. You can compare a third world country with where he lives -_- no. I got 1 car lol and 45k - Taxes = Around 25K | ||
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Cloud
Sexico5880 Posts
I guess maybe you gotta factor different taxes and stuff (and the usa's outrageous tuition fees), so maybe not such a big difference, but it's not amazing, we don't live a life of luxury but we're pretty much fine. | ||
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JeeJee
Canada5652 Posts
On February 23 2010 21:43 FaCE_1 wrote: no. I got 1 car lol and 45k - Taxes = Around 25K since when do you pay 45% tax on a 45k salary, lol? you're looking closer to 20-25%.. edit: and that's assuming you're as uncreative as possible on your returns.. still, you'd have a hard time paying more than 10k in tax on that salary | ||
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r4j2ill
Canada111 Posts
#2 pay all bills #3 buy a lolipop for the kids and wife rest of the money for next month, maybe get the wife a fake jewel ;D | ||
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KOFgokuon
United States14899 Posts
On February 23 2010 23:07 Cloud wrote: Err my dad earns a lot less than that. We are 5 in our family and we all (the children) went to good schools. I guess maybe you gotta factor different taxes and stuff (and the usa's outrageous tuition fees), so maybe not such a big difference, but it's not amazing, we don't live a life of luxury but we're pretty much fine. going to good schools (assuming u mean college) is not THAT hard if you're poor, the amount of financial aid you can get is absurd | ||
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GreEny K
Germany7312 Posts
On February 23 2010 21:43 FaCE_1 wrote: no. I got 1 car lol and 45k - Taxes = Around 25K Damn thats a lot of taxes. | ||
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ZeaL.
United States5955 Posts
On February 23 2010 21:43 FaCE_1 wrote: no. I got 1 car lol and 45k - Taxes = Around 25K Man where the hell do you live. I'm making ~30k and I get ~24k after taxes and health/dental insurance and all in Atlanta. | ||
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Shengster
United States167 Posts
I'm a college student, but still, I have to pay for everything. | ||
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leetchaos
United States395 Posts
Also, 40K is more than enough were I live for a single person. Assuming you aren't a moron (maybe I shouldn't assume). I could pretty easily support my gf as well (if she didn't work) and probably even a kid. | ||
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leetchaos
United States395 Posts
On February 23 2010 03:57 FaCE_1 wrote: Well, it all depend what his situation. I currently live alone with 45k and it's not so easy. I bought a house, I got my cars, electicity, food, assurance, etc.etc.etc..... Alone, at 39k, I wouldn't be able to live with the house just starting to get pay + the cars (p.s. my house isnt big and I got a really small car )If the guys have his house pay and his car pay, then 39k is enough. I could do an essay on the cost of living ...oh snap, I'm a templar now :D Not easy to live on 45k? 'You're doing it wrong'. | ||
LosingID8
CA10828 Posts
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Myrmidon
United States9452 Posts
Anyhow $39k is not a very noteworthy figure to make a point, or for that matter, a book. | ||
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artofmagic
United States1951 Posts
On February 23 2010 07:20 micronesia wrote: Man... I don't want to move out of my parents' b/c of money and reading this thread makes me feel like I'm worrying too much... then again I am paying grad school out of pocket ._. I'm a single teacher where pay is good but cost of living is high... I can definitely support myself without any difficulty once I'm done paying grad school but it's tight otherwise. If I'm willing to live in a small crappy inconvenient one bedroom apartment by myself then it's like 800/mo plus some utils... but if I'm willing to share a house/apt with other ppl then it's very affordable (not what I want at all though). What is the cost of housing jeez... seems difficult. We were lucky to got a project apt (government funded housing (no utility fee) and low rent) assigned to us after a few years my dad became unable to work(surgery accident). We live off food stamp when my siblings and I were kids. We are really frugal. There's no such thing as christmas present or special eat out dinner. Her daytime job is a housekeeper/maid. My mom did a lot of very low marginal-profit selling -- buying bundles of essential garment(socks, gloves) from jewish distributor to earn money on the side. She don't know any english and throw whatever vocab she can come up.. some how she was able to communicate with them. Now if you think jewish was cheap... My mom bargain off from them time after time, always requesting for a lower price. She goes factories(few exists now), small shops to restaurant in chinatown and personally sell to each potential customer. Every store, restaurant or w/e owners knows my mom because she's probably the only chinese door saleswoman. However chinatown became too competitive as little shops selling these products with similar pricing. She then stopped and continue her daytime job. She was a brave and hardworking woman. Unfortunately after many hard years of working, she got hooked into blackjack when she "jackpot" one day. She's a decent player but can't card-count and cant handle her habit well and eventually blew a lot. She borrow from loan shark and my dad have to disconnect our saving account from her to prevent future blow out. You can't win in blackjack long term without card-count (you get about a single percent edge even with card-count). She's now a gamble-addict and have hard time keeping her daytime job. And our family who view as a heroine slowly lost respect for her. (We try everything to make her quit her habit, but no affect) We still care for her, but she's not exactly the same person 7 years ago. As for now I'm a 3rd college student who support myself for everything (college tuition (i take loans), books, housing, food, everything!) I saved up some money on the side from doing full time and freelance at night(got barely any sleep) during my previous 6 month co-op period. Rent and means of transportation is probably the true income killer. Everything else you can somehow manage to cut cost. | ||
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BlackJack
United States10574 Posts
btw all the people throwing out numbers on what they were raised on. there is a little something called inflation. 40k now is like 25k 20 years ago | ||
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FragKrag
United States11552 Posts
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Vedic
United States582 Posts
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leejas
United States440 Posts
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XinRan
United States530 Posts
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Energies
Australia3225 Posts
$39,000USD would be $43,872AUD of that $7165 would be taken out as income tax leaving you with $36,700 Rent on average is about $330.00 / Week. That's almost half your yearly salary in rent. Add to that Bills/Rates/Food/ $1.35 / Litre for fuel. ($5/Gallon). You're left with almost no money for luxuries, so while you wouldn't die, I wouldn't want to try it. | ||
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Energies
Australia3225 Posts
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Disregard
China10252 Posts
edit: Brooklyn, even though prices are absurd here too. | ||
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Cedstick
Canada3336 Posts
I make even less now, between $1000 and $1100 every month. Rent and bills amount to $550, I spend $200 a month of food and then there are other little expenses and my spending. Depending on how much I spend I save roughly $250 a month. | ||
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FaCE_1
Canada6177 Posts
On February 24 2010 03:59 ZeaL. wrote: Man where the hell do you live. I'm making ~30k and I get ~24k after taxes and health/dental insurance and all in Atlanta. Canada \ Quebec. The place where Taxe are the highest in the world 50% of my salary go to taxes T__T | ||
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Cedstick
Canada3336 Posts
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FieryBalrog
United States1381 Posts
That's what really matters... $39K is plenty even for supporting a family in a place where the cost of living is miniscule (aka, anywhere that's not on the Coasts or the Southwest), | ||
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Energies
Australia3225 Posts
On February 24 2010 19:56 FaCE_1 wrote: Canada \ Quebec. The place where Taxe are the highest in the world 50% of my salary go to taxes T__T I don't think so... Canada 15% - $1 to $40,726 22% - $40,726 - $81,452 26% - $81,452 - $126,264 29% - $126,264 + Australia $1 - $6,000 - Nil $6,001 - $34,000 - 15% for each dollar over $6,000 $34,001- $80,000 - 30% for each dollar over $34,000 $80,001 - $180,000 - 40% for each dollar over $80,000 $180,000+ 45% for each dollar over $180,000 I wouldn't even want to post the tax rates of Denmark, England or Belgium. I'd cry. | ||
Rekrul
Korea (South)17174 Posts
i'd have to redefine my entire existence though | ||
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JeeJee
Canada5652 Posts
On February 24 2010 20:07 Energies wrote: I don't think so... Canada 15% - $1 to $40,726 22% - $40,726 - $81,452 26% - $81,452 - $126,264 29% - $126,264 + Australia $1 - $6,000 - Nil $6,001 - $34,000 - 15% for each dollar over $6,000 $34,001- $80,000 - 30% for each dollar over $34,000 $80,001 - $180,000 - 40% for each dollar over $80,000 $180,000+ 45% for each dollar over $180,000 I wouldn't even want to post the tax rates of Denmark, England or Belgium. I'd cry. keep in mind provincial tax  16/20% for QC iircstill, that doesn't amount to 20k. maybe, maybe 10k. and like I said that's if you try your hardest to throw your money away. at my current rate i'll manage to keep 43k out of 46k in ontario here (although that's not a fair comparison for sure) | ||
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Chef
10810 Posts
On February 24 2010 20:11 Rekrul wrote: i could live on 30k a year easily i'd have to redefine my entire existence though I could live on 30k a night easily. i'd have to redefine my entire existence though + Show Spoiler + I'm not very materialistic or much of a partier though, so I'd probably have to do it by buying small properties around the world and then having statues of myself built on them to commemorate my wealthiness | ||
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