What do you consider "Decent and Livable income"?

[TyrannicTBagger]

I can pay all of my bills off, including my mortgage with $3000 per month. I make better than that, but I hear people turning their noses up at jobs that pay 40k a year and wonder where people are making all of this big money?

So what would you consider comfortable living?

(I don't mean comfortable as in 2 ferarris and a 10,000 sq foot home)

[topmade]

It really depends on your work experience and education. Sure 40-60 is liveable for me, but not livable for someone who just got their ass fired from a 100k job with a $5000/mth mortgage and uncontrollable spending habbits. You need to re-word your question, too many variables that may be taken into consideration.

[asuth077]

When did you buy your home?

$3000/mo doesnt go far for someone with student loans who is trying to find a place to live in today's market.

[TyrannicTBagger]

Originally posted by asuth077
When did you buy your home?

$3000/mo doesnt go far for someone with student loans who is trying to find a place to live in today's market.

2 and a half years ago. I make the payments just fine.. own a couple of vehicles.. have enough to eat, save and travel. I do more than 3K, but if that was all I was making, I could still make ends meet.

As for re-wording:

I guess pretend you just got into the workforce and need to fully support yourself.

[QuasarCav]

1550 Mortgage, Utils and Food
400 Car and Insurance
220 Gas

I need to take home about 1200 a cheque to live. About 40K.

[rc2002]

This thread is going to get out of hand really fast once all the beyond ballers come on here. I know a lot of people who will need a 100,000+ option for their lifestyle. :) Are you talking gross or net income?

[snade831]

It also depends if you have a spouse making that kind of money as well... and if there are kids in the picture.

[Crymson]

Yah, prehaps you should make 2 polls, one with (what you make a year) and another poll with (how much is your home worth). Try to make a correlation based on statistics.

a third poll, would be interested, that would be "what is your debt load" and you'll see that the rich folks aren't actually richer, they just have more credit.

[TyrannicTBagger]

Originally posted by QuasarCav
1550 Mortgage, Utils and Food
400 Car and Insurance
220 Gas

I need to take home about 1200 a cheque to live. About 40K.
I agree, unless you bought your house in the last 6 months here :rofl: but seriously that makes pretty good sense.


Originally posted by richardchan2002
This thread is going to get out of hand really fast once all the beyond ballers come on here. I know a lot of people who will need a 100,000+ option for their lifestyle. :) Are you talking gross or net income?
What you take home.. net. I've made big money before working in the oil patch, but that involved having absolutely no life. Now I make a little over half of what I made while in the field and I like it this way.


Originally posted by snade831
It also depends if you have a spouse making that kind of money as well... and if there are kids in the picture.

No kids, no wife/girlfriend.

Double the income though?
:drool:

[TyrannicTBagger]

Originally posted by Crymson
Yah, prehaps you should make 2 polls, one with (what you make a year) and another poll with (how much is your home worth). Try to make a correlation based on statistics.

a third poll, would be interested, that would be "what is your debt load" and you'll see that the rich folks aren't actually richer, they just have more credit. Too much work. But on that, I know a lot of 30k a year "millionaires" who can't put gas in their bmw's.

[calgarygts]

I think 40-60k is comfortable. 40k would be a bit tough but it all depends on your lifestyle. Want to buy a place? 40k won't cut it anymore.
Want to buy a place and 60k will cut it, you just won't have a very nice place. The people who say 60k isn't enough probably haven't lived at that level before be it through parents, luck, etc.
And I agree very much with some of the statements about debt load and salary ratios, there are a lot of people here living beyond their means. Talking to a friend who is in banking last weekend he told me that the most miserable people he deals with are the ones with money. He's found that the happiest people he sees are the ones making the average wages. Money doesn't mean hapiness.

[max_boost]

Decent and Livable income is different for everyone. The more you make, the more you spend. :nut:

[Weapon_R]

40-60k is more than enough for someone to live on comfortably. Most Canadian homes average about that much anyways.

People who have real money rarely talk about it.

[2000impreza]

I hope some of you guys are joking. 40-60k/yr is hardly enough to drive an half ass car and pay for a house the size of a shack in calgary. Not to mention huge monthly payments. I would imagine around 100k/yr would provide a decent lifestyle without getting into too much debt.

[djayz]

^
so not true i know plenty of family friends who make less than 30000 sure they dont have the best lifestyle but they own 2 decent cars a decent sized home and eat a good meal 3 times a day.

it all depends on spending habits

i know friends who live at home with parents who make 30grand a year and are still in debt and dont even own a car or anything.


but then again the housing market has changed recently and anybody who buys a house must make over 80k

[88CRX]

Originally posted by 2000impreza
I hope some of you guys are joking. 40-60k/yr is hardly enough to drive an half ass car and pay for a house the size of a shack in calgary. Not to mention huge monthly payments. I would imagine around 100k/yr would provide a decent lifestyle without getting into too much debt.

:werd:

sounds about right.

[01RedDX]

.

[TrevorK]

I would only need:
$200/mo (Mortgage)
$250/mo (Util)
$200/mo (Property Tax)
$300/mo (Food)
$200/mo (Car gas + Ins
$200/mo (Incidentals)
= $1350/mo to live

Using that, I would say that if I made $40K/year right now, I'd be able to live a more than comfortable life.

[Celica TVS3]

^ Your mortgage payment is only $200/month? Do you split it with 4+ people?

[AzN'SKillZ]

this is ment for a single person living on his own. 40 k should be enought. if someone made 40 k he/she would be getting around 2 k a month after taxes. so to rent a place it would be around 800. for one car 300 should be enough for gas. 200 a month for insurence that leaves about 700 for food and other stuff. ur not gona be able to go out every day and hav dinner. or be able to wear really nice close. but if ur good at budgeting then it should be enought.

[AzN'SKillZ]

Originally posted by TrevorK
I would only need:
$200/mo (Mortgage)
$250/mo (Util)
$200/mo (Property Tax)
$300/mo (Food)
$200/mo (Car gas + Ins
$200/mo (Incidentals)
= $1350/mo to live

Using that, I would say that if I made $40K/year right now, I'd be able to live a more than comfortable life.

ur paying a lot less then most ppl are. 200 a month for mortgage is insanly low. to rent a place would be around 800. 200 for gas and insurence is really good too, most of the time im spending 40 dollas at the pump. and thats once a week.

[turbotrip]

It also depends how you were raised, personally i dont see 60,000 as living decently, to me 150,000 is decent but still not living great.

[BlackArcher101]

I'd say 40K min these days.

[arian_ma]

Hahaha where do you live that you pay $200/month for mortgage? I want in!
Also, what kind of insurance do you have and which gas pump do you pump at to pay $200/month on both combined? At the gas station I pump $60 everytime and I'm lucky if that lasts me more than 1.5 weeks. Insurance is also near $1400 a year for me making it about $110/month so add that up and it's over $300 a month for those.
I'd say for living by yourself, a net of $60k/year would be comfortable. Living with a family it would have to be around $80k + your spouse working earning around the same as you. I'd say to support a family you'd need to be making about $10k a month to be able to live comfortably and not have to worry about buying something. Life after university worries me because I never want to live in a situation where my kids/wife want something and me having to say "Ok I'll start saving for it." (something that everyone has like a decent TV or something)

[Shaolin]

I was doing a budget with a buddy one time before I bought my place to see how much I'd need to make in order to live "comfortably". We worked out his monthly expenses one time to see how well/unwell he lived with his income and lifestyle.

He took home about 1400 every 2 weeks at the time, paid a 1200 dollar mortgage, and including everything else he pocketed about 700 bucks a month after all of his expenses and monthly contributions to his portfolio.

So comparing his lifestyle I think if you make 40-60k you'll be fine.

[Shaolin]

Originally posted by turbotrip
It also depends how you were raised, personally i dont see 60,000 as living decently, to me 150,000 is decent but still not living great.

60k not living decently and 150k is decent? yeah it's definitely how you were raised if that's the case.. gota have all the toys eh?

[heavyD]

Originally posted by turbotrip
It also depends how you were raised, personally i dont see 60,000 as living decently, to me 150,000 is decent but still not living great.

I wouldn't say $150000 isn't living great. It can be if you are good with money and not obsessed with material goods. It is however the minimum for our household of 3 to get by on though in Calgary and our two vehicles are 2005 SRT-4 & 2005 Lancer Ralliart so it's not like we are living above our means or anything. I'd rather have free cash to spend on stuff like TV's, furniture, food, etc than have it all tied up into $50000 SUV's or trophy cars like BMW's etc.

[codetrap]

.

[heavyD]

Originally posted by codetrap
So, that's 2 car payments, plus mortgage... Still a lot of money tied up in payments every month. Personally, I think 1 car is sufficient for my wife and I. I know a lot of people who are living on a lot less than $150G, still have a house, and a car, and are doing just fine.


Two car payments and a martgage is pretty standard in this city and when you consider that both vehicles are under $30K each we are probably below the average that has a car as well as a truck or SUV. I would say it's all the nickel & dime payments that are killers for most people as its utilities, phone, cable, food, insurace in addition to credit cards & lines of credit. There are tonnes of people in this city with over $10K on credit cards & lines of credits. That is the stuff that kills you as a car payment & mortgage is fixed so you can budget around it.

[JordanLotoski]

Originally posted by TrevorK
I would only need:
$200/mo (Mortgage)
$250/mo (Util)
$200/mo (Property Tax)
$300/mo (Food)
$200/mo (Car gas + Ins
$200/mo (Incidentals)
= $1350/mo to live

Using that, I would say that if I made $40K/year right now, I'd be able to live a more than comfortable life.


wow thats cheap comapred to mine

1400/mo (mortgage)
500/mo (util)
260/mo (prop tax)
500/mo (food)
1600/mo (cars,gas ins)
500/mo (incidentials)
=4760/mo to live:eek:

[nonsane]

425 Mortgage+condo fees(includes utilities)+Tax(Split between 2 people)
100 Food
40 Internet
150 Home+auto insurance
= 715$/mo

But what really kills me is the gas
70$/week * 4 = 280
so that makes
995$/mo to keep me around.

This why i want to sell the BMW and buy a 4cyl something to save on fuel(40/week *4 = 160$)

But i am more than happy w/ my lifestyle. I have fun and still have money to put aside.

[whodiman]

I still don't understand how someone can have only a $200 mortgage.

Aside from that.

If you are frugal and have no life like me you can make ends meet.

I have a mortgage 1300/mth.
My car is a 95 sunfire (4 door 4 banger) which i have no payments. paid 3000k and it burns oil like you drink water.

I make about 4k/mth at my day job and I work part time at night.
My wife studies english and works part time.

We don't have a lot left over but we get by and have no credit card debt.

[JordanLotoski]

^^^ easy...they have a 50,000 morgage on a home..not hard to figure out. That or he lives in a trailer park

[TrevorK]

Originally posted by Celica TVS3
^ Your mortgage payment is only $200/month? Do you split it with 4+ people?

No, it's my mortgage entirely.

[TrevorK]

Originally posted by arian_ma
Hahaha where do you live that you pay $200/month for mortgage? I want in!

Edmonton.

It helps I have a lot of equity in the house.



Also, what kind of insurance do you have and which gas pump do you pump at to pay $200/month on both combined? At the gas station I pump $60 everytime and I'm lucky if that lasts me more than 1.5 weeks. Insurance is also near $1400 a year for me making it about $110/month so add that up and it's over $300 a month for those.

96 Sunfire and 87 Z28. I spend just under $1000/year ins (Full coverage) and ~$25-30/week in gas (Goes down in the winter, up in the summer).


Life after university worries me because I never want to live in a situation where my kids/wife want something and me having to say "Ok I'll start saving for it." (something that everyone has like a decent TV or something)

That's my whole goal, I don't want to have to say no to anything reasonable. I'd like to be able to provide my (future) children with a university education and a car, or at least a head start on both.

[TrevorK]

Originally posted by MIWYFSHOT
^^^ easy...they have a 50,000 morgage on a home..not hard to figure out. That or he lives in a trailer park

I saved my money over the past year and a half and now owe less than 15% of the value of my home ($260K).

[b_t]

I budget poorly and would probably waste every penny I make no matter what.. when I made $600/mo I had a nice stereo, when I made $1200/mo I had a nice car, and since I've been making $2800/mo I've gotten some really nice parts I just haven't used and have nothing to show for any of the money I've made

When it comes down to it though, I could see myself getting by on $50k a year renting my own place. I wouldn't even imagine owning my own place until I making $100k plus or have a wife who makes as much as I do.

[turbotrip]

Originally posted by Shaolin


60k not living decently and 150k is decent? yeah it's definitely how you were raised if that's the case.. gota have all the toys eh?

No, at 150 you cannot buy what you want when you want it. A family of 4 at just over 10 a month is living decently. Not great, just decent. Living greatly (to me) is buying whatever u want whenver u want and trust me u cant do that at 150,000, you start living greatly at $200k+

[accord885]

I make about 55k a year. but have a major debt load from school. and my gf is going back to school. I would really like to make more but I think we'll do fine.

1200/mth rent
400/mth car payment
300/mth loan payments
190/mth insurance
150/mth gas

[heavyD]

Originally posted by turbotrip
Living greatly (to me) is buying whatever u want whenver u want and trust me u cant do that at 150,000, you start living greatly at $200k+

No you have confused 'living' with being very wealthy or rich. Living greatly only means that you have a comfortable, healthy, happy life with a roof over your head, transportation, food, clothes, TV or basic entertainment, able to go on a vacation a year, etc. Many people can obtain that for $150K or less. Being able to buy what ever you want is to covet material posessions that don't necessarily make life great or fulfilling. Trust me, some of the most miserable, depressed, & unhappy people are rich.

That said I would be very happy if a fortune fell into my lap but I am by no means unhappy with the life I lead.

[Aleks]

Where's the 100K+ option :burnout:

[Crymson]

It's kind of a silly poll, as there is also no "as much as i can get" button.

If somone is "comfortable" at 40k, i don't think they're going to turn down 60k.

[403Gemini]

i think if you and your spouse combined can total about 70k a year you should be comfortable. honestly, thats 2 jobs paying around 35,000 a yr. Thats roughly about $19/hr and totally do-able.

just have to balance money wisely. I created a mad budget system for myself, opened up 2 new bank accounts (1 for car payments, 1 for savings up vacations/xmas shopping etc., and the other is just a chqing account for spending) and sticking too it ive been very comfortable.

[turbotrip]

Originally posted by heavyD


No you have confused 'living' with being very wealthy or rich. Living greatly only means that you have a comfortable, healthy, happy life with a roof over your head, transportation, food, clothes, TV or basic entertainment, able to go on a vacation a year, etc. Many people can obtain that for $150K or less. Being able to buy what ever you want is to covet material posessions that don't necessarily make life great or fulfilling. Trust me, some of the most miserable, depressed, & unhappy people are rich.

That said I would be very happy if a fortune fell into my lap but I am by no means unhappy with the life I lead.

we have different definitions of living greatly :)

and buying whatever u want doesnt necessarily make you materialistic, someone who blows 100,000 on a trip around the world is not materialtic

[SikAssR1]

Me and the wife are DINKS

Double
Income
No
KidS;)

We are pretty comfortable, have 3 properties, 3 cars and some toys:D

[TyrannicTBagger]

Originally posted by Crymson
It's kind of a silly poll, as there is also no "as much as i can get" button.

If somone is "comfortable" at 40k, i don't think they're going to turn down 60k. That wasn't the question though.

[nonsane]

There's something wrong if you can't live comfortably w/ 100,000/yr.

Who will wipe my ass for me?!

I could live off 25,000/yr with a car and still save money(well, i did). But it doesn't mean i want to. It's nice having money to spend on toys, but i don't need toys to be comfortable.

[spyce]

I voted for btwn 60g-100g. And thats per working person in the household. So if you have a wife, over 60g's each. This of course is taking into account before taxes. That is the amount where I think a person can live confortably. Allows one to pay off the bills in relation to day to day living. And it can give a little leeway so you would be able to buy a couple extra things (tv, vacations). Basically not on as tight of a budget.
Of course I could probably be wrong. Im not living on my own yet. So I guess we'll see what happens :dunno:

[mucat]

How many choose 60k-100k actually have a job in that range?
I think it is above the average household income of Calgary. You have to be lucky and good to get a job in this salary range.

[asuth077]

I dont think 60 is far off, But over 75 is a good job.

[Aleks]

Originally posted by mucat
How many choose 60k-100k actually have a job in that range?
I think it is above the average household income of Calgary. You have to be lucky and good to get a job in this salary range.


Any entry level engineering job (university deg.) pays 60K+ in a producing oil and gas company right now.

[arian_ma]

^^ :werd: I was talking to my mom's boss (Engineering firm) and he told me that they are paying some of the fresh-out-of-university kids close to $80k. That is insane for absoloutly NO experience. Imagine what they are paying some of the people with 5+ years of experience!

[rc2002]

Um. Actually you'd be hard pressed to make $80k for a recent grad. I bet less than 5% of new engineering grads make that much.

[Aleks]

Originally posted by richardchan2002
Um. Actually you'd be hard pressed to make $80k for a recent grad. I bet less than 5% of new engineering grads make that much.

80K is high. 55-65K starting is more likely. To get to 80K takes 2-4 years which isn't bad.

[Speed_69]

I don't think people understand the question in this forum. It's like everyone is a bunch of spoiled brats or something..the question is What do you consider "DECENT and LIVABLE income"?
This means driving a civic, living in a $320,000 house w/ a mortgage. How can you not consider that comfortable? For all those people who think driving a $30,000+ vehicle and living in a $500,000 house means comfortable and what you need to get by, that's stupid. My personal opinion, $40,000/yr is enough to live comfortably without having to struggle.

[whodiman]

Originally posted by Aleks



Any entry level engineering job (university deg.) pays 60K+ in a producing oil and gas company right now.

Not sure where you got this stat from about 60+ but one friend just got on at Shell starting in September and she is getting less than 50K. Another guy from Vancouver got luckier and is getting 55k. Btw, I work for an oil and gas company myself and still don't make 60k but I was dumb and took accounting.

[mucat]

Originally posted by whodiman


Not sure where you got this stat from about 60+ but one friend just got on at Shell starting in September and she is getting less than 50K. Another guy from Vancouver got luckier and is getting 55k. Btw, I work for an oil and gas company myself and still don't make 60k but I was dumb and took accounting.

Hey man, you are making decent living. Accounting is good actually, every company need accounting, you will never get out of jobs because of trend or market.

I have worked long enough, I have heard many incidents of people making big money, talking to people who heard people making big money, heard people said what "likely" should be the minimal salary, however, almost all the time, those salaries people talking about are NOT average salary, they are more often the highest than the average salary. I am not saying they don't exist, I am saying those are not the average.

Most of you said "I think", "I heard", "likely", but anyone actually working in those jobs???

[Aleks]

I am an engineer (EIT) at an oil and gas company. I know a lot of new grad and how much they make. So speaking from personal experience the average is 55+

For the girl who is starting at Shell at less than 50 either she is getting taken advantage of or she is not university eng grad. No way she should be making less than 50K Today.

I don't know the avgs for other disciplines.

[camby]

Around 55k is about right for new engineering grads. Maybe a bit more with experience, maybe a bit less without. Being a broke ass student and then getting 55k/yr is good and is very livable.

[gpomp]

where are these jobs you speak of?!? somebody hook me up

[mucat]

Exactly my point, Key words "oil and gas company". It is the average salary in oil and gas company. And more key words "engineering university grads". Average salary of engineering jobs in oil and gas company is NOT the average salary. Not everyone works in oil and gas company and not everyone is in engineering.

[Rat Fink]

.

[old&slow]

Originally posted by MIWYFSHOT



wow thats cheap comapred to mine

1400/mo (mortgage)
500/mo (util)
260/mo (prop tax)
500/mo (food)
1600/mo (cars,gas ins)
500/mo (incidentials)
=4760/mo to live:eek:

Sounds a lot like my household budget!!

[Rat Fink]

.

[ashee]

Although I would love to make more than 40k a year it isn't a bad starting salary.

[bigbadboss101]

I worked for Shell Chem. Shell Canada could be different.
When I made little money I drove a nice car. Now I have a 91 Civic and make good money. Funny how that goes.

[theken]

if we base the new job on take home, last month i took home 5250, this month my first cheque will be close to 4 maybe 3500-4000 second cheque will be around 2500-3000 so between 6 and 7 grand a month takehome, and thats huge money i think. if you need 100k plus take home a year to be "comfortable" you need to get your head out of your ass.

when i made 37000 last year take home, i have bought 2 new cars last year, well not brand new but newer, both over 15 grand, saved up for a downpayment on a house and have bought other stupid shit, i am quite happy with that.

i will have a mortage as soon as the house it built, which will be
mortage=1250 a month
util= 500
car/insur/gas= 1000
food= covered/200
property=220

[max_boost]

Yah that's pretty sick money dude :bigpimp:

[Lex350]

Originally posted by heavyD


Two car payments and a martgage is pretty standard in this city and when you consider that both vehicles are under $30K each we are probably below the average that has a car as well as a truck or SUV. I would say it's all the nickel & dime payments that are killers for most people as its utilities, phone, cable, food, insurace in addition to credit cards & lines of credit. There are tonnes of people in this city with over $10K on credit cards & lines of credits. That is the stuff that kills you as a car payment & mortgage is fixed so you can budget around it.

ya..and don;t forget to ad somwe income for investments like rrsp's, stocks or whatever

[andres_mt]

Originally posted by Aleks
I am an engineer (EIT) at an oil and gas company. I know a lot of new grad and how much they make. So speaking from personal experience the average is 55+

For the girl who is starting at Shell at less than 50 either she is getting taken advantage of or she is not university eng grad. No way she should be making less than 50K Today.

I don't know the avgs for other disciplines.

:werd: . I've talked to a few of firms and companies over the summer about starting wages of engineering interns and it's about 50-60 K. In fact my dad just started working with some engineering interns frresh out of school as of this year at his electrical company and they told him there annual paycheck was going to work out to about 57 K. Damn I'm excited to work in California next year hopefully as a intern!

P.S. Aleks, you study at the U of C?

[Aleks]

Originally posted by andres_mt


:werd: . I've talked to a few of firms and companies over the summer about starting wages of engineering interns and it's about 50-60 K. In fact my dad just started working with some engineering interns frresh out of school as of this year at his electrical company and they told him there annual paycheck was going to work out to about 57 K. Damn I'm excited to work in California next year hopefully as a intern!

P.S. Aleks, you study at the U of C?

yes I did. Graduated in 2004 with internship.

[dub_c]

I don't think I could afford to buy my own house out here. Most likely I'm gonna move back to my home town and buy a house there, which sell around 100k, and it would probably bring about 320-330k to the plate here.

[three33]

It easy to live off $30k a year, if you find that not enough then you obviously need money to make you happy or you suck at budgeting. No ofense to anyone who makes more then that, but I find it comfortable living and that's living in a decent place, with decent food and what not.

[Lex350]

Originally posted by mucat
How many choose 60k-100k actually have a job in that range?
I think it is above the average household income of Calgary. You have to be lucky and good to get a job in this salary range.


good yes...but luck has nothing to do with it. You'd be surprised at how many people in this town make a 6 figure salary.

[Lex350]

Originally posted by three33
It easy to live off $30k a year, if you find that not enough then you obviously need money to make you happy or you suck at budgeting. No ofense to anyone who makes more then that, but I find it comfortable living and that's living in a decent place, with decent food and what not.

try buying a house in Calgary with only a 30k income. If you have kids 30k will put you in the poor house.

[szw]

Originally posted by gpomp
where are these jobs you speak of?!? somebody hook me up

:werd: seriously WTF

[mucat]

Originally posted by rotten42



good yes...but luck has nothing to do with it. You'd be surprised at how many people in this town make a 6 figure salary.

Yes, luck, of course. You need both. Opportunty has to be presented to you and you have to be good enough to grip it.

Think about the people entering IT during the Y2k crisis and think of the people entering IT right after the IT bubble burst.

Or the real estate market before and after the current growth in Calgary.

Or the engineering job market 5 years ago.

[asuth077]

Originally posted by rotten42


try buying a house in Calgary with only a 30k income. If you have kids 30k will put you in the poor house.

:werd:

When you consider owning a home, having kids, putting money in investments etc. even with dual income at 30k it would be tough at times.

[Crymson]

I don't much about engineering jobs, but G&G staff are starting at arond 60K base salary, and taking into account Savings plans, employer paid benifits, yearly bonuses, and average stock option growth stand to make about 100-110k a year, and that's a new grad. I would assume engineering is the same.

Some US oil and gas companies, go heavier on the bonuses than Canadian oil and gas, but don't give stock options. I guess it depends on the company which would be better.

[three33]

Originally posted by rotten42


try buying a house in Calgary with only a 30k income. If you have kids 30k will put you in the poor house.


Reason why I don't have kids, lol, if I made more sure, but right now I don't want any, as for buying a house it's going to happen next spring. Like I said before 30k is alot, if you know what you're doing.

[whodiman]

Originally posted by mucat
Exactly my point, Key words "oil and gas company". It is the average salary in oil and gas company. And more key words "engineering university grads". Average salary of engineering jobs in oil and gas company is NOT the average salary. Not everyone works in oil and gas company and not everyone is in engineering.

My friend who is starting at Shell is an engineering Grad. In fact, she did some of her internship at Shell and they asked her to come back. Sounds like she is getting taken advantage of.

Guy who is making 30k/year and buying a house: You must have some good savings or Rsps. Otherwise there is no way any bank would approve you for a mortage on just 30k income.

[rc2002]

Are we all on the same page here?

I didn't realize we were talking net income. All these stats of people making $80k+ and $60k+, this is net income?!? OMG I'm in the wrong business if this is the case.

[Aleks]

Originally posted by whodiman


My friend who is starting at Shell is an engineering Grad. In fact, she did some of her internship at Shell and they asked her to come back. Sounds like she is getting taken advantage of.

Guy who is making 30k/year and buying a house: You must have some good savings or Rsps. Otherwise there is no way any bank would approve you for a mortage on just 30k income.

She should definatelly talk to her peers and take it up with her boss. Something doesn't sound "right".

[sputnik]

Originally posted by three33
Reason why I don't have kids, lol, if I made more sure, but right now I don't want any, as for buying a house it's going to happen next spring. Like I said before 30k is alot, if you know what you're doing.

Unless you have a giant downpayment you cannot buy a house in Calgary with a $30k salary.

[PearlTSX]

Originally posted by whodiman


My friend who is starting at Shell is an engineering Grad. In fact, she did some of her internship at Shell and they asked her to come back. Sounds like she is getting taken advantage of.



All the new engineering grads at Shell are placed in the appropriately titled "New Grad Program" If she is an Engineering Degree Graduate she would be making the same as all the new grads (just under 60k) I'm an engineer at Shell so I can tell you this as a fact.

[sputnik]

Can everyone make sure they are posting the salaries BEFORE TAX.

Nobody thinks about what they make based on their take-home salaries.

[whodiman]

Originally posted by PearlTSX


All the new engineering grads at Shell are placed in the appropriately titled "New Grad Program" If she is an Engineering Degree Graduate she would be making the same as all the new grads (just under 60k) I'm an engineer at Shell so I can tell you this as a fact.

That is the exact program she told me she was in. Either she is getting screwed or she just didn't want to tell me she was making that much.

[mucat]

Originally posted by whodiman


That is the exact program she told me she was in. Either she is getting screwed or she just didn't want to tell me she was making that much.

Ha, did you buy her lunch all the time because of this??

[Lex350]

Originally posted by mucat


Yes, luck, of course. You need both. Opportunty has to be presented to you and you have to be good enough to grip it.

Think about the people entering IT during the Y2k crisis and think of the people entering IT right after the IT bubble burst.

Or the real estate market before and after the current growth in Calgary.

Or the engineering job market 5 years ago.


wrong...you don't wait for opportunity...you go out and make it. That is the difference between living and living large.

There is usually more money to be made in a bust that there is in a boom for the people who know who to do it.

[Aleks]

Originally posted by whodiman


That is the exact program she told me she was in. Either she is getting screwed or she just didn't want to tell me she was making that much.

haha engineers are sneaky bastards. we don't want you to know what we really make. LOL

[mucat]

Originally posted by rotten42



wrong...you don't wait for opportunity...you go out and make it. That is the difference between living and living large.

There is usually more money to be made in a bust that there is in a boom for the people who know who to do it.

I agree with everything you said. But I believe luck has to be involve. An unlucky man could make and/or win lots of money then found out he got cancer, right? Just like everything in life, you can play every card right but you can still lose.

Sorry for the off topic.

[andres_mt]

Originally posted by richardchan2002
Are we all on the same page here?

I didn't realize we were talking net income. All these stats of people making $80k+ and $60k+, this is net income?!? OMG I'm in the wrong business if this is the case.

Seems like your the only one on the wrong page I guess. :dunno:

[rc2002]

Originally posted by andres_mt


Seems like your the only one on the wrong page I guess. :dunno:


Actually the rest of you are on the wrong page. The thread starter's original intention was the take home money, not the gross.


Originally posted by TyrannicTBagger

What you take home.. net. I've made big money before working in the oil patch, but that involved having absolutely no life. Now I make a little over half of what I made while in the field and I like it this way.

[Lex350]

Originally posted by mucat


I agree with everything you said. But I believe luck has to be involve. An unlucky man could make and/or win lots of money then found out he got cancer, right? Just like everything in life, you can play every card right but you can still lose.

Sorry for the off topic.

comparing a lotto win or the onset of cancer is not the same thing as going out and creating your opportunities in life.

[thrasher22]

I'm sorry, but good god so many of you are so greedy... how many people think 150K is comfortable? Maybe if you have 7 kids

I'd say driving around a $20k car and living in a 350k house is pretty comfortable, its not living large, but more than you need.
Beamers and 5 star vacations twice a year isn't comfort, its the high life. I grew up in a house with two properities over 650k and I gotta say most of you are pretty obscene. I'd hope you donate gobs to charities

[Aleks]

Originally posted by richardchan2002



Actually the rest of you are on the wrong page. The thread starter's original intention was the take home money, not the gross.



too bad the OP was banned so he can't really post anymore :rofl:



Originally posted by thrasher22
I'm sorry, but good god so many of you are so greedy... how many people think 150K is comfortable? Maybe if you have 7 kids

I'd say driving around a $20k car and living in a 350k house is pretty comfortable, its not living large, but more than you need.
Beamers and 5 star vacations twice a year isn't comfort, its the high life. I grew up in a house with two properities over 650k and I gotta say most of you are pretty obscene. I'd hope you donate gobs to charities

I thought the same way at your age. The more you have the more you spend usually. 150K/yr right now would not be that hard to spend. It's not greed. It's human nature. If you work your ass off to make the 150K why not spoil yourself (within reason). You only live once.

[andres_mt]

Originally posted by richardchan2002



Actually the rest of you are on the wrong page. The thread starter's original intention was the take home money, not the gross.



Isn't gross money take home money? hmmm.

[Shaolin]

umm gross is what you make before all your deductions.

[Lex350]

Originally posted by thrasher22
I'm sorry, but good god so many of you are so greedy... how many people think 150K is comfortable? Maybe if you have 7 kids

I'd say driving around a $20k car and living in a 350k house is pretty comfortable, its not living large, but more than you need.
Beamers and 5 star vacations twice a year isn't comfort, its the high life. I grew up in a house with two properities over 650k and I gotta say most of you are pretty obscene. I'd hope you donate gobs to charities


you also need to consider investing for your retirement. You don't honestly think that the Canada Pension plan is going to be there when it is time to retire. It's way under funded. Even if it is there, it will be peanuts to the average person. There is no way I' am going to live on a fixed income when I should be enjoying the "golden years".

If you are only grossing 60k then you are not making enough money to buy a house, but the kids through college and have some fun money to travel with when you retire.



...and the only way I'm working till 65 is if I choose to work...not because I need to.

[mucat]

Originally posted by rotten42


comparing a lotto win or the onset of cancer is not the same thing as going out and creating your opportunities in life.

I am not comparing. I am just giving you an example of luck also is a factor in everything in life.