Comfortable salary

[supe]

What would YOU say is enough to say you're comfortable with your lifestyle. Obviously there are so many variables such as spouse, kids, size of house but can it be generalized?

The dragons den guys always throw out the 100k number as a salary for an executive, is that too low for Calgary standards? Maybe a bit high for regular joes?

I'm early in my career and don't exactly know what lifestyle I want yet, but with my own car paid and just bought a house I would say 90k is comfortable for me. Anything above would be a bonus.

Clearly beyond is filled with Calgary's finest with top level paid ballers so this could be a bit skewed but it may give the rest of us something to work towards.

[Mibz]

I used to be comfortable with $30k when I was renting a condo, living with a buddy and my car payment was ~$350 a month.

With my lifestyle I need more than I'm making now. Or a divorce.

[dj_patm]

At this point , being just graduated, I'd be extremely satisfied with anything above 70K.

That would be a great amount to get my life started.

I'm making substantially less then that now and everything that I want that isn't overly greedy (basically a place to live and a new car) seems just out of reach.

Then again, I'm at work semi-drunk thanks to a team lunch so I can't complain too much

[kvg]

Originally posted by dj_patm
I'd be extremely satisfied with anything above 70K.

I make more than that and I'm not "comfortable". I would say $140k to be Calgary comfortable

[Mitsu3000gt]

$100K is EXTREMELY low for executive pay in the oil patch. I'm 26 and most people I know make around $75-100+K, and we're FAR from executive. If you're single and living the usual downtown lifestyle I'd say ~$75k is the low end of comfy - the more the better, obviously! For a family you would want a lot more, dual income around $200K combined to be quite comfortable I'd imagine.

It depends entirely on your desired standard of living.

[dj_patm]

Originally posted by kvg


I make more than that and I'm not "comfortable". I would say $140k to be Calgary comfortable

With 70k I have budgeted that I could afford to move out into a decent townhouse or duplex alone and buy a new car while still affording my normal lifestyle ($100-160 a weekend, occasionaly going out for dinner etc...). That may not be "going on multiple trips, buying atv's and boats" comfortable but that is definitely enough for me to get by with enjoyment.

Obviously that is not my goal. If I don't get 70 K by 25 I would be pretty disapointed and looking for a big career change. It's a minimum.

[max_boost]

Mo' money mo' problems.

Just live within whatever amount you make.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Kanto_Terrors]

with 100k my wife and I would be extremely comfortable (note: that's my wife and I) She and I don't even make any where near that....combined. We are comfortable with what we make, although we are living in my parent's basement (just until we have enough saved up to deposit on a small house)

Anyway, in response to op 80k seems to be reasonable amount to be comfortable, that is of course just having mortgage payment plus expenses for necessities.

[ercchry]

there is no magic number, you will never be satisfied... unless you are that asshole who preaches $75k is the magic number then goes and buys a 997

[Type_S1]

Originally posted by dj_patm


With 70k I have budgeted that I could afford to move out into a decent townhouse or duplex alone and buy a new car while still affording my normal lifestyle ($100-160 a weekend, occasionaly going out for dinner etc...). That may not be "going on multiple trips, buying atv's and boats" comfortable but that is definitely enough for me to get by with enjoyment.

Obviously that is not my goal. If I don't get 70 K by 25 I would be pretty disapointed and looking for a big career change. It's a minimum.

That's a good estimate to be honest. Throw a room-mate in your basement and you will very comfortable.

I spend way too much money stupidly(drinking, clothes, going out) so I have to take that into account when seeing what kind of place I can purchase.

I feel people just try to live beyond their means. It's funny to see the guy with a nice fancy house but can't afford to go out to a movie or the reverse...the guy that wears the nicest clothes and expensive goodies but lives in his parents basement. If you budget according to your lifestyle you will always be comfortable. You might not keep up with the Jone's but you will be comfortable.

[turbotrip]

100k would be comfortable. but who the hell wants to be just comfortable?

[88jbody]

I make 90, wife makes minimum wage part time so 15k ish? we have 2 kids.
I find it enough, though our debt is under 20K right now combined between us.

just a touch more would be ideal with 2 pre-teen kids for us. they are getting more expensive every day

[KrisYYC]

I keep my life pretty simple. I'm a single guy with no kids. $50k-$60k would be plenty enough for me.

[calgarygts]

I recently went from around 100k back down to 58k a year (career change, starting at the bottom). I was really worried about it but have discovered that by watching where I'm blowing money (clothes, eating out, drinking, etc.) I'm actually saving more than before and I'm just as happy as I was. It's been pretty eye opening.

That being said I have a fairly small mortgage (1000k a month with taxes) and an older car that's paid off. And no kids.

[max_boost]

Originally posted by ercchry
there is no magic number, you will never be satisfied... unless you are that asshole who preaches $75k is the magic number then goes and buys a 997

[A790]

I dunno. When I made 70k I was happy. When I made 80k I was happy. When I made 90k I was also happy.

Save 15-20% of what you make (BEFORE you pay bills) and live within your means? It's not hard, and it's also why I drive a Kia and not a BMW or something.

No need to show off. Fuck the Jones', they suck anyways.

[Kloubek]

This really all depends on what you expect from your lifestyle. Generally speaking, most people are never satisfied... they always want bigger and better.

Another large aspect is what you built up over your lifetime. I need a whole lot less now than I got some equity in my house. If I had to buy my house from scratch now I'd be living in Abbeydale or Applewood at best.

Maybe someone gets their parent's estate? That happens later in life too and then perhaps you don't need much.

To my standards of life (which are nothing spectacular and I'm slightly cheap) I'd need to at least be building up towards 80k-90k for each my wife and I. She's almost there.

I am not.

[Euro_Trash]

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[kvg]

Comfortable as shown by this thread is really a matter of opinion and lifestyle, and I consider having a family a lifestyle choice as well.