How much money...

[Jenson71]

do you need to make a year in order to support a family of 5 and still live comfortably?

[sedated]

define comfortably

and is 5 the number of kids, or people altogether?

and who are the five? is one a sick grandparent? is one of the kids retarded? or a pedifile uncle?

[|Zach|]

Another random Jenson thread.

Have you been wrapping up little Jenson?

[Dunit35]

It all depends on where you live and how much the family eats, depends on heat/cold air.

[Jenson71]

define comfortably

Well, in my opinion, a nice house, say, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, working furnace, can go on a week vacation in the summer off to a different state or so, nice Christmas presents. Have a little money to save and spend after paying the bills, can afford two vehicles, something like that.

The family is 2 parents, three normal children.

[Jenson71]

Where does this family live?

Midwest

[Jenson71]

You're not one of those people that includes Chicago in that, are you?

For this study, we can exlude Chicago.

[Brock]

75k minimum.

[JimNasium]

75k minimum.
Add $15k if you want to live "comfortably" in my definition of the word.

[Donger]

Minimum $65K. $100K would do nicely.

[Mr. Kotter]

Depends where you live, and what you mean by "comfortable".....but I'd say $60-90K. Minimum.

That's used cars; no real fancy vacations; modest home; and some saving....

[Dunit35]

Depends where you live, and what you mean by "comfortable".....but I'd say $60-90K. Minimum.

That's used cars; no real fancy vacations; modest home; and some saving....


90k? In a small town people would think you are loaded. Even 75K would make people think you're loaded. Small towns do wonders on a money situation.

[Scorp]

To live comfortably and not have to worry about extra expenses like: car breaking down, air conditoner/furnace breaking etc etc.

120k I would say.

[kc rush]

How old are the kids? School age or daycare age?

How much debt and what kind of debt?

[Phobia]

It depends on your spending habits. I need $250k. A more fiscally responsible person could do it on much, much less.

[nbkc fan]

I make 85k and can barely support myself

[Mr. Kotter]

90k? In a small town people would think you are loaded. Even 75K would make people think you're loaded. Small towns do wonders on a money situation.

Not with 3 or 4 kids. Not today....

[JBucc]

8 trillion dollars

[RedNFeisty]

I think a two family income of 50K each should work nicely. However, without esop or 401k the savings would be small.

[Hydrae]

I have 4 kids, 1 wife, 2 dogs and several cats. Live outside Austin and earned 70K this last year. 4 bedroom house, 2 cars and struggle to keep up on the bills. No savings and vacations? What are those?

Oh, and we do not have cell phones simply because of the expense. That and I am not important enough to justify the expense anyway. Otherwise, we have cable with 3 digital converters and 1 DVR box (paying about $130 a month on cable), DSL internet, land line phone service with call waiting and such. The only expense I have that is totally frivolous at this point is a timeshare I stupidly got myself in to that I am trying to sell at this point (know anyone? I really just want to get out from under the debt, if I make money back on what I have paid so far, that is gravy).

So there you go, real world information that should apply directly to your question.

[Dunit35]

Not with 3 or 4 kids. Not today....


You're wrong my man...I personally know someone who doesn't make near that much and who seems to live comfortably...not amazing...but is doing just fine.

If you live in a small town, everything is so much cheaper.

[Donger]

Oh, and we do not have cell phones simply because of the expense.

How do you keep track of your wife's location?

[Donger]

She's not allowed to leave the kitchen.

Duh.

Yeah, maybe I should introduce my wife to that place. I'm relatively sure she's never stepped foot in it.

[Extra Point]

80K

[penguinz]

No wonder you're living on girl scout cookies.There is nothing wrong with this!

[Hydrae]

She's not allowed to leave the kitchen.

Duh.


She wouldn't want to, she loves to cook. :D

And yet I remain 6 foot tall and around 160 pounds. Gotta love a fast metabolism. :)

[Donger]

She wouldn't want to, she loves to cook. :D

Want to trade?

[Simply Red]

It depends on your spending habits. I need $250k. A more fiscally responsible person could do it on much, much less.


Atta boy.

[Calcountry]

Well, in my opinion, a nice house, say, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, working furnace, can go on a week vacation in the summer off to a different state or so, nice Christmas presents. Have a little money to save and spend after paying the bills, can afford two vehicles, something like that.

The family is 2 parents, three normal children.In California, that means you AND your wife are pulling 200K/year combined.

[Calcountry]

It depends on your spending habits. I need $250k. A more fiscally responsible person could do it on much, much less.Of course, you could cut out the "low dollar" hookers from Springfield, then you could fit under the 200k cap.

[Bwana]

$121,429.94 IMHO

[Bob Dole]

She wouldn't want to, she loves to cook. :D

And yet I remain 6 foot tall and around 160 pounds. Gotta love a fast metabolism. :)

Go ahead and pretend that nobody here has ever met you in person.

[Bwana]

Go ahead and pretend that nobody here has ever met you in person.

What are you trying to say here Bob. :hmmm:

[Hydrae]

What are you trying to say here Bob. :hmmm:


Wondering that myself. :shrug:

[Chiefs Express]

Depends upon what makes you feel comfortable.

I make at least $5.75 an hour and am very comfortable.

[StcChief]

100K-120K

[Consistent1]

I find this topic interesting, because i have talked about this with friends several times before. I say that if you have 3 kids or more, you can't really make too much money. If you plan for college, save, have a little fun here and there...on top of everyday shit, then it takes a TON of money to do it right. People saying 60-70 k...WTF? Maybe scrapin by in Hicksville and your kids have every paper route in town...lol. I wouldn't even want one child unless I was making 80k or so...

[BigMeatballDave]

It would also depend on your location.
It's pretty close to 6 figures. I grossed $44,000 last year, and I'm single and pay $375/mo. child support for my 7 year old son. I do OK, but I'm far from comfortable. I'd hate grocery shopping for 3 kids. Not to mention school clothes. Ew...

[007]

Well, in my opinion, a nice house, say, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, working furnace, can go on a week vacation in the summer off to a different state or so, nice Christmas presents. Have a little money to save and spend after paying the bills, can afford two vehicles, something like that.

The family is 2 parents, three normal children.

60K

[luv]

Of course, you could cut out the "low dollar" hookers from Springfield, then you could fit under the 200k cap.
Springfield has hookers!?!?

Damn, I hate competition. ROFL

[BigMeatballDave]

Springfield has hookers!?!?

Damn, I hate competition. ROFL
ROFL

[007]

I find this topic interesting, because i have talked about this with friends several times before. I say that if you have 3 kids or more, you can't really make too much money. If you plan for college, save, have a little fun here and there...on top of everyday shit, then it takes a TON of money to do it right. People saying 60-70 k...WTF? Maybe scrapin by in Hicksville and your kids have every paper route in town...lol. I wouldn't even want one child unless I was making 80k or so...


All depends on your spending habits. 65K gets us by just fine in exactly the scenario he laid out. Sure more would be nice, but we still live a great life as a family. My kids are not needing for anything.

[MVChiefFan]

Quit your job, move into low income housing and live footloose and fancy free off welfare for the rest of your days. Maybe even gain like 500 lbs and draw disability.
















worked for me!!! :p

[KCChiefsMan]

100 billiion dollars.....

[HemiEd]

You're not one of those people that includes Chicago in that, are you?

One of my pet peaves, but they think they are the Midwest up here. So does Indiana and Ohio!



The only expense I have that is totally frivolous at this point is a timeshare I stupidly got myself in to that I am trying to sell at this point (know anyone? I really just want to get out from under the debt, if I make money back on what I have paid so far, that is gravy).


Time share industry should be investigated by the government, bunch of con artists IMO.

[BigMeatballDave]

One of my pet peaves, but they think they are the Midwest up here. So does Indiana and Ohio!
This bothers me, too. Nothing east of the Mississippi is even remotely close to being 'Midwest'.

[teedubya]

well, combined income of over 100K. Since Im the only one who works in my family... I have to bring home mad bacon...

easily 100k. but always shoot way higher than that. I tend to think large, like Phobia.

but the trick is ALWAYS saving at least 10% of what you make, right off the top, and learn to live on teh rest.

[nychief]

One of my pet peaves, but they think they are the Midwest up here. So does Indiana and Ohio!





Time share industry should be investigated by the government, bunch of con artists IMO.


no offense, but who gives a shit?

[Chief Roundup]

If you are not in the city probably around 50K jmo

[HemiEd]

This bothers me, too. Nothing east of the Mississippi is even remotely close to being 'Midwest'.

When I moved here ten years ago from Kansas, one of our advertising sales ladys said: "Welcome to the Midwest." I said to her, I just left the Midwest, I am now in the Mideast! I have been trying to change them ever since, without much luck.

[Prince22]

Does this family have pets?? If so, do these pets have health problems???

ROFL ROFL

[Simplex3]

75k minimum.
If one parent stays home, otherwise add another ~$30k

[Calcountry]

Springfield has hookers!?!?

Damn, I hate competition. ROFLCompetition just forces you to lower your price.
:p

[Katipan]

If one parent stays home, otherwise add another ~$30k

Totally agree.

[Jenson71]

You see, I'm thinking about becoming a teacher. High school teacher, and hopefully eventually a professor. Now a teacher in Iowa, in the public schools, makes about $39,284 for 2004-05. The woman I would like to marry is also thinking about becoming a teacher, except in private schools where the salary for her would be less than $30,000.

Now when we're both out of college, Iowa may have made some salary improvements, but for the time being, lets just say together, we would make $75,000 a year.

[cdcox]

You see, I'm thinking about becoming a teacher. High school teacher, and hopefully eventually a professor. Now a teacher in Iowa, in the public schools, makes about $39,284 for 2004-05. The woman I would like to marry is also thinking about becoming a teacher, except in private schools where the salary for her would be less than $30,000.

Now when we're both out of college, Iowa may have made some salary improvements, but for the time being, lets just say together, we would make $75,000 a year.

Jenson: Being a HS teacher isn't exactly the super highway to becoming a prof. In fact, I would call it a detour down a gravel road. Let me know what field your considering if you'd like more info on the road to academia.

[OldTownChief]

You could do it at 45-50k if you're smart about it. I did.

[Simplex3]

If you're talking about salaries in the $30k range then you WILL be better off having one of you stay home with the kids unless you get really f**king lucky and one of your jobs has free daycare.

[Brock]

You see, I'm thinking about becoming a teacher. High school teacher, and hopefully eventually a professor. Now a teacher in Iowa, in the public schools, makes about $39,284 for 2004-05. The woman I would like to marry is also thinking about becoming a teacher, except in private schools where the salary for her would be less than $30,000.

Now when we're both out of college, Iowa may have made some salary improvements, but for the time being, lets just say together, we would make $75,000 a year.

Gah.

[chiefs4me]

To live comfortably and not have to worry about extra expenses like: car breaking down, air conditoner/furnace breaking etc etc.

120k I would say.



yep, give or take a few thousand, this sounds right..

[Mr. Kotter]

Dude... wait a decade... then think about marriage.

I haven't read the thread closely, but....Jenson, that's the best advice you'll get here.

Sorry it came from Brian....heh. :p

[Skip Towne]

You see, I'm thinking about becoming a teacher. High school teacher, and hopefully eventually a professor. Now a teacher in Iowa, in the public schools, makes about $39,284 for 2004-05. The woman I would like to marry is also thinking about becoming a teacher, except in private schools where the salary for her would be less than $30,000.

Now when we're both out of college, Iowa may have made some salary improvements, but for the time being, lets just say together, we would make $75,000 a year.
I seriously doubt you would make anywhere near 39K as a starting teacher in Iowa. Better check starting salaries.

[Logical]

Depends on what part of the country you live in. Here in San Diego I would say 100K for comfortable.