195,000 not enough

[Mytical]

It depends on how you want to live, and where. I mean there are cases of people winning millions of dollars in a lottery, and being broke within a year. Donald Trump once cried because he was 'broke' (with ONLY a few million left!..I would LOVE to be that 'broke'!). Some people just have to have everything better then their neighbors. Regardless of expense. The same people that paid 6k+ for a PS3 when it first came out, just to have one 'first'. Could I spend 195k+ a year? Easily. Would I? Probably not, because I can save money while making 20k a year, and taking care of my parents.

If I suddenly came into a lot of money would I keep it long. Doubtful. Too generous, and lived far too long 'poor' I'd probably try to make up for it.

[Racket_Man]

This crap is why we call several of the shows on HGTV Entitlement Whores International, Entitlement Whores US Edition and Entitlement Whores NY.

I assume that you are refering to Selling New York (ie EW NY) where the low end "slum" apartments go for $2+ million. OH that apartment priced at $3 million (in a brand new building that won't sell) is overlooking the garbage truck depot OHHHHH how common

and YES I want my own private island with a house

what bugs me the most about EW the US version is how ALLLLLLL of the buyers have to have Granite counters, stainless-steel appliances (and ONLY stainless-steel even though enamel covered ones are the EXACT same machine), 100 acre back yards, total privacy from the surrounding houses, warehouse type open concept, 50,000 Sq Ft house on a small plot of land ande band new EVERYTHING

[Mytical]

*nods* I prefer wood top counters myself, or even something that LOOKS like wood. *shrugs* As for stainless..if a machine works, who cares? Bah everybody else can keep up with the 'Jones' I'm perfectly content with what I have.

[ShinyGreenApple]

I live with my parents and my Dad grosses around 40K and me about 15. I'd LOVE for us to be able to have 195 a year

[protege]

what bugs me the most about EW the US version is how ALLLLLLL of the buyers have to have Granite counters, stainless-steel appliances (and ONLY stainless-steel even though enamel covered ones are the EXACT same machine), 100 acre back yards, total privacy from the surrounding houses, warehouse type open concept, 50,000 Sq Ft house on a small plot of land ande band new EVERYTHING

That's because those things are trendy right now. Granite counters, I can somewhat understand, since they're easier to protect from scratches, water, and stains. But, I never understood the desire for stainless appliances. Mainly, because stainless steel seems to attract fingerprints...yet are multiple times more expensive than an enamel-finished appliance. Big backyards I can understand as well--if you have kids or pets. But, I really don't get why you'd want a huge house...situated on a tiny plot of land. I don't know about the rest of you, but if I was in the market for a large house, I'd want some land around it. Enough land, that if I'm in my kitchen...I'm not looking into my neighbor's house.

[BookstoreEscapee]

stainless-steel appliances (and ONLY stainless-steel even though enamel covered ones are the EXACT same machine)

I hate stainless steel...every fingerprint shows and I don't want to have to clean that often. Plus the last thing I want to see is my bleary-eyed morning self while I make my toast

I really want to move out of where I'm living right now (for a few reasons) but I have no intention of making myself live paycheck to paycheck to do it. (I have until September to figure it out, because that's when the lease renewal shows up.)

[Taboo]

So I was reading a article called whats the new six figure salary? or something like that. Well in the article this woman said her husband makes 195,000 a year and its not nearly enough. She has GASP make her own coffee and Gasp drive a used car. Who are these people. if my husband make that much I wouldn't have to work and we would live like fricking kings.

Well, really depends on where you're living.

I'm in NYC so things are ridiculously expensive here. If you try to buy a condo or apartment, expect at least to pay 1.5 million for a one bedroom in an area of town where you'll get stabbed if you walk home after dark, plus well over 2k a month forever in maintenance fees on top of your mortgage.

But if she's somewhere fairly rural then yeah, probably spending habits. People really don't get the wants vs needs thing too well. And what's wrong with used cars? Honestly, it's smarter to buy something lightly used; prices depreciate so fast that it's a much better deal, hah.

[KiaKat]

Well, really depends on where you're living.

I'm in NYC so things are ridiculously expensive here. If you try to buy a condo or apartment, expect at least to pay 1.5 million for a one bedroom in an area of town where you'll get stabbed if you walk home after dark, plus well over 2k a month forever in maintenance fees on top of your mortgage.

Maybe if you're talking about Manhattan.

In my area, you can get a 3BR Victorian for around half a mil. Seems like a lot until you realize that you've got a small plot of land, private driveway, and beautiful house in a quiet, diverse neighbourhood that has a ton of restaurants, and is one of the safest areas of Brooklyn.

Go further south, or out to the edge of Queens, and the prices are lower. I know people who have bought 1BR co-ops for around $150K. In comparison to a lot of the country, that's a ton of money, but in comparison to most areas in and around NYC (and most of the northeast, for that matter), it's still pretty reasonable. And I've never seen maintenance fees that high, even when I was a buyer's agent.

However, that being said - my household income is on the low side for NY, and we're still able to survive. We don't have a lot of disposable, but we manage. And if we had $195K/yr, we'd be in heaven.

[Eireann]

Until fairly recently, I daydreamed about buying an expensive house in Prague, with a lot of land (unusual for this city, let me tell you!), and redoing it with all kinds of luxury items.

When I realized I wanted to go home, that daydream vanished. I DON'T want a huge house. I want a house of sufficient size, with sufficient land (so that if the neighbors are noisy, I won't be able to hear them, plus I want a large garden), in my hometown.

And I can make my own damned coffee. Or I would, if I drank it. I don't drink coffee, so I can make my own damned tea.

Once the shift had been made, I felt MUCH happier about things. I still do. Yes, I want a large income. No, I don't want to spend it on frivolities. My own house, living off the grid, growing my own food - these are some of the things I want. I don't want the latest electronic gadgets, I don't want designer clothing, I don't want to eat at gourmet restaurants just for the sake of eating in gourmet restaurants.

Yay me!

[Giggle Goose]

That is true. Growing up in Loudoun County I was always shocked at how much everyone complained about not having enough money even though I knew their families made a lot more than mine and I pretty much got everything I wanted.

Fairfax County here! You beat us for the median income AGAIN, huh? *grumble* jk....I'm nowhere near that median income so it doesn't matter anyway. LOL.

Maybe 195K isn't enough to "keep up with the Joneses" wherever that bitch lives.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

$195K a year makes you hot shit 'round here. But then again, 'round here your social standing is determined by the number of non-functional household appliances you have on your front lawn.

I'm exaggerating there, but only slightly.

[Racket_Man]

$195K a year makes you hot shit 'round here. But then again, 'round here your social standing is determined by the number of non-functional household appliances you have on your front lawn.

I'm exaggerating there, but only slightly.

even up here is is not much better. it seems on the west side of town only a few of the decent older houses (few and far inbetween) have been rehab'ed. most of the really nice old houses have been chunked up in to apt's (some places have like 6 apts in what used to be a nice 3 story mansion) and left to rot or decay.

if you want more modern then you have the TinkerToy constructed one story ranch style McMansions in the burbs (some are around 25 years old, others are $750K+ farther out). get out in to the rual farmlands (where some farmer/dairy herder sold a big field to a developer) and there are $1M homes on a decent plot

[Greenday]

I'm now making six figures but less than 195k. I can assure you it's quite easy to live on it.

[AccountingDrone]

As we all must realize, I spend an inordinate amount of time watching House and Gardens TV

On the various residence seeking shows, more and more it is plain that the people are literally looking for these mcmansions - large open floor plans, single or multiple master suites with huge bedrooms, bathrooms and paired master closets, large guest bedrooms with large bathrooms, large lawns with poosl, spas and BBQ/outdoor kitchens.

These morons then want to get all this for minimal $$$ in elite neighborhoods.

If they want apartments, they are obviously basing everything on TV shows - again with the huge open floorplans, spectacular views, huge master suites, huge guest rooms with huge bathrooms, flash locations for minimal $$$

And everybody wants granite and stainless steel - even when the kitchen is obviously renovated totally and less than a year old, the snotty EWs walk around *snoot snoot* The counters aren't granite, I have to have granite, and we need all new appliances, these arent stainless steel* and I neeeeeeed a double sink in the bathroom <whinge>

It sucks, I see them in the shows looking at perfectly servicible cookie cutter homes fro the 60/70s, craftsmens, cottages and they aren't able to be sold without dumping in a lot of money because 'there is no closet space' or the 'bathroom is soooo small' or it has a galley kitchen. Nobody wants a fixer upper [well there have been a few people with severely limited budgets who went for fixer uppers but they are rare]

The media is seriously to blame for this wave of EWdom. Seinfeld gets this fantastic huge apartment in NY for almost nothing, Sex in the City and movies have people in huge homes and apartments on cashier wages [I wish] parents give their kids everything they ask for without making them work for it ...

[Sunsetsky]

Damn...0o I'd be happy to just make 30k a year let alone 195k.