If you make $100,000 or more a year than you are set in my opinion.
I hope one day I'll be rich (I'm 16 right now).
Not really. Let me put things in perspective. I am 40, and make $89,000.00 per year, and am single (well currently have my elderly mother staying with me since she has no place else to go).
I make $89,000.00, after federal and state taxes, and if I dont contribute to my retirement fund comes out to about $4000.00 per month (it may be a little more, I just got a raise a few weeks ago so am unsure) .
Dont forget that in most places there is a 1% wage tax you have to pay also, and there may also be what is called an "occupation tax" which can range from $100.00 to a few hundred per year.
Now lets break this down into monthly living costs. Lets also assume that there are not other sources of income, and no large amounts of money available from family. In other words, you are totally on your own. Lets throw in a student loan payment of maybe $250.00/month.
In terms of housing in my area ( i work near Princeton NJ, and commute from bucks county), all this salary can get me is a condo of maybe 800-900 sq feet, or maybe a townhouse that needs alot of TLC (yes, condos and rundown townhouses in my area are in the 200k-250k range). So now you have a small condo for about 200k (and thats a lowball figure). Assuming you put as little as 3.0% down, and have a rate at 6.0%, your mortgage payment with taxes, interest, and PMI will be around $1700.00.
Your monthly income is now down to $2050.00.
Want to drive a decent car ? Meaning a car that isnt in the shop every month and doesnt make you miserable? That means a car payment. Lets ball park it and say $250.00 for a car payment, $100.00 for ins, and $200.00 a month for gas. If its a new car you probably wont have to do any maintanance. If it is 3 or more years older, I can gaurentee you your maintenance costs will be about $1000.00 or more a year (dont forget, you live in a condo so cant do your own auto work). So now we are to $550.00 a month so you can drive to your job.
Your monthly income is now down to $1500.00 a month.
Dont forget that condo or townhoues has association fees. They can range anywhere from a $200 a qaurter, to $200 a month. Lets just say $150.00 a month.
Your monthly income is now down to $1350.00
You will need utilites. Electric, water, sewer, gas, phone, cable etc. are all expensive. Together these will run you on average $300.00 or more per month.
Your montly income is now $1050.00.
Want to eat? If your single your grocery bill will probably be around $300.00 per month. Most people like to eat out once a week or so, get lattes, whatever, so lets add another $100.00 for food.
Your now down to about $650.00 left over after most of your bills are paid, and thats all WITHOUT contributing to a retirement fund.
Thats all also without have credit card payments for anything. Thats also assuming you dont have any major expenses (house repairs, etc).
There are probably a few more expenses Im missing, but you get the idea.
So, $100k is really not that much, and it is getting to be less and less each week as the price of oil, groceries and everything else goes up.
These days, to live comfortably, have a few nice toys, and to stash money away for retirement, you either need to make around $200k per year, or have a spouse/partner who makes good money also.
