How much salary is decent these days?

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

Our family's entire combined travel cost is around r1800 including insurance, my bus commute and our driving.

I see yours and I raise you our R744 per month

I use bus or sometimes taxi, wife is within walking distance from Uni (full-time student). I take our youngest by foot to creche (just down my street) and the oldest one travels with a friend of ours who's kid attend the same school.

 

[DominionZA]

Yes

2 words for you.
Judgmental much?

 

[Mila]

Your both cycle to work? Ours is about 17000 (2 cars, fuel, insurance)

If you look at it like that ... eina.

 

[vash87]

Don't you think it's got more to do with people living beyond their means and taking credit for exactly what the banks allow them to afford?

20k after tax means what 25k before Tax? That means they'll go buy a car with a R7500 monthly instalment because the bank says they can.

Is that financially sound? Certainly not.

Does it mean they are earning too little to make a comfortable living? Absolutely not.

They *could* be driving a car with an instalment of R3500 instead, or even drive the same one they've had for the past five years and continue prioritising other areas instead....however very few people do.


And this is where I feel financial advisers often fail people. They (you) will be quick to say you need to put this much away to save X when you turn 65 etc...but you won't step in and say where they should be cutting down on expenses or what is ridiculous according to the money they are earning.

It seems you make some assumptions about what i say to my clients - yet as far as I know, we have not met.

 

[Redeemed]

I spend less than R250 per month on fuel, one month I spent R50 and I work 50km from home - thank goodness for cheap, reliable public transport

I have heard so many times here and in the media that this doesn't exist.

 

[misskimmy]

umm that doesn't look accurate. $30 000 PA for a software developer?

Doesn't sound too far off as an average for developers in Jhb at least. There are many junior guys out there pulling less than R20k/pm.

Messuga is right. As stated in the infographic, it shows the average. So, that probably should be just about right.

 

[cguy]

Messuga is right. As stated in the infographic, it shows the average. So, that probably should be just about right.

I also agree - I don't think it is that far off. My guess is that the real rate is probably just a bit (10-15%) higher though, since there tends to be a disproportionate amount of junior participants in these surveys.

 

[rorz0r]

?! :wtf:

I hope that includes monthly installments on those cars...

Yes. Installments are 4.5 (his) and 8k (hers). Even if you own your car outright you need to factor in depreciation as a cost and basically be saving amounts around what installments would cost if you want to replace that car at some point.

 

[aqua02]

I have heard so many times here and in the media that this doesn't exist.

How so, if I may ask. It just proves that not everything you read is based on facts.

 

[Velenoso]

Look I'm an entrepreneur, I haven't worked for a salary for a very long time, however I'd like to say this. I think 20-25k nett is the bare minimum anyone SHOULD live on. I know what property costs that's my main line or work. You don't get a decent 2 bed 1 bath for less than 5k in a decent area. What's a decent car gonna cost you? 3-4k a month? Insurance and fuel another 3k for a small car. Groceries at least 2.5k, tv, internet, electricity, gym, mobile, etc another good 2.5k. You're already on 17. Add the entertainment budget and you're broke. That's really just scraping by in my book.

Anything less than 20-25k and you don't really have a life. Some people go out or have a braai twice in a MONTH? That's not a life man.

You don't want to know what I pay myself.

 

[I.am.Sam]

Look I'm an entrepreneur, I haven't worked for a salary for a very long time, however I'd like to say this. I think 20-25k nett is the bare minimum anyone SHOULD live on. I know what property costs that's my main line or work. You don't get a decent 2 bed 1 bath for less than 5k in a decent area. What's a decent car gonna cost you? 3-4k a month? Insurance and fuel another 3k for a small car. Groceries at least 2.5k, tv, internet, electricity, gym, mobile, etc another good 2.5k. You're already on 17. Add the entertainment budget and you're broke. That's really just scraping by in my book.

Anything less than 20-25k and you don't really have a life. Some people go out or have a braai twice in a MONTH? That's not a life man.

You don't want to know what I pay myself.

BS

if you want to live a very comfortable life then yes thats what you need to earn

less than that and you are just comfortable ...

but you can live off lower than that and still have things to do and buy

 

[azbob]

BS

if you want to live a very comfortable life then yes thats what you need to earn

less than that and you are just comfortable ...

but you can live off lower than that and still have things to do and buy

Hey he's the guy who takes girls on R15 000 dates, can't compete with that.

 

[akescpt]

Look I'm an entrepreneur, I haven't worked for a salary for a very long time, however I'd like to say this. I think 20-25k nett is the bare minimum anyone SHOULD live on. I know what property costs that's my main line or work. You don't get a decent 2 bed 1 bath for less than 5k in a decent area. What's a decent car gonna cost you? 3-4k a month? Insurance and fuel another 3k for a small car. Groceries at least 2.5k, tv, internet, electricity, gym, mobile, etc another good 2.5k. You're already on 17. Add the entertainment budget and you're broke. That's really just scraping by in my book.

Anything less than 20-25k and you don't really have a life. Some people go out or have a braai twice in a MONTH? That's not a life man.

You don't want to know what I pay myself.

we do actually

 

[Velenoso]

BS

if you want to live a very comfortable life then yes thats what you need to earn

less than that and you are just comfortable ...

but you can live off lower than that and still have things to do and buy

How based on what I have described above is that a comfortable life? Unless I've grossly miscalculated which I don't think I have.

Hey he's the guy who takes girls on R15 000 dates, can't compete with that.

Dude, that happened once.

 

[cerebus]

How based on what I have described above is that a comfortable life? Unless I've grossly miscalculated which I don't think I have.

A 'comfortable" life? One can be comfortable in a lot of circumstances. I'm comfortable if we can go out to dinner once a month or a movie or something. We don't have a car payment or R3000 of fuel a month. There are factors that can be cut down in your equation. It doesn't mean it's an easy life, and you don't have to make hard choices on cutting things, but it also isn't penury.

 

[syntax]

How based on what I have described above is that a comfortable life? Unless I've grossly miscalculated which I don't think I have.



Dude, that happened once.

Again, when you guys say Net, are you including or excluding things like medical aid and pension ?

If you mean people net 25k after medical aid and pension as well, then that I think is a pretty good salary.

Your above calculations come up to 17k, if people are net'ing 22.5k (in between your two ranges), that leaves them with 5.5k extra income. Take 2k for entertainment and there is still 3.5k left lying around.

Personally, I dont see that as just scraping by, but then again, Im not a bajillionaire like most of the people here

 

[Fuma]

For me, if you can't afford to lose or quit your job, then that is not a comfortable life.

 

[Paul_S]

Again, when you guys say Net, are you including or excluding things like medical aid and pension ?

Medical and pension are usually included in salary deductions so nett salary = take home pay.
i.e. The amount of money deposited into your account every month.

 

[I.am.Sam]

How based on what I have described above is that a comfortable life? Unless I've grossly miscalculated which I don't think I have.


Dude, that happened once.

i earn way less than that

i wear good clothes ...have a paid for car ...have money for a place if i need to

i eat out regularly

i go out more than often

i have what i want

what more do i need

 

[CR34M3]

For me, if you can't afford to lose or quit your job, then that is not a comfortable life.

If by this you mean "Your life is not comfortable if you cannot afford not to work," then I think most of us are on the uncomfortable road.

All these people going on about the efficient and cheap public transport; I really envy you. Even if I were to risk my life on the Gauteng Metro rail my petrol bill would only drop by about 30% at the cost of tripling my commute time.