What is the perfect salary to be happy?

[Mike Hoxbig]

Or saving or selling your reward points at profit, to buy heavily disconnected clothes.?

I prefer my clothes connected.

It wouldn't be an issue if my dong being on display wouldn't get me arrested...

 

[Venomous]

Huh, are you serious? That's like living frugally for a single person at best... vehicle, housing and medical aid will eat up all of that money plus more. In my view a single person should be comfortable with R30k after tax, married couple R50k.

If there are any kids involved I would up those figures...
(both single and married)

And I hope you're listing after tax figures.

 

[Polymathic]

Completely disagree. for a family of 4, 37K net is poverty. With that you'll always be scratching, ducking and diving.

Remember I'm not talking about someone established with a paid for house etc. I would love to see how you propose 4 people life 'happily' (since that's the topic) on 37k. Starting from a base of 0.

You sound like somebody who'll also be struggling no matter what amount you earn.

 

[Venomous]

Who said anything about kids?

For many people kids are part of life.

 

[notayoba]

Please tell me you're joking.

Some schools cost more than R10k a month. Bond on a property is roughly R10k/month per million you owe the bank.

Do I need to add a few more figures?

Some people on this thread either live of their parent's money and have no clue what things cost, or they are in denial about being in poverty.

 

[Felixbf1980]

A lot of people in this thread need another way of thinking. You do not need much in life, to make it work for you and not against you.

Mr. Money Mustache

Early Retirement through Badassity

www.mrmoneymustache.com

The Money Mustache Community - Index

The Money Mustache Community - Index

forum.mrmoneymustache.com

So glad I found the above a decade or so ago.

 

[Botha22]

Quite easily actually... as has been pointed out to you many many times in this thread really. You just chose not to grasp it because it doesn't fit your "world" view on what is comfortable.

I know families of 6 people who live on monthly household incomes of around R20k (and even that R20k is very variable as it relies on tips and such) and they live quite well and are happy. And these families don't have paid of cars or houses or anything fancy like that.

I look at myself, and yes I spend a crap load every month on the place I stay in, and my cars but even those are luxuries purely because I can afford them. I could easily halve that bill if I had to and still live in a nice place and in some ways probably be more comfortable and more financially free.

And what happens when you reach retirement age or you lose your source of income if you have been living happily on R20k? I doubt that there will be much in the way of savings or a paid up house on that income.

 

[RunningFromFat]

or they are in denial about being in poverty.

Wow, they in poverty but can still post on mybb. Impressive!

 

[ToxicBunny]

And what happens when you reach retirement age or you lose your source of income if you have been living happily on R20k? I doubt that there will be much in the way of savings or a paid up house on that income.

Very likely not, but that isn't part of the discussion.

 

[Venomous]

Some people on this thread either live of their parent's money and have no clue what things cost, or they are in denial about being in poverty.

Sadly there are many keyboard warriors that sponge off mom and dad.

I'll rather not mention our household income and expenses.

While the bank would give us more... Our house cost less than R1,5mil, but more than R1mil.

And our monthly income has increased since we bought 3 years ago.
We're happy with house and property size.

 

[Botha22]

Very likely not, but that isn't part of the discussion.

True. The discussion is "What is the perfect salary to be happy?" Not many people would be happy knowing they are one paycheck away from living on the street / poverty, or they will be homeless once they retire. That was my point.

 

[CruelBreeze]

ECompletely disagree. for a family of 4, 37K net is poverty. With that you'll always be scratching, ducking and diving.

Remember I'm not talking about someone established with a paid for house etc. I would love to see how you propose 4 people life 'happily' (since that's the topic) on 37k. Starting from a base of 0.

You're properly delusional. You don't know what poverty is. Bare minimum for a family of 4 would be around 16 thousand according to the link below.

How much you need to earn each month to be in the richest 1% in South Africa

The Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) has published a new tool that tells you how your monthly income compares to the rest of South Africa, and into which percentile your household falls.

www.google.com

Beyond that, you're paying for comfort. Don't want to use public transport, get a R4000pm car, two for both adults. Seems it was based on a family living in an RDP house, if not you can get a bond for 6000pm for a 700k house/apartment (2 bedroom) or something in a not fancy but nice enough area. On 37k, that still leaves you with a bunch to spare.

 

[ToxicBunny]

True. The discussion is "What is the perfect salary to be happy?" Not many people would be happy knowing they are one paycheck away from living on the street / poverty, or they will be homeless once they retire. That was my point.

For some people yes... For many people thst isn't actually a consideration.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

Which investments yielded a 35% gain in 2.5 years?

My IXN:US ETF is up 100% in 2.5 years...

 

[maumau]

A good salary would provide me with luxury goods when I want them, food to enjoy when I'm hungry, plenty of space to live in and some money left over for extras and savings.

Life's tough enough without living like a spartan.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

If you are ever grocery shopping and you need to look at your finances to check if you can pay for it. You need more money.

 

[backstreetboy]

Some people on this thread either live of their parent's money and have no clue what things cost, or they are in denial about being in poverty.

Lol so 90% of the country lives in poverty? You're retarded if you think that.

If you are ever grocery shopping and you need to look at your finances to check if you can pay for it. You need more money.

Or a grocery list...

 

[Scooby_Doo]

Lol so 90% of the country lives in poverty? You're retarded if you think that.

Or a grocery list...

I disagree, you can be happier with more if you don't have to worry about food at all.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I disagree, you can be happier with more if you don't have to worry about food at all.

You're assuming that people can be responsible. When they get more money, they need something to spend it on, and find themselves struggling with the essentials all over again...

 

[airborne]

Grow your own food.
Invest in Solar and own water Supply.
Homeschool kids.
Plan car trips.
Max Ebucks for both you and partner. (Don't use from the allocated BANKS Cash from Credit Card, instead transfer over from Cheque to Credit on what you will be spending.)
House paid off.
Car paid off.
Only buy cash.!!!
No contracts and No, you do not need a R25/35 000 phone ever and never every two years. (Too use the same 10 apps you have been using since forever.)
Put R500 away a month for Car main.
Invest.!!!!

Life is actually pretty easy on R15000 for a family of four if the above can be done. You are stinking rich at R25000.

Your wants is what normally gets Every.Single.Person.
Live for what you NEED.

This whole discussion pivots around what part of the country you live in and hence the price of accomodation. In Cape Town R15K pm will barely rent you a house and that's nothing special nor in an expensive area.