What is the perfect salary to be happy?

PaulMurkin

PaulMurkin

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Money most certainly does NOT make me happy. So no salary regardless of value will make me happy.
The higher the salary, the more the ANC takes to waste on corruption and graft
 
Pineapple Smurf

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notayoba said:
Where exactly do you get a house for 1.2m these days? Something like a Toyota Corolla is over 400k.
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He didnt say what year he bought it.
It might have been a good few years back
Like me, I am paying R3500 a month on my bond for my flat I bought Dec 2010
 
Lupus

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notayoba said:
Where exactly do you get a house for 1.2m these days? Something like a Toyota Corolla is over 400k.
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Lots of places... Also you know there are other cars other then a Toyota corolla right and you don't need to go brand new on it car.
 
Mike Hoxbig

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notayoba said:
A small newish car, a small house, no kids, insurance, medical aid, armed response, internet, cellphone, electricity and maybe a couple of beers. That's what I would call a basic middle class existence. And for that you need about 40k after tax. Add 2 cars, and a wife and kids, and that at least doubles.
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Cars are ridiculous these days so I'll give you that. But it's a 5 year thing only, once you pay it off then keep it and save yourself a good packet instead of buying again.

With houses, you can get an average sized house in an average middle class area in Jhb for less than 2m. Nothing fancy, some may need a bit of work, but definitely middle class. If you're willing to live in a complex, you can get a ground floor 3 bed for 1.2m.

It just comes down to good money management. I would say you can get away with 40k WITH a wife and kids, less if you live in a complex...
 
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Sensorei

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notayoba said:
A basic middle class existence requires about 60k pm before tax. You'll clear around 40. 12k to a cheap house, 6k to a cheap car, add medical aid, insurance, rates, electricity, cell, internet etc and you are basically broke. Add 20k pm before tax for each kid.
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Damn yes it is almost R20K each before tax. I didn't work it out pre-tax until now. The little buggers need to do more around the house.
 
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notayoba

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Pineapple Smurf said:
He didnt say what year he bought it.
It might have been a good few years back
Like me, I am paying R3500 a month on my bond for my flat I bought Dec 2010
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That's true. But if you we're to start today the sums will be a bit different. Should be able to sell the flat for good profit though.

The cost of living is absolutely astronomical.
 
Pineapple Smurf

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Lupus said:
It was 3 years ago :), it is now a bit more
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notayoba said:
That's true. But if you we're to start today the sums will be a bit different. Should be able to sell the flat for good profit though.

The cost of living is absolutely astronomical.
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My bad, I didnt see that part 3 years ago
Yes prices are madness
Just 2 weeks ago a coupl arrived at our complex to come and look at a flat for sale for R1.1mill
I laughed and told them What?
Said the places here are maximum R800k if you are lucky
They left
I went back inside and out of curiosity went onto Property24 and had a look
R800k gets you almost nothing here in Somerset West, i checked other towns, same results
The property market has gone through the roof recently :oops:
 
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notayoba

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Mike Hoxbig said:
Cars are ridiculous these days so I'll give you that. But it's a 5 year thing only, once you pay it off then keep it and save yourself a good packet instead of buying again.

With houses, you can get an average sized house in an average middle class area in Jhb for less than 2m. Nothing fancy, some may need a bit of work, but definitely middle class. If you're willing to live in a complex, you can get a ground floor 3 bed for 1.2m.

It just comes down to good money management. I would say you can get away with 40k WITH a wife and kids, less if you live in a complex...
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What would school fees be for 2 kids per month? Levies for the complex? Just there your'e 12k into your 40. Bond on 2m, another 14k or so. Not much left for a car,food,electricity, insurance,cell, internet.
 
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rvZA

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notayoba said:
A basic middle class existence requires about 60k pm before tax. You'll clear around 40. 12k to a cheap house, 6k to a cheap car, add medical aid, insurance, rates, electricity, cell, internet etc and you are basically broke. Add 20k pm before tax for each kid.
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I have posted about this before. If you are married and have 3 kids, around R45k a month, at minimum, is required to make a very basic living. You will not live in a 4-bedroom house. You will not drive a big SUV. Your kids will not go to private schools. You will not have the best medical aid package. You will not be eating takeaways once a week. You will not be going to the movies once a month.

Living costs in SA are astronomical compared to the rest of the world.
 
Lupus

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rvZA said:
I have posted about this before. If you are married and have 3 kids, around R45k a month, at minimum, is required to make a very basic living. You will not live in a 4-bedroom house. You will not drive a big SUV. Your kids will not go to private schools. You will not have the best medical aid package. You will not be eating takeaways once a week. You will not be going to the movies once a month.

Living costs in SA are astronomical compared to the rest of the world.
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3 kids???
 
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notayoba

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Pineapple Smurf said:
My bad, I didnt see that part 3 years ago
Yes prices are madness
Just 2 weeks ago a coupl arrived at our complex to come and look at a flat for sale for R1.1mill
I laughed and told them What?
Said the places here are maximum R800k if you are lucky
They left
I went back inside and out of curiosity went onto Property24 and had a look
R800k gets you almost nothing here in Somerset West, i checked other towns, same results
The property market has gone through the roof recently :oops:
Click to expand...
It's gone mad. Bought my current house less than a year ago. A vacant plot in my street just sold for more than I paid for my house. The official inflation figure is a fantasy held by the anc.
 
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