Is Your Salary Sufficient for Your Lifestyle Desires?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the sufficiency of salaries in relation to lifestyle desires and expenses. Participants share their personal experiences and perspectives on how income levels affect living standards, financial management, and lifestyle choices. The conversation touches on various aspects including part-time work, living expenses, and the impact of salary increases on spending habits.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that higher salaries often lead to higher expenses, creating a cycle where individuals feel financially constrained despite earning more.
  • Others argue that lifestyle choices can be adjusted to manage expenses, such as opting for used items instead of new ones.
  • A participant mentions that living standards tend to rise with income, driven by consumer desires and societal pressures.
  • Some express that they can live comfortably on lower incomes due to lack of significant expenses, such as rent or bills.
  • There are humorous remarks about extreme cost-cutting measures, like living without basic necessities to save for tuition.
  • Participants discuss the variability of what constitutes a "comfortable" lifestyle, with differing definitions based on personal needs and desires.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the relationship between salary and lifestyle. Multiple competing views are presented regarding how income affects spending habits and what constitutes a comfortable life.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions highlight the influence of external factors, such as advertising and societal expectations, on personal financial decisions. There are also references to the unpredictability of income and expenses, indicating that individual circumstances can vary widely.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring personal finance, those considering lifestyle adjustments based on income, or anyone curious about the relationship between salary and living standards.

Saint
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I live in malaysia, I earn about 1000 USD/month (4000 ringgit).

Do you think your salary is Enough to get what you want ?
 
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The higher your paycheck the higher your expenses. Having way too much money is better than having just enough money.
 
Originally posted by The_Professional
The higher your paycheck the higher your expenses. Having way too much money is better than having just enough money.

You got that right! after getting a real job...my monthly pay went up by about 8 or 10 times and my expenses went up about the same..or even more...so I'm still in the same boat as I was before...i'm still a broke college student...

-Ty
 
Originally posted by Saint
Do you think your salary is Enough to get what you want ?
People most often adjust their living standard to make 'good' use of an increase in their income, this seems to be human nature. So long as there are more nice things to buy there will likely be an urge to buy them.

Tip;
Turn off the television, pay no attention to advertising, do not window-shop or admire a friends new toy, put a pair of horse blinders on your head to block out all peripheral distraction and focus only on that next warm bowl of food… the key to happiness awaits you.
 
A normal starters salary is €30,000 or $36,650.9 USD according to my newspaper this morning.. not quite what it said on my paycheck though..

It is true expenses go up when salary goes up, but that is a matter of lifestyle and can be adjusted.. buying a good used car instead of a new car for instance or going for that house that is a little cheaper, it is all about what you are satisfied with.

I didn't have a car when I was in the US, but I had to buy several Europe/US roundtrips which digs quite deep in the pocket, especially when you are so smart to travel in peak summer/christmas seasons some things are in your control, others aren't.
 


Originally posted by BoulderHead
People most often adjust their living standard to make 'good' use of an increase in their income, this seems to be human nature. So long as there are more nice things to buy there will likely be an urge to buy them.

Tip;
Turn off the television, pay no attention to advertising, do not window-shop or admire a friends new toy, put a pair of horse blinders on your head to block out all peripheral distraction and focus only on that next warm bowl of food… the key to happiness awaits you.

well...no new toys here...but did have to move 150 miles from my last residence (parentals!) and now have rent and utilities and food to buy so...its not always buying a new toy and adjusting your standard of living...

-Ty
 


Originally posted by twizted1
well...no new toys here...but did have to move 150 miles from my last residence (parentals!) and now have rent and utilities and food to buy so...its not always buying a new toy and adjusting your standard of living...

-Ty
Your point is well taken, thank you.
 
I work part-time and earn around £400 a month (about US $584). Because I'm part time, i don't have to pay rent/bills or anything, so yeah i can get by easily on that...as long as i save about £100 a month for University funds (or if i don't get in, a car). When it comes to the summer hols and i work full-time, i think most of my money will go to the uni fund!
 
I make enough to live comfortably:smile:
 
  • #10
Originally posted by Zantra
I make enough to live comfortably:smile:

Can you specify what is a comfortable life?
Big house, big car, luxurious lifestyle ?
 
  • #11
*naively* I could probably save a lot of money by cutting out unnecessary expenses, like food, shelter, etc. Living it hobo style, that should leave me with enough money for tuition.
 
  • #12
Originally posted by motai
Living it hobo style, that should leave me with enough money for tuition.

That sounds about right! damn tuition keeps goin up here! and the "quality" of my school keeps going down! I think they're just wanting rid of me...yeah...thats it...its a conspiracy..maybe I should join jimmyp and co's rebellion against the likes of stephen hawking! *looks over shoulder* great now I'm going to have to start watching my back...damn conspiracy theory

-Ty
 
  • #13
Originally posted by twizted1
That sounds about right! damn tuition keeps goin up here! and the "quality" of my school keeps going down! I think they're just wanting rid of me...yeah...thats it...its a conspiracy..maybe I should join jimmyp and co's rebellion against the likes of stephen hawking! *looks over shoulder* great now I'm going to have to start watching my back...damn conspiracy theory

-Ty
 
  • #14
Originally posted by Saint
Can you specify what is a comfortable life?
Big house, big car, luxurious lifestyle ?

I don't have a big house, or an expensive car- I said comfortably, not luxuriously:wink: I have most things I want, and everything I need. I'm not rich-just comfortable.

Somewhere between 500/month and 10,000/month:wink:
 
  • #15
Best month: + $15,000
Worst month: - $3000
Yearly: $5.43 [Tsunami takes the rest. ]
 
  • #16
My overtime is a bit erratic, but about £24000 a year.

I don't pay bills and my accomadation is free (although I pay £30 a month council tax), so I buy guitars, beer and rugby shirts.
 

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