What does "good money" mean to you? ?

[Prettygurl12]

If someone says that they make good money, what is the minimum amount you assume they earn?

[zeitgeist057]

At least $75,000 I consider decent money, less than that you are getting by but nothing much.

Breaking $100,000 or that "six figure" mark I would say is good, but more and more these days it is becoming a standard goal as the dollar keeps slipping in inflation.

I consider anything over $200,000/year to be significant and I would consider that a successful wage. You're not in want of much and can have whatever you like within reason (no islands or jets).

Beyond that, if you are making less than $500,000/year, you're still in the "mortal realm". Beyond that, you are starting to get into jet territory, and once you get past a couple million/year, I don't really see the difference. What is the difference in a lifestyle making $23 million/year vs. $17 million/year? Maybe there is one, but I don't plan on getting to that level.

I'll be quite content myself to make over $120,000/year. With that, I won't work for very long before I have plenty saved in investments and able to live off of earnings/interest. My expenses are quite low and I can easily retire with anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million in equity.

[Dragonpurple]

I often say if you want more money, spend less... as for what I consider good money.

Enough to pay bills and have savings grow for emergencies. Granted this varies based on if you live in Alabama where a house/rent is cheaper than LA where its far more.

This is pretty much why minimum wage is a joke, used to be it would easily buy a house for 40k in nowhere Idaho... but wouldn't even cover rent in a big city with roommates.

And yes, I almost bought a house in the middle of no where Idaho for 40k and it had 10 acres or so with it, just in the middle of nowhere that no one wanted to live. This would of been 25 years ago or so.

[Prettygurl12]

Middle of nowhere Idaho sounds great lol

I just bought a house in middle of nowhere Michigan with 5.5 acres so I see the appeal lol

[Dragonpurple]

I only didn't cause I wasn't sure what to do for a income, as the nearest town was 90 minutes away, that would be one heck of a daily commute. Most people I see in rural area's tend to be truck drivers, gone all week but get to live where they want.

I tried that and it just wasn't for me.

Hope you like your new place, I hope to someday get in the middle of no where.

[Prettygurl12]

I love it. I grew up in a town with 7,000 people then moved to one with 500,000 and decided that even 7K was too many lol

[Dragonpurple]

I hear ya, I grew up in a town of 300 people... but the big city was 30 minutes away and had about 30k people at the time.

That is what I want again, when rush hour is three cars going by in one day and your dog can just run until you can't see them and then you see them running back in a bit.

[Dinklex3]

No exact dollar amount.
To me it means, being able to pay all your bills and having money left over after putting some in savings as well.
Not living paycheck to paycheck and not being concerned about how much you make.

[EnglishEuropean]

It seems to come down to whether or not you're paying a mortgage.

[Siren777]

Good money means a great life with the finer things and no worries. You just live and get to do whatever you want whenever you want.

[Juan_Curious]

Depends on each person's needs and situation. For a single person, p. ex., I guess that if he can afford to pay for a 2 room apartment in a safe district, having healthy food everyday, active social life at least twice a week, enough money for owning a car, and also the possibility to buy some new clothes twice a year, plus the possibility to save 30% of the income, then I could tell that this person earns good money. In the United States I would also add the expenses for a good private insurance, which in Europe is optional.

[ChrisMaster69]

It varies greatly per person.

my view is

able to have money left over after paying all bills, all usual monthly costs, such as meals out and ad hoc stuff.

able to save some money.

if you can live and not greatly think about buying something for say $40, then that is your comfort level.

[BCRanger10]

I don't think of it in terms of hard numbers. If I hear that, I just ballpark something in my head factoring in what their job is and where they live.

Personally? I think I make "good money" with my current job, but I've been there for a few years now and have gotten some good performance increases and market adjustments.

[ScoobyNECBir]

One that maximises their total utility given the constraints on their income. One that pays the bills , and leisure activities. But also has a good work life balance. So you have enough time to work but also to take time out for leisure time.

[Mikeysoda]

To me good money is anything 1 makes that provides for their needs and some of their wants.

Another way of interpreting that is good money as legal money maybe. Clean money. Not obtained illegally or through criminal activity.

[Finchie40]

Means you live comfortable , all bills paid and plenty of left over

[CTOswald]

What do I assume they earn? I don't. What do I think good money is? Whatever number means you can pay regular, recurring bills without having to juggle anything first.

[FilmGuy93]

At minimum? Probably $50-60k. "Good money" is so dependent on where you live. In my town, you're living pretty comfortably at $50k. There are places where $40k will give you a good life.

[DryGermanGuy]

"If it's more than a dollar ninety-eight, I'd be very surprised."
- John McClane, Die Hard II

[NYlatefun]

It’s really hard to know without context, meaning age and location in particular. A 30 yo in NYC making good money means someone making at least $300/400k per year. Whereas a 25 yo in Wisconsin making good money may mean he makes $100k.

[shaysh87]

For me it would have to be at least 12k a month After tax has been taken out

[ManHater]

Best I ever did was $143.872.00 in one year. Now I just work 8 mo ths of the year and take the summers off.

[shaysh87]

@ManHater

$ 143,872 is barely 100,000 after taxes if you’re single. It’s not much.

[shaysh87]

If you live in New York 144k a year is just 92k after taxes.

[ManHater]

Well, for my life style it's pretty good. Besides when you are two working combined we usually are in the 150K range I make the most of the money but it's how to spend it.

[shaysh87]

@ManHater

Many people claim to make a good salary but you need to keep in mind that the higher your salary is, the more taxes you need to pay. 150k after taxes is less than 100k.

100k a year is less than 10,000 a month, which is really not that much

[shaysh87]

Even 120k (10,000) a month is not that much. Your mortgage is probably 1500-2000 a month , childcare is probably 1,500-2000 a month, property taxes , car gas / insurance , electric/ gas / phone / Internet bill, your childrens martial arts / piano class, Clothing / games / computers/ monthly allowance for your teenage kids, Eating out , retirement fund, college savings fund, emergency savings fund. You’re really not leftover with much money.

[horatiohornblower]

At least $150K. More if they live in San Francisco or New York City.

[t-8900]

If you know how to spend wisely you can live very well on 40-45k a year. But you can even make like 25k and get by. It's all perspective.

[ArrowheadSW]

In today's world, I would say $90,000 per year, if they also get medical and dental coverage.

[Wester1967]

I made good money when I was making $500 a month in Colombia. It's how you spend it or don't spend it.

[Andres77]

Enough so when we want to watch a movie and we find out that we have to pay for it we don't have to wonder if we'll make it to the end of the month.

[Varanus]

Depends on where you live. Middle of the US? $80k+. Major city? $140k+

[jamesgoldman]

Good money is probably about £60k to my mind or 10-fold of what I make

Great money would be £600k

[EnglishEuropean]

You work part time?

[jamesgoldman]

Double time but the glory of self-employment is all the work for none of the pay

[maria_cam]

I'd consider $70k a year really good bc its pretty hard to find jobs like that in the area live

[Cubus]

I think amount of money, when you earn that much you can afford everything you need, and there's still some extra money left.