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How much is enough?

February 3rd, 2007 at 02:16 pm

Shortly after I graduated and started working, there was an article in the "Living" section of the local newspaper. You know, where they put the fluffier human interest pieces as opposed to hard news. It was entitled "How Much is Enough?" and really had an impact on me.

The journalist had interviewed many people at many different income levels, and asked two simple questions, "How much are you making now?" and "How much would be enough for you to be comfortably well-off?" The person making $15,000 said they were just getting by, and thought $30,000 would be enough to live very comfortably. The person making $30,000 said the same, but they thought $60,000 was where well-off started. The person making $60,000 thought $120,000 was the magic number, and so on and so forth up to the family bringing in $5 million. They said that the yacht and the horses and sports cars were all very nice, but they wouldn't really be well-off unless they had $10 million! Now I'm sure that there's a lower limit to this, and I bet the top end was a setup, but basically the point was that everyone thought that about twice what they currently had was "enough".

At the time I had just started my first "real" job, and I was making $36,000. One of the perks of engineering is the high starting salaries, and it was easily more than enough for a single person with no debts in a low cost of living area. I resolved then and there that I would always look at whatever I was making as "enough". I've been stumbling with this a little bit lately, as we can't afford to do the amount of travel and home improvements we used to do when we had two incomes. But overall we are definitely blessed to have much more than "enough".

6 Responses to “How much is enough?”

  1. tinapbeana Says:
    1170512872

    love the point of view, zetta! i think you're right, most folks tend to believe the grass is always greener on the other side, and salary is no different than anything else. personally, i know DH and i make more than enough. i also know that out existing income would be more comfortable if we had our debts paid off. it would be like making an extra $300 per month if we didn't have to pay some of our bills. and extra $1100 per month if the house and car were paid off too. WOW, talk about a raise!

  2. koppur Says:
    1170513548

    Thanks for sharing that! Me and the boy make about 27,000 a year (before taxes). We still have some debt, and still have trouble making rent. At myold job when I lived alone I made $31,000 adn was doing ok, but still a little tight. I think we could make enough on $35,000. It owuld give us enough for bills, food, and a little fun, plus a little to save. Now, if we get rid of debt, all the more better!

  3. Homebody Says:
    1170515847

    I think I saw the same article or something similiar at some point. Thanks for sharing and reminding me.

  4. mairgrif Says:
    1170517270

    So true Zetta, so true.

  5. Ima saver Says:
    1170518862

    I can remember when we lived on $5000 a year. Impossible now.

  6. disneysteve Says:
    1170554148

    Something I've posted various times:

    The definition of true happiness is being satisfied with what you have.

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