Interesting Study

[LS1Hawk]

The magic income: $75,000 a year. As people earn more money, their day-to-day happiness rises. Until you hit $75,000. After that, it is just more stuff, with no gain in happiness.

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/09/...-75000-a-year/

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I guess since it's an average I could see that. It sure as hell isn't 75,000 here!

[methdmx]

damn I got a long way to go...

[91chevywt]

I would imagine the happiness decrease could have something to do with the jobs that the people making that money have to do. Working as a doctor or surgeon, for example, could be a very stressful job with long unconventional hours. And I don't mean other jobs are less stressful, just trying to give an example. I also wonder if the $75k in the writeup is a combined household income or just for a single adult.

[sweetbmxrider]

:bsflag:

[BigRocsFirebird]

i beg to differ. i'm already past the 75 mark and i believe more would make me way more happy. although i'm very happy with this.

[BigAls87Z28]

I guess it really depends on the state. In NJ, being one of the highest cost of living states in the Nation, so I would say near 100k for NJ.

[jts98z28]

That doesn’t mean wealthy and ultrawealthy are equally happy. More money does boost people’s life assessment, all the way up the income ladder. People who earned $160,000 a year, for instance, reported more overall satisfaction than people earning $120,000, and so on.

it seems like that says the more you make the happier you are still?

[jts98z28]

Originally Posted by BigRocsFirebird

i beg to differ. i'm already past the 75 mark and i believe more would make me way more happy. although i'm very happy with this.

what the hell do you do?? arent you like 20, you need to hook me up with whatever job you got please escorting pizza isnt paying my bills anymore lol

[BonzoHansen]

I can buy into that number as an average, based on my experiences.
also, if you don't have expensive hobbies, like cars, that number gets more realistic. but higher in NJ (there is that average thing).

it's all very personal isn't it. what makes you happy might not make me happy. and no matter who you are, as you get older your plan changes and evolves - life dictates that. so what makes you happy now will be different in say 7 years. example, 10 years ago spending a day at a little league field would not have been my idea of a good time. But last Sunday I had a great day watching my boy pitch his 1st game followed by a trip for ice cream. Life changes things and it ain't all shiny stuff that matters.

the more you make the more the boss owns you and a lot of people burn out of that fast - burnout <> happy. I know guys that make $150,000 that have not taken a vacation in 2 years. They have toys but they have no time to enjoy. yeah, great. the experts are right, in most cases a big paycheck does not make up for being miserable. money makes life easier but not always better and there is often a point of diminishing returns.

/philosophy box

[NastyEllEssWon]

Originally Posted by jts98z28

what the hell do you do?? arent you like 20, you need to hook me up with whatever job you got please escorting pizza isnt paying my bills anymore lol

he works for his dads business doing awesome stuff. the household income here is over 75k and we could deffinately use more.

[LS1Hawk]

It's an interesting study because salaries relative to inflation and the cost of living change throughout the years, and most people's salaries don't usually keep up. If you're making $75K right now you might be fine. But in 5-10 years, it won't cut it. So you always have to be making more. I think if you are single and netting $75K a year with normal expenses you are probably in good shape. But grossing $75K I don't think cuts it in all regions.

[CHRIS67]

This totally depends on where you live and where you are in life. A single 20 something person will be real happy making $75K. A parent trying to put kids through college and trying to save for retirement not so much.

[r0nin89]

Originally Posted by LS1Hawk

It's an interesting study because salaries relative to inflation and the cost of living change throughout the years, and most people's salaries don't usually keep up. If you're making $75K right now you might be fine. But in 5-10 years, it won't cut it. So you always have to be making more. I think if you are single and netting $75K a year with normal expenses you are probably in good shape. But grossing $75K I don't think cuts it in all regions.

I would be more than happy to gross $75,000 a year being 20 y/o. Hell I live w/ my g/f in a decent 1 bdr apartment and together we gross like $28,000 a year. Plus I still have the dreaded car hobby sucking every extra penny dry.

**** I think I could live like a damn king on $75,000 a year and be plenty happy.

That being said $75,000 would be alot better an hour west in PA than it is here...

[usp55]

Even with my student loans (all from paying rent for 4 years in the city - shell out hundreds a month for the next ten years - had a full ride a still have college debt) and a car hobby i could eaily live very happy with 75k. not to far off now but prob another job away to be realistic.


Learn in your 20's and earn in you 30's


other option is a get a government job on a paygrade and move south. household incomes as I was looking in VA and NC were in the 40's and 50's. Money would go alot further if you could stay at the same rate - hell the taxes alone down there are crazy low compared to Jersey

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

I can buy into that number as an average, based on my experiences.
also, if you don't have expensive hobbies, like cars, that number gets more realistic. but higher in NJ (there is that average thing).

it's all very personal isn't it. what makes you happy might not make me happy. and no matter who you are, as you get older your plan changes and evolves - life dictates that. so what makes you happy now will be different in say 7 years. example, 10 years ago spending a day at a little league field would not have been my idea of a good time. But last Sunday I had a great day watching my boy pitch his 1st game followed by a trip for ice cream. Life changes things and it ain't all shiny stuff that matters.

the more you make the more the boss owns you and a lot of people burn out of that fast - burnout <> happy. I know guys that make $150,000 that have not taken a vacation in 2 years. They have toys but they have no time to enjoy. yeah, great. the experts are right, in most cases a big paycheck does not make up for being miserable. money makes life easier but not always better and there is often a point of diminishing returns.

/philosophy box

SQL FTW

Anyway, I totally agree. The more you make, the more the company owns your ass in a number of ways. And the more you make, the more you stand to lose if you act like a prick or don't do what's asked of you.

[BonzoHansen]

$$ does make it hard to hide, lol

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

$$ does make it hard to hide, lol

I think it's funny how all the kiddies love their Blackberries and smart phones. I want to throw mine in a ****ing river half the time.

[BonzoHansen]

Kind of like my 9 year old thinking it was easy to dig a hole. Until I sent him outside to dig a hole. He now feels differently about digging holes.

[HeadlessNorseman]

I grew up kinda poor, not like, no dinner tonight poor, but pretty close. This has also taught me how to be good with the money i do have, So if i ended up making 75k a year and could keep that same mentality i would prob feel rich... And be happy just to not have to worry about the same stuff any more. It all really depends on your point of view(hence the average).

[fmybody]

Originally Posted by REED!

I grew up kinda poor, not like, no dinner tonight poor, but pretty close. This has also taught me how to be good with the money i do have, So if i ended up making 75k a year and could keep that same mentality i would prob feel rich... And be happy just to not have to worry about the same stuff any more. It all really depends on your point of view(hence the average).

i agree... it depends where you come from

my gf grew up with her dad being the only one working and still is.. he makes enough for a nice home.. everyone has new cars.. wife doesnt have to work and he paid for both kids to graduate college

so when i share my problems with her she sees the difference money can make..