What kind of salery would you need? (Islip, Hope: foreclosure, insurance)

[Chrisk327]

to clarify I have a family of 2.

It all depends on the lifestyle. Would I say life is easy...... no. Frankly for the amount I work, I feel I should have a nicer house and not be just getting by. However, thats not the case on LI.

I am a little dismayed by everyone saying 175K plus, I just don't see where those paychecks are coming from. If anyone has a good job for my wife......

[Patch2007]

This is a sticky topic. There are people who say 50K and people who say 150K. I would go with the higher. I just feel that the salary and quality of life go hand in hand. You can live on less but it is not always easy when you start at 50k and within 2 years your taxes have gone up by 25%, the electric bill has jumped by 30%. And, your salary remain the same. I would suggest that you look at the place you want to live, figure out the taxes, know that the taxes will go up to the new "assessed value", electric, gas, oil, and possibly TV, cable and phone will go up.
Some families live on 50k and do just fine. I personally like to have a little extra money in the bank (college funds, 401K etc.) and I like to do "things". No one can tell you what salary would be good. You need to figure out your expenses and go from there. Remeber the little things: groceries, health insurance,.... It is sad when families can afford live for first 2 years and then the taxes, car insurance, home insurance etc become beyond their means.

Best wishes

[Kbinspections]

Interesting, I just went thru all our bills and its amazing how much money we waste. It seems like we spend money just cause we have some of it. We cut back some and its not even noticable. I sure most of us on LI could do the same.

[newtoli]

Originally Posted by Kbinspections

Interesting, I just went thru all our bills and its amazing how much money we waste. It seems like we spend money just cause we have some of it. We cut back some and its not even noticable. I sure most of us on LI could do the same.

We did this last year. At the end of the year our AMEX statement came (listing out what we spent by category over the entire year) and we were floored at how much we spent on CRAP (eating out, pet supplies, etc).

[xbure9x]

Originally Posted by Chrisk327

to clarify I have a family of 2.

It all depends on the lifestyle. Would I say life is easy...... no. Frankly for the amount I work, I feel I should have a nicer house and not be just getting by. However, thats not the case on LI.

I am a little dismayed by everyone saying 175K plus, I just don't see where those paychecks are coming from. If anyone has a good job for my wife......

Those are the lucky ones that somehow knew the right jobs to get when they were in college. A married couple who are both teachers will both be earning close to $80,000 after about 6 or so years of teaching, so you can see how a family can earn a lot without being big-wig execs or lawyers or doctors. My wife is currently supporting my family as I am a stay at home dad, on her teacher's salary, and no it isn't over $100K yet, and sometimes things aren't pretty, but we're doing it.

[Chrisk327]

Yeah, but try and get that teaching job now........

My wife is a teacher with 4 years expereince in a private school and can't get a public school job despite great GPA and good experience..... makes less than half you're quoted salary.

[xbure9x]

Originally Posted by Chrisk327

Yeah, but try and get that teaching job now........

My wife is a teacher with 4 years expereince in a private school and can't get a public school job despite great GPA and good experience..... makes less than half you're quoted salary.

that really sucks. You don't know anyone that works in a public school district to get you an "in"?

[LocalX]

Getting is just about as hard as getting tenure. Hang in there it will come.

[Rachael84]

Originally Posted by xbure9x

Those are the lucky ones that somehow knew the right jobs to get when they were in college. A married couple who are both teachers will both be earning close to $80,000 after about 6 or so years of teaching, so you can see how a family can earn a lot without being big-wig execs or lawyers or doctors. My wife is currently supporting my family as I am a stay at home dad, on her teacher's salary, and no it isn't over $100K yet, and sometimes things aren't pretty, but we're doing it.

Where do teachers make 80k after 6 years? My fiance and I (both in our mid 20s) are NYC public school teachers and make about 110k together. I don't think many areas at all on LI go up that high after 6 years. I would say it's more like 65k. Also, how do you afford to live on LI with just one teacher? I guess my fiance and I will live decently if you're doing ok with just one teacher. Do you own a house? What area do you live in?

[xbure9x]

Originally Posted by Rachael84

Where do teachers make 80k after 6 years? My fiance and I (both in our mid 20s) are NYC public school teachers and make about 110k together. I don't think many areas at all on LI go up that high after 6 years. I would say it's more like 65k. Also, how do you afford to live on LI with just one teacher? I guess my fiance and I will live decently if you're doing ok with just one teacher. Do you own a house? What area do you live in?

She taught in NYC for about 2 and a half years and got a job on long island where they started her at step 3. she has worked on the island for about 6 years, so ok technically she is on a step 8 now. But at six years and a step 6, it would still be a little more than 65k.

you guys should be able to afford the payments on a home in the $450k range assuming you have money for a down payment. We currently own a house, but are selling to trade up to a new area. We are going to be very tight on her one salary in the new house for a couple of years until her salary goes up enough, but your salaries would definitely support it.