Looking to start a new life in San Diego (Sacramento: section 8, lease)

[tonyinsd]

Originally Posted by jnojr

Hopefully they're saving a lot? $5K per year to an IRA, direct-depositing money from every pay check into savings, etc?

I'm not impressed if you're making $80K a year and only putting away $5K. On that kind of income, you should be putting at least ten percent of your income away in your retirement plan. And you should be saving money as well for a down payment on a house, or to purchase a car in cash when yours inevitably dies, or to cover unexpected expenses.

I see way too many people who are income rich but asset poor. And then I see a few people who are income poor but asset rich.

I know a guy who is an E4 and he bought a new Honda Civic in cash. You should have seen the salesperson's eyes when he said, okay, I'll be back with a cashier's check.

I also know a guy who's making six figures and he's barely able to make the payments on his 3 series BMW.

[ukiyo-e]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

This makes more sense, but it would have been good for you to mention this in your other post.

I figured there was student loan debt right away when I read that post. Funny how so many other people figured she couldn't manage her money.

[AfroSamuraiSD]

Agreed. It's hard for some to grasp the concept of "save now, buy later" -- no matter their income level. Don't get me wrong, we all work hard and deserve to treat ourselves occasionally, but I see too much Jones-chasing in many neighborhoods.

Originally Posted by tonyinsd

I'm not impressed if you're making $80K a year and only putting away $5K. On that kind of income, you should be putting at least ten percent of your income away in your retirement plan. And you should be saving money as well for a down payment on a house, or to purchase a car in cash when yours inevitably dies, or to cover unexpected expenses.

I see way too many people who are income rich but asset poor. And then I see a few people who are income poor but asset rich.

I know a guy who is an E4 and he bought a new Honda Civic in cash. You should have seen the salesperson's eyes when he said, okay, I'll be back with a cashier's check.

I also know a guy who's making six figures and he's barely able to make the payments on his 3 series BMW.

[~JenLei~]

Originally Posted by AfroSamuraiSD

Agreed. It's hard for some to grasp the concept of "save now, buy later" -- no matter their income level. Don't get me wrong, we all work hard and deserve to treat ourselves occasionally, but I see too much Jones-chasing in many neighborhoods.

Agreed and not to change topics, and this is such a funny little thing I've noticed..but walking around San Diego and down here in Chula Vista I have a really hard time believing EVERYONE can afford to buy and have Gucci and Louis Vuitton purses (at least $1000+ each)... I make decent money and I don't own one (maybe cause it's not my thing). But seriously. EVERYONE HAS ONE! I've seen more here than I did when living in Chicago.

[AfroSamuraiSD]

Gucci and LV are essential for those quick trips to Walmart

Originally Posted by ~JenLei~

Agreed and not to change topics, and this is such a funny little thing I've noticed..but walking around San Diego and down here in Chula Vista I have a really hard time believing EVERYONE can afford to buy and have Gucci and Louis Vuitton purses (at least $1000+ each)... I make decent money and I don't own one (maybe cause it's not my thing). But seriously. EVERYONE HAS ONE! I've seen more here than I did when living in Chicago.

[tonyinsd]

Originally Posted by ~JenLei~

but walking around San Diego and down here in Chula Vista I have a really hard time believing EVERYONE can afford to buy and have Gucci and Louis Vuitton purses (at least $1000+ each)

"If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need."

Warren Buffett

[moved]

Originally Posted by ~JenLei~

Agreed and not to change topics, and this is such a funny little thing I've noticed..but walking around San Diego and down here in Chula Vista I have a really hard time believing EVERYONE can afford to buy and have Gucci and Louis Vuitton purses (at least $1000+ each)... I make decent money and I don't own one (maybe cause it's not my thing). But seriously. EVERYONE HAS ONE! I've seen more here than I did when living in Chicago.

You can buy knockoffs at Kobey's for $50 and less.

[~JenLei~]

Moved, that's true! Most of the time they look pretty real to me though. Maybe I should get one so I can fit in? :P j/k I'll stick to what I can find at Target!

[sdlife619]

Hey that was a good one AfroSamuraiSD! You see the whole Joneses thing in SD no matter where you live. People that honestly don't look like they should be driving a brand new $80,000 Cadillac Escalade, are driving them.

But also many people that are broke, pick up cheaply used BMW, Mercedes, Audi's and what have you, to look like they are well off and doing well, and you know what, 99% of the time that method works!

SD's healthcare sector is strong and will continue to grow in the upcoming years, especially in nursing. So give it time and just apply and see what happens.

@JenLie, I have a ton of respect for nurses, my grandmother has been to Sharp Grossmont hospital many times over the past several years due to her having a stroke and now seizures. Every time I've gone to see her in the ER the doctors and nurses were always very caring and treated her well even under the most stressful conditions.

Sometimes I obviously would have to tell them what she wanted, or if something was bothering her since she can't talk, but overall every RN I've encountered were all very nice and helpful to any need of the patient. I just wanna say that kind of job must be brutal for a lot of you guys. Working 12 hour shifts, and having to deal with multiple patients on a daily basis.

I commend you for what you do. and all nurses for that matter.

[~JenLei~]

Originally Posted by sdlife619

Hey that was a good one AfroSamuraiSD! You see the whole Joneses thing in SD no matter where you live. People that honestly don't look like they should be driving a brand new $80,000 Cadillac Escalade, are driving them.

But also many people that are broke, pick up cheaply used BMW, Mercedes, Audi's and what have you, to look like they are well off and doing well, and you know what, 99% of the time that method works!

SD's healthcare sector is strong and will continue to grow in the upcoming years, especially in nursing. So give it time and just apply and see what happens.

@JenLie, I have a ton of respect for nurses, my grandmother has been to Sharp Grossmont hospital many times over the past several years due to her having a stroke and now seizures. Every time I've gone to see her in the ER the doctors and nurses were always very caring and treated her well even under the most stressful conditions.

Sometimes I obviously would have to tell them what she wanted, or if something was bothering her since she can't talk, but overall every RN I've encountered were all very nice and helpful to any need of the patient. I just wanna say that kind of job must be brutal for a lot of you guys. Working 12 hour shifts, and having to deal with multiple patients on a daily basis.

I commend you for what you do. and all nurses for that matter.

Aw thank you!! Actually... I work the stroke/neuro unit at Grossmont so it is quite possible our paths have crossed! I do night shifts. I have to say, I love my job and my coworkers make a great team. There are definitely times when it can be really difficult especially if you have complicated patients or demanding families, but there are a lot of aspects of our job that make everything worth it..watching patients get better, families who understand and appreciate what we do, and lots of other things. I hope your grandmother is doing better