[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by STEVEN 1

It's roughly 4,153.86 per month or around 1,038.46 a week, not sure why someone could not live on that.

After typical deductions, that person is looking at less than $1,500 biweekly.

[andthentherewere3]

Plus nep stated that he will be saving 30% of his income, posters are not factoring that in.

[STEVEN 1]

If he wants to be that cheap then Nep needs to move to Ocala Florida where he can rent 1 bedroom for 450 a month.

[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by STEVEN 1

If he wants to be that cheap then Nep needs to move to Ocala Florida where he can rent 1 bedroom for 450 a month.

He doesn't like FL. And he'd think any of the super cheap areas in the US are too hick for him, and probably not enough of a gay community. (nothing wrong with that, I know it's important to him).

When I mentioned NW AR to a friend (for me), her response was "but there're aren't any people there!" Exactly my point

[nep321]

My biweekly net paycheck would be $1,248.93.

The biweekly gross paycheck would be $2,076.92. So about 40% of the paycheck will go to deductions and taxes.

[STEVEN 1]

An educated person like himself can get 54k anywhere in the US, I went to trade school and make 52,500, wife makes 74,680, she has a degree and is a store manager and cpht for Walgreens.

Anyways since 50-65k is a salary most people earn who are either college educated or trade skilled, you can find that almost anywhere and to go back to one of the most exspensive places you can live makes no sense.

SF has a big gay community but the tech companies created a bubble of highly inflated real estate that gives Fairfield, Westchester, and Manhattan competition.

There are more open minded liberal cities in the south then what most northern folks think. In my opinion Nep should move to Richmond, cost of living is lower then Connecticut, it has a great art college with VCU, it has a gay community, also have University of Richmond and would be an hour from UVA in Charlottesville so he would have like minded educated people like himself.

Not everyone down here is an uneducated hick. matter of fact most arent

[Mr_250]

As a point of reference.

I was making $55k and bought a house by myself (no financial help from family). Was it the nicest, best location dream home, no.

I paid all utilities (cable, gas, electric, etc) by myself and still had money left over. After one year I bought a "new" truck. I don't live a lavish lifestyle but I am very comfortable.

Years later my salary has risen a good deal and my wife's salary is extra security.

So yes, it is possible but don't expect the best. Just budget and you'll be fine.

[nep321]

I think I will negotiate and aim for at least $59K, if it does get to that point.

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by nep321

I think I will negotiate and aim for at least $59K, if it does get to that point.

I don't understand-- You were making over 70K here less than a year ago. Why aren't you looking in the same range? It's not like an employer will excuse your foray in to Ohio and subsequent termination because you're a cheaper than average accountant for Connecticut...

Base your search on your last Connecticut salary. Don't step backwards.

[dazzleman]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

As a point of reference.

I was making $55k and bought a house by myself (no financial help from family). Was it the nicest, best location dream home, no.

I paid all utilities (cable, gas, electric, etc) by myself and still had money left over. After one year I bought a "new" truck. I don't live a lavish lifestyle but I am very comfortable.

Years later my salary has risen a good deal and my wife's salary is extra security.

So yes, it is possible but don't expect the best. Just budget and you'll be fine.

I imagine though that housing prices were a decent amount lower at that point.

I had a base salary of $60K when I bought my first house in 1995 for $198k in Fairfield. I got a bonus of $25k that year. I imagine I could have survived without that, but still, things were relatively tight for the first 2 years I owned the house, until my income went up substantially.

I could never do that with today's prices, though. The house I bought for $198k then is now worth about $350k.