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Old 07-28-2014, 03:45 PM
 
Location: Sputnik Planitia
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what would be the definition of high income in OC for a single person, i'm taking about a 1 person household with no kids or dependents. I've heard anything from $60k/yr to $250k/yr. Where does $100k/yr fall? Is it low, middle or high?
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Old 07-28-2014, 04:02 PM
 
Location: O.C.
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It all depends. OC is very diverse. A poor area like Santa Ana has a median income of around $54k a year while an area like Laguna Beach is double that.
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Old 07-28-2014, 05:43 PM
 
Location: Laguna Niguel, Orange County CA
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It is challenging to survive here on 150k without being fairly frugal. 160k is better, 250k is all the better.
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Old 07-28-2014, 05:53 PM
 
Location: Sputnik Planitia
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yeah, high income implies ability to live comfortably in an upper class neighborhood like Irvine, Laguna Niguel etc. also includes comfortably buying an entry level home with a good degree of comfort without compromising other creature comforts like vacations, hobbies, dining out etc.
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Old 07-28-2014, 07:09 PM
 
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It depends on the life style you choose to live. For a single person making around $100k you can rent a nice condo or apartment close to the beach and live comfortably. Now if you add on a nice car, eating out often and other such luxury, you'll find your budget to be a lot tighter but still manageable. It's only when you start buying houses and trying to raise a family would you start feeling that a $100k income is not enough.

For example, I make more than that as a sole provider for my wife and two kids and I feel as though I don't make enough to live the type of life style that I want. Now I can settle and buy a smaller house (<1700 sq ft) and live in a neighborhood that is ok with maybe ok school but that's not what I want so I'm considering moving out of OC. But if I was single and my priorities were different, I would be in pretty good shape.
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Old 07-29-2014, 01:56 AM
 
Location: Sputnik Planitia
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so in your experience is $100-150k/yr a very common income in OC? I mean for an individual.
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Old 07-29-2014, 10:05 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by k374 View Post
so in your experience is $100-150k/yr a very common income in OC? I mean for an individual.
No. I don't know off the top of my head but the median household income in OC is probably lower than this. Most people in OC rely on dual income family or live with room mates to live comfortably or they are living paycheck to paycheck and in debt. An individual making above $100k is still towards to high end of the combine OC but the $100k won't take you as far in OC as it would in other places. Making $150k is definately in the high end of OC and you should be able to live comfortably off that.
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Old 08-02-2014, 03:19 AM
 
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Look at the data here:

Orange County, California - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Under the, "Places by population and income" tab and then sort highest to lowest by per capita income. Per capita income means income per person. Santa Ana is lowest at $16,564 and Laguna Beach is highest at $81,591.
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Old 08-04-2014, 11:24 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by k374 View Post
so in your experience is $100-150k/yr a very common income in OC? I mean for an individual.
From what my husband has told me, he and his colleagues all make this much and more in the computer field. The problem he tells me is that these individuals are loaded with debt. He once told me he and I were the only ones with savings; all the guys live pretty much paycheck to paycheck. No way! Yep, he said. Student debt was number one, then there's the gadgets---newest cameras, cell phones, cars, $500 purses, large mortgage...

Yes, that income supports a family, but husband has told me when I gripe about my job that I could quit and he and I could still pay the mortgage, keep the kids in private school through 12th grade and keep up (somewhat) with our lifestyle.

This is not to brag and I know what it means to be in debt--it's not fun. I've read many times about families of 4+ living off of $55k/year and they somehow survive. Now that I can not fathom.

To live comfortable in Irvine and not sacrifice movies, iphones, ipad, etc. on $100k annual income sounds doable to me, but I grew up poor and am pretty frugal. I think the debt load really matters, so try and pay off the bills and don't get into debt until you buy a house .

I know a lot of singles who would die to earn anywhere near $100k.
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Old 08-06-2014, 07:35 AM
 
Location: Southern California
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If you are single and struggling with 125k a year, you'll struggle with 150k and even 175k. Instead of buying $2 beers you'll buy $10 one, and instead of .99 cent tacos, you'll buy $8 burritos, instead of a $100 car payment, it will be $500. If your pay went down to 80k, your life style won't change all that much either. In your original question, you can't compare your income to others, especially those who bought in OC a long time ago with low property tax expenses. You might want to pay for the help of a financial planner or money manager, by the sound of it, you are throwing away money and don't feel you are getting enough long term value for the dollars you are spending.
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