$68K income in Seattle decent? (Bellevue, Mercer Island: to rent, credit, homes)

[destroycreate]

Originally Posted by daberkow

Once they let these peons have weekends off it was all over. Give them an inch...

People complain wages have been stagnant since Reagan, and yet they have luxuries like indoor plumbing and refrigerators. And then they go and raise the minimum wage. Where I come from minimum means minimum- you should be able to afford a work uniform and enough calories to do your job and that's it.

And you think that's great? So basically, you're against people making better incomes so they can afford more than just a work uniform and food? That's pretty f*cking fascist if you ask me.

How about people make living wages so they can live a decent life?

[simboticus]

Originally Posted by destroycreate

And you think that's great? So basically, you're against people making better incomes so they can afford more than just a work uniform and food? That's pretty f*cking fascist if you ask me.

How about people make living wages so they can live a decent life?

It depends on what they do, how much of a contribution are they making to the economy. You can't make a blanket requirement that everyone deserves to make a "living wage" regardless of their skills, and efforts and value.

That's like saying every student deserves to get a 'C' grade just for showing up to class. It has to be earned, just like pay rate has to be earned.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by daberkow

Once they let these peons have weekends off it was all over. Give them an inch...

People complain wages have been stagnant since Reagan, and yet they have luxuries like indoor plumbing and refrigerators. And then they go and raise the minimum wage. Where I come from minimum means minimum- you should be able to afford a work uniform and enough calories to do your job and that's it.

To say nothing of the French 35-hr. week.

But seriously? I've never heard of anyone taking 3 trips/year, unless most of them were work-related and paid for by the employer. Not even lawyers, doctors, etc. Usually, people save for one summer vacation. If they have kids, their vacations consist of camping trips, that's all they can afford. And the OP clarified that he's thinking of international trips, not a couple of weekend getaways to his regional beach. I wonder what else is on his "must have" list, on the discretionary spending side. No wonder he's questioning whether $68,000 is enough to live in Seattle.

[thedonwind]

Originally Posted by destroycreate

I agree. People make it seem like we live in SF or NYC. Seattle is a great place to live, one of the best in the US...it makes sense it's not Atlanta levels of cheap.

I don't want to live in Atlanta or Texas, I'm willing to pay more for "location, location, location."

I'd say Seattle is average to slightly-expensive for a high quality American city.


I just looked for 1 bedroom apartments on Craigslist and seen several decent options in Capitol Hill/Belltown/Queen Anne for 1500 and below.


When I set my filter as 1500 for San Francisco I only saw bedrooms and living rooms for rent...

[IslandCityGirl]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

I wasn't thinking resort. When I worked at the UW, I did your kind of trips, but could only afford one/year. So you haven't answered my question.

It's all about priorities. I'm not rich and famous either, but I'll be damned if I don't get at least three good trips in per year. We're seeing an [intelligent] shift in thinking toward spending our time and resources on experiences instead of just "stuff." I choose to drive a car from the 90's and sit on old furniture so that I can spend my money on travel and "fun stuff." I became a business owner so that I can write my own schedule and take time off whenever I want. Even way before that, as a college kid, I managed to prioritize my meager funds to take at least a couple of trips every year. The OP and partner are probably doing the same (prioritizing funds and time off), seeing that they've managed to share a place for less than $2000/mo. Good on ya, OP.

Oh yeah, and air miles credit cards are awesome. I've flown free several times this year and just about have a business class trip to Europe saved up again. We all choose our priorities and work toward them. It's not that crazy!

[homesinseattle]

Loving you travelers, me too!!

[BATCAT]

Originally Posted by IslandCityGirl

It's all about priorities. I'm not rich and famous either, but I'll be damned if I don't get at least three good trips in per year. We're seeing an [intelligent] shift in thinking toward spending our time and resources on experiences instead of just "stuff." I choose to drive a car from the 90's and sit on old furniture so that I can spend my money on travel and "fun stuff." I became a business owner so that I can write my own schedule and take time off whenever I want. Even way before that, as a college kid, I managed to prioritize my meager funds to take at least a couple of trips every year. The OP and partner are probably doing the same (prioritizing funds and time off), seeing that they've managed to share a place for less than $2000/mo. Good on ya, OP.

Oh yeah, and air miles credit cards are awesome. I've flown free several times this year and just about have a business class trip to Europe saved up again. We all choose our priorities and work toward them. It's not that crazy!

I hear you. Ms. BATCAT and I are of fairly modest means, but some years we do make travel a priority and it's remarkable how much of it you can do (without going into debt) with some creativity and careful planning. And air miles- definitely air miles!

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by IslandCityGirl

It's all about priorities. I'm not rich and famous either, but I'll be damned if I don't get at least three good trips in per year. We're seeing an [intelligent] shift in thinking toward spending our time and resources on experiences instead of just "stuff." I choose to drive a car from the 90's and sit on old furniture so that I can spend my money on travel and "fun stuff." I became a business owner so that I can write my own schedule and take time off whenever I want. Even way before that, as a college kid, I managed to prioritize my meager funds to take at least a couple of trips every year. The OP and partner are probably doing the same (prioritizing funds and time off), seeing that they've managed to share a place for less than $2000/mo. Good on ya, OP.

Oh yeah, and air miles credit cards are awesome. I've flown free several times this year and just about have a business class trip to Europe saved up again. We all choose our priorities and work toward them. It's not that crazy!

That's cool, Girl. Sincere congrats. But the people I know who are small biz owners are chained to the job 7 days/week. But then, theirs are boutique businesses, selling to a niche crowd, I've been wondering if that's their problem.

OK, air miles on credit cards, or reward miles on airline accounts, are great. Glad you're able to make that work. For myself, I didn't have a car at all (I'm appalled at how expensive it is just to keep one, let alone buy one, now that I have one) back then, and was very into a non-stuff-oriented lifestyle. But that involved mostly local activities, and a trip home to CA, to enjoy everything norCal has to offer so I guess if you want to count that as a second trip/year, you can, but the OP was talking about international trips. I guess travelling more has become a thing these days, I didn't know.

[BATCAT]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

That's cool, Girl. Sincere congrats. But the people I know who are small biz owners are chained to the job 7 days/week. But then, theirs are boutique businesses, selling to a niche crowd, I've been wondering if that's their problem.

OK, air miles on credit cards, or reward miles on airline accounts, are great. Glad you're able to make that work. For myself, I didn't have a car at all (I'm appalled at how expensive it is just to keep one, let alone buy one, now that I have one) back then, and was very into a non-stuff-oriented lifestyle. But that involved mostly local activities, and a trip home to CA, to enjoy everything norCal has to offer so I guess if you want to count that as a second trip/year, you can, but the OP was talking about international trips. I guess travelling more has become a thing these days, I didn't know.

"International" doesn't necessarily mean "expensive", especially if you can get a good deal (or use air miles) for airfare. We recently went to Mexico City for a week (which is just an incredible place to explore, so much to do) and stayed in a very nice, centrally located hotel for $45/night. A solid entree at a good restaurant can be had for five bucks, and we got familiar with the Metro, which takes you anywhere for about 33 cents. There were all kinds of world-class museums that were free or just a few bucks admission. Our day-to-day expenses were very low indeed.

Contrast that to visiting Hawaii or San Francisco. There you will find us at the supermarket deli, stocking up, to avoid the cost of eating out at restaurants!

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by BATCAT

"International" doesn't necessarily mean "expensive", especially if you can get a good deal (or use air miles) for airfare. We recently went to Mexico City for a week (which is just an incredible place to explore, so much to do) and stayed in a very nice, centrally located hotel for $45/night. A solid entree at a good restaurant can be had for five bucks, and we got familiar with the Metro, which takes you anywhere for about 33 cents. There were all kinds of world-class museums that were free or just a few bucks admission. Our day-to-day expenses were very low indeed.

Contrast that to visiting Hawaii or San Francisco. There you will find us at the supermarket deli, stocking up, to avoid the cost of eating out at restaurants!

We already covered this point, but yes. My "international" trips were to Central America, too, and involved a lot less than $45/night, most of the time. Still, they required saving up for, each year. The one international trip/year was the highlight of people's year, usually. I still don't know anyone who takes more than 1/year on their own dime. (Not work-related.) Even singles without kids. Oh well. Different strokes 4 different folks, I guess.... Maybe it's a generational thing?