Income?

[TFin04]

Just out of curiosity, what does everyone here make? I know most of us have a taste for very expensive knives, so I'm curious as to what type of incomes Bladeforums has.

You can vote and not reply to the thread, or offer up your figures if you wish.

Oh, and you can list your job/profession too if you would like.

 

[Ken C.]

Not enough.

 

[TFin04]

Jeez, you posted even before I hit submit I think!

 

[iubigred007]

i'm in the $50k - $70k category...

 

[SilverFoxKnows]

Less than 50k

Frank

 

[L6steel]

Daggum TF, you started out awful high!!!!!!!!
What makes you think us grunts are doin that well?

 

[TFin04]

I read in my Econ book the average income for the US was at like 46k now. I also assume from most of these posts here that most of you guys are established in your working careers, and with a taste like I see on here for knives, I just assumed most probably made at least 50k. Maybe I should have gone lower.

Personally, I'm a 19 year old full time student/part time worker, so I definately fall under 50k. I make enough to pay for my car loan, buy a few knives, and save a little cash. I work at National City Bank btw.

 

[flava]

The first option says more than 50k, you ment less than 50k, right? If not, should one that makes let's say 60k vote "more than 50" or "50-70"?

 

[TFin04]

Yeah, that could be taken either way. The aligators mouth is "eating" less than 50k. (The way I assume most of us learned that when we were 8 years old. )

Either way, it's supposed to be less than 50k.

 

[RattlerXX]

Not enough.

Amen brother Kallooooch!

 

[Bob W]

$50-$70 category for me last year, on account of working 12-60 hour shifts. And we were so under-staffed that I often worked solo, collecting my pay plus the pay of my theoretical helper.

The year before I made just over 20k doing the same thing. Prior to that I was lucky if I broke 15k working as a professional archaeologist.

Last year I spent about 4% of my income on pocketknives, probably the same as any other year.

 

[kamkazmoto]

about 30k less than I need.

 

[tarsier]

I read in my Econ book the average income for the US was at like 46k now.

Do you know if that is individual wage-earner income or household income?

 

[Walking Man]

I read in my Econ book the average income for the US was at like 46k now.

Our government and other agencies often like to use an average to paint a rosy picture. You really need to look at the MEDIAN income to get a clear idea of what Americans are making these days. The people with the big bucks will throw the average off by quite a bit.

 

[TFin04]

Our government and other agencies often like to use an average to paint a rosy picture. You really need to look at the MEDIAN income to get a clear idea of what Americans are making these days. The people with the big bucks will throw the average off by quite a bit.

Yes, and those that have been on welfare for years also have the same effect in the other direction, but I get your point.

That is based on individual income. It was from the Census Bureau based on 2004 statistics.

 

[L6steel]

$50-70k wowsers Bob!!!!!!!!!!
I was sittin on the porch smokin a cigar like I do every day thinkin what it would be like to make ten grand a month, $120k a year. I couldn't figure out how someone could spend that much money.
I feel blessed to be getting my air force pension, sub $15k.
What do you people do with all the money?

 

[DaveH]

all the money

let's see, the gov takes around 30+% right off the bat, mortgage takes 25% or so, car payment takes 12%, retirement savings 15%....

 

[Centaur]

$50-70k wowsers Bob!!!!!!!!!!
I was sittin on the porch smokin a cigar like I do every day thinkin what it would be like to make ten grand a month, $120k a year. I couldn't figure out how someone could spend that much money.
I feel blessed to be getting my air force pension, sub $15k.
What do you people do with all the money?

I live in Union City, CA.

Check out the real estate prices in Alameda county, CA. Then pick your jaw up off the floor.

Figure the payments on a $400K loan. Now pick yourself up off the floor.

Welcome to my home sweet hell.

 

[Bob W]

$50-70k wowsers Bob!!!!!!!!!!
I was sittin on the porch smokin a cigar like I do every day thinkin what it would be like to make ten grand a month, $120k a year. I couldn't figure out how someone could spend that much money.
I feel blessed to be getting my air force pension, sub $15k.
What do you people do with all the money?

Beats me, it's gone now.

Actually, it's the first time ever that I didn't feel poor. So I bought a convertible.

Trying to figure out where the rest went, here's a run-down since you're interested: Heating bills this winter have been $400 - $600. Mortgage is $600. Self-employment taxes and income taxes are going to be over 25%. Paid off a large credit card debt from all those years of traveling as an archaeologist, over $5,000. Just over $2,500 on knives. Maintainence and repairs on work truck. Bought wife a used motorcycle, $1500. Max IRA contribution this year is $4000. Materials and tools for restoration work on our historic home. Gasoline for the work truck, 100 miles average per shift, 13 miles per gallon, $2.50 per gallon. Down payment on Wife's car, $2000. Groceries, water, electric, pet food and vet bills, etc.

It's a nice change after years of earning $15,000 or less as an archaeologist, living in my car, sharing apartments to split rent, caretaking on farms for free places to live. Not to mention the poverty periods between arch. projects when I would do low-paying labor jobs to make ends meet... farming and ranching, all sorts of construction, coal mining, security, etc. I feel I've paid my dues, and I never took a single cent in unemployment, charity, or handouts of any kind.

And did you read the part where I explained the 60 hour shifts I worked last year? Those are straight-through shifts, working the entire time taking short naps whenever I could. Staying awake the first night isn't bad; the second night sucks. Many weeks I worked well over 100 hours.

-Bob

 

[Bob W]

I feel blessed to be getting my air force pension, sub $15k.

So that's where my tax money goes! $15k to sit on the porch and smoke cigars... That's more than I've made most years, even working as much as possible. Some people have it made!

Just turning it back around on 'ya. No offense intended.

Best Wishes,
-Bob