$$$$$$$$$$$

[SeXy ReDHeD]

Hello all!

Well, I was just sitting here at my desk, figuring out my budget for December and reading some posts when I discovered that I'm going to be pretty much broke for Christmas. There's only going to be about twenty-three extra dollars this month... before food, utilities, gas... etc. I was also thinking for awhile on various other ways to make money... waitressing, holiday retail job (UGH!), stripping... I don't know. Whatever. Then, my mind wandered a bit (as it so very often does), and thought about how much the people I currently work for make:

My "Boss" makes about $90,000/year and the others make between $50,000 and $80,000/year, depending on rank. I, the part-time student/slave, barely make $5,000/year.

I am guessing that the only difference (aside from full vs. part time) is that they have all earned various degrees...

Which got my mind to wandering again. I've been reading the posts here for a long time, and have observed that we are a very diverse population, educationally speaking. So then, we must also be a very diverse population where income is concerned. Which brings me to my questions:

What do you earn per annum?

Are you happy with that number?

What is your level of education?

Do you think your level of education has an effect on your income?

Thank you in advance for answering... I know this is personal stuff

And also, sorry if it came off a bit dry. I'm still hung over this morning and feeling too bad to be nice.

[Edited by SeXy ReDHeD on 11-24-2000 at 09:08 AM]

 

[Ambrosious]

Originally posted by SeXy ReDHeD

What do you earn per annum?

Nobody's business, but well over 100,000. The funny thing is that my present employer has no idea how much I make on the stock market, real estate, and other venues.


Are you happy with that number?

Yeah, for now. I'm always looking for ways to increase it.

Do you think your level of education has an effect on your income?

No. It is the work I've put into learning how to make money work for me. Also I have always had at least two jobs at any one time. One to live on, one to invest on.

 

[Curious Guy]

Stripping gets one vote!

Oops, thats not what she asked.

Well, income amounts don't entirely depend on the level of education. Some of us make do without a lot of formal education.

 

[Bobtoad777]

i make 9000$ a year

$3000 rent
$900 Phone , internet
$900 Lights, power, water
$450 Cable
$2400 Food

Which leaves $1350 for clothes medical and tolitries and any other needs that arise.

I am comfortable with that it meets my needs.

Yes my education does hinder me from even the most basic of menial of minimum wage jobs, three years bible and theology Stufy, No one wants to hire a christian. So basically I work for myself, doing odd jobs and what not.

 

[TN_Vixen]

I make under $50k per year right now at a job that I don't even have to have a high school diploma for, and no... I'm not satisfied with my income, but I plan on it increasing by at least $20k by next summer and hopefully more than that by this time next year.

Although I'm not required to have upper education for sales, it helps. It helps in your communication techniques, in your ability to discuss- intelligently- issues with potential clients and having gone to college gives you a confidence level that I believe had I not gone, I would not have reached.

If nothing else I would encourage you to sign up for evening classes somewhere - you can get grant money or student loan money to assist you, I did... and sign up for a difficult class, just one and see how well you do. Getting good reports back on what you believe to be a difficult subject for you is the best motivator to continue studying, learning and growing. Also it does wonders in other aspects of your life - you take the risks you've normally shied away from out of fear of failure.

 

[Silverlily]

I'm not really comfortable with giving an exact number, but more than 50K and less than 100K.

My husband is an investing genius and owns large portions in a few businesses. If we wanted to, we could live comfortably off the dividends. Subsequently, we can be choosier about the jobs we take.

Having said that, where I was in my career before I met him, was entirely do to a whatever it takes work ethic. Translation - I worked my ass off and moved up my corporate ladder and I did it without collecting too many bodies.

 

[Ambrosious]

I'm not really comfortable with giving an exact number, but more than 50K and less than 100K.

My husband is an investing genius and owns large portions in a few businesses. If we wanted to, we could live comfortably off the dividends. Subsequently, we can be choosier about the jobs we take.

Having said that, where I was in my career before I met him, was entirely do to a whatever it takes work ethic. Translation - I worked my ass off and moved up my corporate ladder and I did it without collecting too many bodies.

But she has been know to kick quite a few. I've got bruises to prove it!

 

[Silverlily]

But she has been know to kick quite a few. I've got bruises to prove it!

Actually, I made a point of not using cut-throat tactics whenever possible. One of the things I regret in my life was the summer I ran our Wal-Mart's garden center, we took most of Hechinger's business that year, to the point their DM came over to try to hire me. We were partially responsible for the worst garden season they had ever had. When the company folded, I felt like I had (albeit small) part in it.

 

[RonG]

What do you earn per annum? $100k or so. Depends on stuff somewhat outside my control but it has been over $100k two out of the last three years.

Are you happy with that number? Yeah

What is your level of education? Postgraduate degree

Do you think your level of education has an effect on your income? Yeah

That sounds fine and dandy (boy that was fun to sneak in), but truthfully I have changed jobs twice to take a cut in pay. Once the creature comforts get covered, more money just means more headaches and more hours worked. I would rather have the time off to indulge my hobbies.

 

[Lasher]

i make 9000$ a year

Just curious... Is that Canadian dollars or real money?

 

[Bobtoad777]

Sorry Lasher I forgot to convert that over to American for you all. $9000 Canadian would roughly be equivilant to $4950 American. There does that make you feel even richer Lord Lasher

 

[Lasher]

There does that make you feel even richer Lord Lasher

Yep. Sure as hell does.

 

[Deborah]

Hey Ambrosious and RonG, just curious, you dudes must have paid somewhere in the vicinity of $20,000 in F.I.T., unless you got a really good scam, which in that case I would like to hear about it. How do you feel about forking over all that $$$$$$$$$$ and what is your best guess about what that $$$$$$$$$$ was used for?

 

[Guest]

What do you earn per annum? $90,000+

Are you happy with that number? Very much so. It allows me a certain freedom I never had just a few years ago when I was making less than $20,000.

What is your level of education? BS (yeah it can stand for bullshit), post graduate and continuing education.

Do you think your level of education has an effect on your income? At times definately. Other times I think very little. There are two very interesting comments posted on this thread dealing with this question. One by Ambrosius and the other by TN_Vixen.

Ambrosius stated, "No. It is the work I've put into learning how to make money work for me. Also I have always had at least two jobs at any one time. One to live on, one to invest on.

TN_Vixen said, "Although I'm not required to have upper education for sales, it helps. It helps in your communication techniques, in your ability to discuss-intelligently-issues with potential clients and having gone to college gives you a confidence level that I believe had I not gone, I would not have reached.

If nothing else I would encourage you to sign up for evening classes somewhere - you can get grant money or student loan money to assist you, I did... and sign up for a difficult class, just one and see how well you do. Getting good reports back on what you believe to be a difficult subject for you is the best motivator to continue studying, learning and growing. Also it does wonders in other aspects of your life - you take the risks you've normally shied away from out of fear of failure."

I agree with both of these statements. Ambrosius has indicated a level of willingness to work hard, learn and then to apply both of those qualities to his life. And that is what has gotten him to where he is today. He does not feel that his education got him to where he is today.

TN_Vixen on the other hand believes that her education has helped her get to where she is and will help her futher in the future.

The similarities in both of their statements that I see is their ability to work hard, learn, take on new challenges and keep going, no matter what it takes, to achieve their goals.

I am now in a position where I interview people with degrees of all levels; BS/BA, graduate and PhD. I can tell you from my personal experience in hiring people that the degree and scholastic credentials are not what makes the employee. Our best employees have typically been the students that have had to work their way through college and life. They know how to work. They tend to have more common sense. And they have an ability to learn. To ask questions when they don't know something.

I have learned that degrees from prestigious universities and very good grades don't really matter all that much in the real world. Its having personal goals and the dedication to achieving those goals that matter most in a potential employee. Some of the employees we hire with the "so called" gold credentials turn out to be very poor employees. They have this opinion that they should start out at the top and do not have the dedication to work their way up the ladder, or the dedication to make sure the job they are assigned is done correctly. Whereas, the employee that may have had a 'C' average but worked their way through college have been some of the best employees I've ever seen. Their dedicated, are use to hard work and make sure their work is performed to our company's and their own personal standards. This IS the type of employee I prefer.

TN_Vixen's point on the challenge of college and the things she learned from going to college is an excellent point. No matter how much of a challenge it is you will learn something about yourself. No matter how difficult it gets, or how tough it is, you will, at a minimum, learn something about yourself! And people who have been challenged and have some idea of who they are and what they are capable of
are the type of employee employers are looking for.

So if you don't have a college degree, or graduate degree, or the very best grades, don't worry about that. Its who you are, your goals, your work ethic and your determination to learn and succeed that will carry you where you want to go.

One last "important" point. Know how to write, spell, do basic math and communicate. If you learn nothing else in high school or college, learn these things. If you can't communicate orally or through your writing, then you are only hurting yourself. Your not hurting me, because I won't hire you.

 

[Comshaw]

I make 40,000 a year. Am I happy with that? Is anyone ever happy with the amount of money they make? Ask Bill Gates if he has enough. His answer will probably be the same as mine; HELL NO!

Sometimes hard work has nothing at all to do with it. Where and to whom yo're born seems to be the big deciding factors.
This was posted on another of my favorites sites by the site administrator. I thought I'd share it with you.

Thanksgiving

If Earth's population was shrunk into a village of just 100 people -- with all the human ratios existing in the world
still remaining -- what would this tiny, diverse village look like? That's exactly what Phillip M. Harter, a medical
doctor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, attempted to figure out. This is what he found
57 would be Asian
21 would be European
14 would be from the Western Hemisphere
8 would be African
52 would be female
48 would be male
70 would be nonwhite
30 would be white
70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian
89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual
6 people would possess 59 percent of the entire
world's wealth, and all 6 would be from the United States.
80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would be near death
1 would be pregnant
1 would have a college education
1 would own a computer
The following is an anonymous interpretation:

Think of it this way. If you live in a good home, have plenty to eat and can read, you are a member of a very select group.
And if you have a good house, food, can read and have a computer, you are among the very elite.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...
you are more fortunate than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are fortunate,
more than three billion people in the world can’t.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back,
a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still alive and still married... you are very rare, even in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and
are truly thankful...you are fortunate, because the majority can, but most do not.

And I should worry about making more money? I think not.

 

[RonG]

Hey Ambrosious and RonG, just curious, you dudes must have paid somewhere in the vicinity of $20,000 in F.I.T., unless you got a really good scam, which in that case I would like to hear about it. How do you feel about forking over all that $$$$$$$$$$ and what is your best guess about what that $$$$$$$$$$ was used for?

You're amazingly close. Itemize with a ridiculous mortgage, hide as much in a 401K and you still support lots of stuff. I also live in a state with no itemization for state income tax, just a flat rate and that is no bargain either. And Indiana is in violation of a court order to revise its property tax valuation.

Now let's see. I have roads to drive on, cops and fire protection if I need it, a kickass military and awfully safe food and transportation. All in all, the government takes care of all kinds of shit I don't need to worry about. Truthfully, incomes have risen to take into account taxes (it isn't like they just started) so they basically hit equilibrium with the effort required to earn them. If taxes got cut, private sector wages would just head into stagflation so that effective standard of living would not change. That sounds depressing but if we can use wealth to help nurture those who ain't got a leg up, good for the government. By the way, I grew up in government subsidized housing and worked my way through college so it isn't like I was handed anything. When my peers spent time snorting coke or burning senior service, I got an education. But that doesn't give me the attitude that everybody can take the same path. There is a need for help from time to time and wishing for private sector aid is a damn cold and lonely wait.

Like I said, I basically quit worrying about money a long time ago. I have what I need and free time is more important than earning a few more shekels.

 

[Bobtoad777]

You all make me laugh so hard, 40k and its not enough 90k and its not enough 100k and its not enough.

yet I am happy with less than 5k of your value of money, much much more than happy.

What is wrong with that picture?

 

[Guest]

What is wrong with that picture?

What is wrong with this picture Bob, is that you did not actually read, or correctly read the posts on this thread. Who said they were not happy or did not have enough money? Most everyone on this thread honestly answered a series of questions that were posed by SexyRedhead. And if I read the thread correctly most everyone said they were happy with what they make. But since most of us that posted are still relatively young, 30s, 40s and 50s, we still have goals.

Let's see in 1975 at 20 years old I made $2,000. At 25 years I made $3,500.

At 30 it was $9,000. At 35 $35,000.

What does this show? That I worked many years to earn what I make now. It wasn't handed to me. I earned it as most of the others that posted also seem to have.

We simply answered questions that were asked of us. And tried to be honest in doing so. Most of us seem happy based on our answers, but our lives aren't over yet. What most of us said was that the money we now make earn allows us more freedom of time and worry than we use to have.

Why do you jump to conclusions and take our honesty in answering these questions so defensively?

 

[Lasher]

yet I am happy with less than 5k of your value of money, much much more than happy.

What is wrong with that picture?

Did ya get laid yet, bobtoad??

Didn't think so.

 

[Rosebud]

Oh lasher...your responses always turns me on...you big brute you...


as for my job....i don't make enough...i don't like it...i should have finished college...but i am okay with my job....just waiting for the perfect job to comealong....Like being DCL's sex slave or Lashers...yummy...lol sorry guys

 

[Bobtoad777]

Yeah, for now.

... I'm not satisfied with my income

HELL NO!

Those are quote taken from the above posts, they do not echo, an I'm happy with what I make sentiment but your right I am reading it all wrong. It is me who is at fault.

What is wrong with this picture Bob, is that you did not actually read, or correctly read the posts on this thread. Who said they were not happy or did not have enough money? Most everyone on this thread honestly answered a series of questions that were posed by SexyRedhead. And if I read the thread correctly most everyone said they were happy with what they make. But since most of us that posted are still relatively young, 30s, 40s and 50s, we still have goals.

I am 25, and I am currently more than exceeding the goals for my presnt. But again I guess I am wrong for doing that too arn't I?

Let's see in 1975 at 20 years old I made $2,000. At 25 years I made $3,500.

In 1993 I was bringing in $23,000 a year vice-managing a conviencestore, gas bar working 20 hours a wekk and I was miserable. I make now $9000 a year working 30-40 some weeks and am happier than I have ever been. But I guess I am wrong for doing that to aren't I?

At 30 it was $9,000. At 35 $35,000.

What does this show? That I worked many years to earn what I make now. It wasn't handed to me. I earned it as most of the others that posted also seem to have.

I never said that the other didn't earn what they have, in fact I am quite happy for them.

We simply answered questions that were asked of us. And tried to be honest in doing so. Most of us seem happy based on our answers, but our lives aren't over yet. What most of us said was that the money we now make earn allows us more freedom of time and worry than we use to have.

Why do you jump to conclusions and take our honesty in answering these questions so defensively?

I didn't take your answers defensively I just marveled at people making so much claiing that they were not entirely satisfied. It boggles the mind sometime. I am sorry if my happiness at earning so little upsets you.

 

[Lasher]

If Earth's population was shrunk into a village of just 100 people -- with all the human ratios existing in the world still remaining -- what would this tiny, diverse village look like?...

6 people would possess 59 percent of the entire
world's wealth, and all 6 would be from the United States.

I always hate cute little simplistic shit like this.

Here's where he fucked up. According to his rules only 4 of his 100 people could possibly be from the United States (250 million out of 6 billion... actually 4.1%, but close enough), yet he says 6 people from the United States have 59% of the wealth.

So how the fuck do 4 people become 6 people? How much of the 59% do the -2 people have? Does this qualify as "fuzzy math"?

Anyways...

I think something like this has been said above, but when it comes to money it is all relative. When I was 17 years old and flipping burgers at Roy Rogers for $3.35 an hour, I thought I could live like a king if I could find a job that paid $5 an hour. Of course, I could also get a case of PBR pounders for $8 back then - and that was pretty much the only expense I had.

If bobtoad thinks it's great that he can live on nothing, then that's good for him. Me? Couldn't do it. I've got too many other things going on. I've got a wife and cats to feed, and buy clothes for... I've gotta pay my wife's college tuition, buy her school books... I've gotta pay for health insurance, life insurance, car insurance... I've gotta save money so someday I can retire and not have to worry about whether or not the Presidential candidates in 2000 fucked up Social Security (and to be honest, I couldn't live comfortably on the benefits social security pays, so I'm not really caring if it's around in 30 years or not). I've gotta pay a healthy portion of taxes so people making $5000 a year can collect food stamps, and get HUD housing, and so I can have pothole infested roads to drive on, and all those other GREAT things that Government gives me.

And EVERY single damn THING that I have, I have earned on my own. I'm very proud of that. I've seen plenty of people here talk about the good things that can come from government support for the less fortunate, but I've seen the bad things that can come from it first hand. It's been a struggle all my life to believe that financial success is possible, and it's something I still struggle with everyday. But I do now know that with hard work and commitment it can come. And I have at this point no empathy whatsoever for anyone who is more interested in whining about how unfair life is than getting off their fat asses and working for what they want. Cause that's just complete bullshit. It's out there, you just gotta fucking want it.

So, like I said, that's great that bobtoad is happy living like a 17 year old. Like he showed us above, he has no commitments, and few needs, and no responsiblity other than to himself.

But I do think that maybe he should live just ONE LITTLE FUCKING BIT before he goes judging anyone else.

 

[Cheri]

I am 25, and I am currently more than exceeding the goals for my presnt. But again I guess I am wrong for doing that too arn't I?

I didn't take your answers defensively I just marveled at people making so much claiing that they were not entirely satisfied. It boggles the mind sometime. I am sorry if my happiness at earning so little upsets you.

No one is upset you are happy in your almost destitute state, we're pissed that you're so arrogant. So get off your soap box.

 

[Bobtoad777]

I am 25, and I am currently more than exceeding the goals for my presnt. But again I guess I am wrong for doing that too arn't I?

I didn't take your answers defensively I just marveled at people making so much claiing that they were not entirely satisfied. It boggles the mind sometime. I am sorry if my happiness at earning so little upsets you.

No one is upset you are happy in your almost destitute state, we're pissed that you're so arrogant. So get off your soap box.

You have made it all clear to me now. Having a roof over my head, having food to eat, haveign clothing on my back and being happy equals destitution and arogance thank you so much for enlightening me. Have a great Evening/night/morning.

 

[Laurel]

What do you earn per annum?

Nunya Bizness.

Are you happy with that number?

Yes.

What is your level of education?

B.A.

Do you think your level of education has an effect on your income?

No. I learned most of what I use on a daily basis from working. I can honestly say that I would be ahead of the curve had I skipped college and spent that time working.

I ran a small record label for several years. That experience taught me far more than I learned in school.

In the wake of the dotcom die-offs, I've heard all sorts of speculation as to what happened. Was it the failure of a business model? Is the Net not commercially viable?

From my experience dealing with some of these failed dotcoms, I'd have to say that the failure lie not in the Internet but in the people. Venture capitalists gave millions of dollars to Stanford and Harvard MBA's expecting them to 'rip it up', ignoring the fact that these FOS's (fresh outta school) had no real-world business experience. So they frittered away small and large fortunes on cutesy ideas without realizing that a business is supposed to turn a PROFIT, not subsist on VC money. The moral: A fancy degree is no substitute for shrewd business sense.

School's vital in some professions - doctors, lawyers, etc. However, even then it just provides a base on which to build experience - it's the beginning of your learning, not the end. And in many professions schooling doesn't give you that big of an advantage. I think many employers like to see it on your resume because it means you can stick to something, but I think a stunning portfolio or years of experience with good companies looks just as good, if not better. But what do I know? I'm just babbling...