How your income stacks up

[Eddie Teach]

A car that hasn't been owned before is something special.

[merithyn]

Is a $35k+ vehicle something special? You make it sound like it is.

Spending $70,000 on vehicles for two people is a lot, especially if you're crying poor at a quarter mil a year. (And I actually think his big car, the Chrysler Aspen, was closer to $45k with all of the bells and whistles he added.)

I just can't imagine going into debt like that when making nearly $20,000/month.

[Monoriu]

Is a $35k+ vehicle something special? You make it sound like it is.

Yeah.  $35k can't buy a basic Honda Accord here. 

[jimmy olsen]

Is a $35k+ vehicle something special? You make it sound like it is.

Yeah.  $35k can't buy a basic Honda Accord here.

$35k will get you a sweet ride.

[crazy canuck]

Is a $35k+ vehicle something special? You make it sound like it is.

I see your point but 35 is about where the luxury vehicles start kicking in which is probably why Meri picked that number.  But I would be very suprised if someone earning over 300 a year didnt drive at least that.

[Monoriu]

I don't have anything to disprove Meri's assertion that her brother spends much more than he earns.  But I think "he drives 2 35k cars" is not a good piece of evidence to support that assertion.  Spending 70k on cars should be within his means. 

"He buys a 35k car every 6 months" would be excessive, for example.

[Zanza]

Luxury vehicle must mean something different in North America than it means in Europe. Nothing that is classified as luxury vehicle here is selling anywhere near $35k. Not even twice that.

And spending twice your monthly income on a car does not seem outragously much to me. I think most people would spend relatively more on a car than that. Especially middle class people.

[Monoriu]

Luxury vehicle must mean something different in North America than it means in Europe. Nothing that is classified as luxury vehicle here is selling anywhere near $35k. Not even twice that.

And spending twice your monthly income on a car does not seem outragously much to me. I think most people would spend relatively more on a car than that. Especially middle class people.

I think Mercedez E class goes for about US$100k here.  And our roads are packed full of them. 

[Richard Hakluyt]

My brother still owes me $2500 from when he got a divorce... 10 years ago. Anything he gave me wouldn't be a handout.

That would make me genuinely angry, has he pretended to forget that he owes you that (to him) minor sum?

[Ed Anger]

My brother still owes me $2500 from when he got a divorce... 10 years ago. Anything he gave me wouldn't be a handout.

That would make me genuinely angry, has he pretended to forget that he owes you that (to him) minor sum?

Family members always think that debts don't matter. Which is why I get it in writing.

[Richard Hakluyt]

My brother still owes me $2500 from when he got a divorce... 10 years ago. Anything he gave me wouldn't be a handout.

That would make me genuinely angry, has he pretended to forget that he owes you that (to him) minor sum?

Family members always think that debts don't matter. Which is why I get it in writing.

With the defaulters I insist that future money provided is a gift rather than a "loan"...............that way at least one can pose as a Germanic Chieftain type rather than a naive moron easily parted from his money 

There is actually only one defaulter, and for a paltry sum, but it doesn't half piss me off 

[Barrister]

My brother still owes me $2500 from when he got a divorce... 10 years ago. Anything he gave me wouldn't be a handout.

That would make me genuinely angry, has he pretended to forget that he owes you that (to him) minor sum?

Family members always think that debts don't matter. Which is why I get it in writing.

I pretty much assume any family loan (read: loan to my brother) is going to not be paid back.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

My income doesn't "stack up" it lies flat.

[Ed Anger]

My income doesn't "stack up" it lies flat.

That is the problem with Canadian money.

[Barrister]

My income doesn't "stack up" it lies flat.

That is the problem with Canadian money.

That joke would have been funny in 1995.