The salary for achieving the American Dream

[Luckymoose]

Wouldn't the American Dream require first being dirt poor, and then climbing to the top?

So the salary for the American Dream is 0 Dollars per year ... First achieve that, the salary required to get successful is phase 2.

I can say I've done it.

 

[Shekwan]

I always took the American Dream as becoming more wealthy than your parents.

 

[classical_hero]

Wouldn't the American Dream require first being dirt poor, and then climbing to the top?

So the salary for the American Dream is 0 Dollars per year ... First achieve that, the salary required to get successful is phase 2.

Step one. Earn nothing
Step two. ???
Step three. profit.

 

[Bill3000]

You're not going to make $250k a year running a flash gaming website which hosts games from newgrounds and kongregate, dude.

Try a profession that takes actual skill, instead.

 

[NYHunter]

What idea of American Dream are we talking about? The one that originated in the late 19th century or the delusional one that people seem to hold now?

 

[illram]

The American Dream is being able to order delivery when you're too lazy to cook, and not worrying about how much it costs or how often you do it.

This only works when you live in an area with reasonable delivery choices.

 

[Zelig]

This only works when you live in an area with reasonable delivery choices.

By living in the middle of nowhere, I save enough money on housing that I can order delivery every day.

It takes a week (and it's still good! - have you seen how much salt they put in mail-order take-out?) to get here, and I just throw out all the ones I don't feel like eating.

 

[downtown]

So, by this definition, something like .1% of Americans achieve the dream. Seems really wildly out of any sense of proportionality. The American Dream is a nice comfortable middle class lifestyle.

So that's probably HH Income of 75K in most areas (high cost cities excluded). But you know, every city has different gradients and amenities and to put a number on it seems arbitrary and silly.

Shouldn't the dream be "Gosh, I'm really happy with my life!" which doesn't have an income stipulation? I have a friend who makes 40K in DC and is quite happy with his life, versus another mutual friend who makes double but clearly isn't happy.

This. I also thought it was basically a comfortable middle class lifestyle...not sweat paycheck to paycheck, own your house, send the kids to state U and a vacation every few years. You can do that on 70K, or less.

 

[MobBoss]

I have bought two homes, own 3 cars, took care of a wife and 3 kids, all on an enlisted military salary.

Sometimes its not about how much you make, its how you spend it. Live within your means, spend wisely, and the 'dream' is more than achievable even on less than 50k a year salary.

 

[galdre]

I have bought two homes, own 3 cars, took care of a wife and 3 kids, all on an enlisted military salary.

Sometimes its not about how much you make, its how you spend it. Live within your means, spend wisely, and the 'dream' is more than achievable even on less than 50k a year salary.

it depends largely on where you live - on less than 50k a year where I am I would barely be able to rent a 1 bedroom apartment, much less support a family. And I can't just move to a cheaper location if I can't get a job there.

 

[amadeus]

I have bought two homes, own 3 cars, took care of a wife and 3 kids, all on an enlisted military salary.

And conservatives wonder why I'm for cutting the defense budget.

 

[Murky]

Someone did some research on money and happiness. The curve starts to level out after about 75k/yr.

 

[illram]

Yeah, it really depends on where you live. In SF a household income of 75K would be difficult to manage. Actually a household income of 75K in SF qualifies you for our City's below market rate housing discounts on new condos, as well as discounts on our city's UHC program.

 

[MobBoss]

it depends largely on where you live - on less than 50k a year where I am I would barely be able to rent a 1 bedroom apartment, much less support a family. And I can't just move to a cheaper location if I can't get a job there.

I live in one of the more expensive areas in the United States.

Why cant you just move? People do precisely that every day.

And conservatives wonder why I'm for cutting the defense budget.

My salary for many years was significantly lower than a civilian counterpart doing the same job.

 

[stormerne]

My definition of the American Dream: taking your wife to a restaurant and being able to read the menu left-to-right instead of right-to-left.

 

[galdre]

I live in one of the more expensive areas in the United States.

Why cant you just move? People do precisely that every day.

Yes, I could save up some money and move, but since areas with lower housing costs also have higher unemployment, it would be a huge risk. I don't have any safety net: if I don't have a job, I'm homeless.

My salary for many years was significantly lower than a civilian counterpart doing the same job.

Military pay is not the problem - the majority of our defense budget does not go to the service members

 

[amadeus]

My definition of the American Dream: taking your wife to a restaurant and being able to read the menu left-to-right instead of right-to-left.

What if it's a Chinese restaurant?

 

[bhsup]

Is the American Dream necessarily linked to financial success?

 

[JollyRoger]

A salary high enough that the taxes supports a troop.

 

[MobBoss]

Yes, I could save up some money and move, but since areas with lower housing costs also have higher unemployment, it would be a huge risk. I don't have any safety net: if I don't have a job, I'm homeless.

Life in general is full of risk. Sometimes its about just making things happen and then working through them.