35,000 pretty good income?

Question

Do you think it is? My goals are to get a new(er) car that runs good and is remotely attractive, better my credit score, eventually put down enough money to make reasonable (non-stressful) payments on a nicer home.

Is that doable with 35,000 a year? or should I look for a better paying profession?

Answer 1

Forget the car stuff - that's a vanity item with no real value.

Don't worry about your credit score too much either - it's really not as important as they'd like us to believe.

Save up a chunk for a significant down payment (about ten grand) and you'll be able to get into a deal on a home that would otherwise be out of reach. Cash is king - use it wisely and before you know it it'll be working for you .

Answer 2

Just do your budget and see what you can afford.

Answer 3

Of course you'll be able to get a decent home and car, BUT think that will take up most of your salary, and don't forget income taxes!  You can get a home and car like you said, but then you will have barely any left for enjoying yourself or buying things you remotely like.  

Who cares if you have a car and home but you're scared to spend money on things you really want?

After income taxes, you will have something like $26,000, from which a decent home mortgage will be at least 15,000, and a car will be at least 3,000, you'll have $8000 left but you need to buy food, pay for car gasoline (which is too high now), pay for a baby if you start a family, pay for car fixing if it's used, pay for other things, you might even get sued or you might need insurance money.

You can't even tip a guy at a restaurant without thinking three times about it.  You should aim for a higher income obviously, but $35,000 is doable if you enjoy the simple things in life or if you're wife adds the same amount of income to your family.

Answer 4

Depends where you live, whether you have a family, etc.  I'd encourage you to aim higher.  Prices are going up and will NOT drop.  Think ahead.  In California, I'd focus on at least 75K a year.

Answer 5

You should ALWAYS try to find a better paying profession, considering where this country's going financially...

Answer 6

The asker forgot to say what country, area, or currency.  No matter what country URL you used to get here, Yahoo Answers is international.

For example $35,000 might be kind of limiting in southern California or the upper Atlantic states (NYC, etc.), but just fine elsewhere.

Answer 7

Well, you should always be looking for better pay, no matter how much money you make.  But personally, I don't think 35,000 dollars is enough salary if you have a degree.  If you have a degree in ANYTHING there's no way you should settle for such an eensy weensy paycheck like that.  That's nothing in terms of money, especially if you want to get a newer car and better your credit.  That's not enough money.  But if you don't have a degree, there isn't much you can do about how much money you make.

Answer 8

Everything you want to accomplish is doable with that yearly income. It's not about how much you make, it's about how much you spend and save. You can take this yearly income and live on a strict budget, you'll be surprised how much money you can save living like this. Who's to say if after being in your chosen profession for one year you don't get a raise and then it becomes even easier along the way. $35,000.00 is a great start.    

Answer 9

There are things you didn't`t mention to be able to give you a good answer.

Where do you live- on your own or with parents ?

Do you support anyone?

Do you pay rent somewhere?

If you are single with no children, but you pay rent somewhere, figure it like this:

$1000.00 a month minimum housing cost, plus utilities.

New or Newer car from a dealer: $300.00 car payments for 3 years.

$500.00 auto insurance/ per 6 months.-- $1000.00 monthly

Food per month $150.00

Petro per month $100.00-- $1,200 yearly.

Minimum figures used, you`ll need $16,300 a year to live on.

Before tax and health care, you`ll have $18,300 a year left from $35,000.

Plus whatever Health care you pay and your tax liability.

Answer 10

It always depends on what you want to do with it. And you seem to want to do a lot. I don't understand this "better credit score" business. If you pay your debts, if you have a bank loan and pay that regularly, if you make your car payments and do the same with your rent, then you have no credit whatever problem and a score makes no difference here. (and when it's time to get a mortgage and the bank takes a look at your bank record  - deposits, checks etc - and see that  you're in good standing, then it's no problem getting that mortgage).

Answer 11

That's pretty good in the UK. In Japan... not so good.