3 ms·

Many people in the town I lived in have accomplished all that you’ve listed. Also 80k is a single income — with dual income it’s low six figures. In a LCOL loca

by wenc 3y ago

Many people in the town I lived in have accomplished all that you’ve listed. Also 80k is a single income — with dual income it’s low six figures. In a LCOL location it’s not bad. Now their job market may not be hot but layoffs also rarely happen because these are industries that value stability (diversified multinationals but based in a LCOL location). Many folks in my former company have worked there for 30 years. Plus today, there’s the remote market. I think the scenarios your are imagining don’t apply as universally as one might think. Our perspectives are often shaped by our immediate experiences. I have a data point that deviates from the experiences of most people on this site (that I suspect much of non-tech America shares)

lotsofpulp 3y ago
Yes, dual income households in $120k to $180k range would work in a LCOL area. Although, I would never be able to sleep at night if I was counting on depending on an employer for 30 years, not only to keep me employed, but to keep paying me competitive wages when they know I have no other options. My biggest concern is price of quality goods and services like repairmen and elder care workers and whatnot greatly increasing by the time I am old (2050s) due to demographic changes. I foresee more and more old people bidding for the labor of fewer and fewer young people. And the government chipping away at the purchasing power of the dollar to address this (since that is the easiest and maybe only thing they can do).
- wenc 3y ago
  It’s a trade off people make for the lifestyle that they want. I decided that lifestyle wasn’t for me but it really does work for a lot of people.
- poulsbohemian 3y ago
  Perhaps keep in mind that per capita income in this country is on the order of $25K and has been for decades. We can argue over the reasons or whether that number is artificially low, but once you get away from the coasts, a lot of this country is poor and that $80K would be life changing.

by wenc 3y ago

lotsofpulp 3y ago

Yes, dual income households in $120k to $180k range would work in a LCOL area. Although, I would never be able to sleep at night if I was counting on depending on an employer for 30 years, not only to keep me employed, but to keep paying me competitive wages when they know I have no other options. My biggest concern is price of quality goods and services like repairmen and elder care workers and whatnot greatly increasing by the time I am old (2050s) due to demographic changes. I foresee more and more old people bidding for the labor of fewer and fewer young people. And the government chipping away at the purchasing power of the dollar to address this (since that is the easiest and maybe only thing they can do).

wenc 3y ago
It’s a trade off people make for the lifestyle that they want. I decided that lifestyle wasn’t for me but it really does work for a lot of people.
poulsbohemian 3y ago
Perhaps keep in mind that per capita income in this country is on the order of $25K and has been for decades. We can argue over the reasons or whether that number is artificially low, but once you get away from the coasts, a lot of this country is poor and that $80K would be life changing.