how well off are u? - Page 2 - United Bimmer Community

**defkon99** · 11-13-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhaile

I make 50k+ a year base salary in Spokane, WA and only really work hard maybe 1-2 weeks out of a month

It's the joys of being a Network Systems Engineer

However, when it gets busy, it gets busy. Sometimes 12-14 hour days. I don't have to deal with hardly any crap al all since I'm the Engineering boss. I've been living on my own pretty much since I was since I was 17 (except for a 6 month stint when I was back with my parents inbetween jobs). I've paid for everything since then and continue to.

My parents are not well-off, but middle class and smart with money. I got my loans for my cars through my parents, which is nice. Low interest rate but I NEVER take that for granted as I always pay more then the min. payment to them and sometimes twice a month. My first car, I sold all of my sports cards (which was well over 50k worth) and bought it with the help of that money and saved the rest.

I should mention that my wife makes 25k a year right now so together we make around 75k+. We're on a waiting list for a new house so we currently live in the nicest apt complex in Spokane. The average income for Spokane is roughly 19k a year. So compared to the average, I would say we're spoiled, but we work hard, she has her degree and I have all of my Certs. in computers (MCSE 2000/2003/CCNA/Net+/A+, etc...) and we maintain. The problem with Spokane, it can change at any moment. I know i could move to Seattle and make in the 6 figures if I wanted, but I don't want to deal with the big city stuff right now.

That's my life in a nutshell, spoiled, yet works hard to maintain being spoiled

Dang dude. how long does it take u to prep for an exam???

so far ive covered A+,Network+, Server+, good idead bad idea? go for MS Certs or Cisco/network certs, oh yea im also goin to be certified for altiris. 1 week course..

**jrhaile** · 11-13-2005, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by defkon99@netscape.net

Dang dude. how long does it take u to prep for an exam???

so far ive covered A+,Network+, Server+, good idead bad idea? go for MS Certs or Cisco/network certs, oh yea im also goin to be certified for altiris. 1 week course..

Took about 7 months to do the 2000 MCSE program and then upgrading to 2003 was easy as snot! Didn't even study a minute and passed with flying colors

The "+" programs do not do a whole lot of good on a resume imo. The Cisco exams and MCSE are highly looked upon though. I'd concentrate on getting your 2003 MCSE and call it good. You'd be able to get a job anywhere as long as you understand the material and know how to apply it. The reason I'm so sought after in Spokane is I have 6 years+ in the Consulting business and then having my certs just looks good. Lots of experience + certs = good money anywhere. Hard part is getting in somewhere.

**defkon99** · 11-13-2005, 08:41 PM

yea well ive been working with this stuff since 1999, and i have some descent experience with some really good companies such as Washington Mutual,Smith Barney, HP, VA Govmt, Hospitals, and now the school district.

@ 23 this past july i think ive done pretty well, but ill be up there soon.

thansk for your reply Jrhail.

**Spieluhr** · 11-13-2005, 09:05 PM

my family is well off. my dad used to be gone 5 days a week to support my family. now he and my mom are working to build up our family espresso company. When I turned 16, I got a weekly allowance and have paid for all of my fun times since. I work my ass off during the school year, 3.8 GPA etc., and will be going to a great university so I can continue to live a financial stress-free life. I'd like to graduate from college and go and work with my parents in the business.

the funny thing is how most of the people that live around here used to give me crap once in a while for being a "rich kid" and for driving my bimmer. Little do they know what my parents have sacrificied over the years, the hard work, and my hard work to help and pay for that bimmer. I appreciate every second my parents spent to support our family and want to do the same.

**catalyst** · 11-13-2005, 09:49 PM

I used to live on over 150k+ a year, and now my family is living on a little over 50k a year. Its not fun.

My parents have absolutely horrible money managment skills, my moms bank account gets overdrafted 24/7, and my dad being unemployed doesnt do anything to help the situation at all.

In all honesty i cannot wait to move out, i should be making 40k+ a year within 1.5 years of graduating high school, as i plan to go to UTI and get my ASE certification, then work at a shop or dealer (not necessarily BMW). After i get some money saved i plan to apply to STEP, i have no doubts my GPA at UTI will be well within the boundaries for applying to step. All the time while im working and saving for step i plan to start working for a degree in business, so that i will have more options in the automotive world.

I honestly dont even consider myself poor, compared to some of the kids that i know im very well off, but i suppose that is mostly of my families old lifestyle, we still live in a house thats meant for an income of 150k+ a year, and we have alot of the things that are left over from that income.

All you baller west coast kids, dont take having money for granted, be glad you dont have to deal with being poor, recognize that you are lucky.

Wow, this post is longer than it was originally supposed to be.

**Torque** · 11-13-2005, 10:40 PM

As far as my family goes ... I'd say upper well off enough - not poor, but not too rich either. As far as me ... well off enough that I can afford to roll in a bimmer, buy myself what I need and put myself through school.

**Longhairedhippy** · 11-13-2005, 10:44 PM

west coast my ass. I live in "a-town". Though it seems my dad just quit his job. damn.

**komodo** · 11-13-2005, 10:57 PM

I'll be brief. My parents haven't paid for anything, not even a single music CD for me since I was around 14. They do pay the insurance for my car and my tuition for college, but everything else is up to me. I founded my web development company a number of years back, and have since grown it to be very successful for my age and the length of time it's been operational. I'm planning on continuing the growth of the company until I graduate, when I will hopefully step foot out into it as a full time career. All the stuff I do with my car, is all money I've earned (after savings and party money and normal stuff obviously).

**hamann318is** · 11-14-2005, 12:04 AM

I hated my job for two years to pay for my slut box of a car. My parents are nice and spot me on the insurance, but everything else was all me, baby.

I'd have to say that my parents are well-off, but all that means for me is that I get to drive a nice older BMW once in a while. They did a great job of showing me the value of a dollar.

**Spieluhr** · 11-14-2005, 01:37 AM

^^^
same way. Once I was able to get a job, I had to pay for my own shit. And even if you know you don't have to worry about money, working towards what you want is vital for a teen growing up in my opinion. These "sweet 16" TV shots on MTV and shit make me sick, kids being that fuckign roton, do they think that they will get that for the rest of their life? Give me a break.

**BMWbeauty416** · 11-14-2005, 02:45 PM

My parents are well off but I still worked when I was at home.

Out on my own with Anthony were not rolling by any means but we have some savings.

~*Teg*~

**LandoAWD** · 11-14-2005, 03:17 PM

My parents are well off, but they still drive basic cars. I guess you need to save money to have money. If only I could master that lesson...I'd be well-off too.

**bmw4life** · 11-14-2005, 08:48 PM

Since I have been working the last 2 years I have been paying for all my things: food, car, insurance, gas, etc. Neither of my parents have a college education but they aren't poor. I make good grade and hopefully I will go to a good college and then get a good job making real money.

**Numark318i** · 11-15-2005, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catalyst

I used to live on over 150k+ a year, and now my family is living on a little over 50k a year. Its not fun.

My parents have absolutely horrible money managment skills, my moms bank account gets overdrafted 24/7, and my dad being unemployed doesnt do anything to help the situation at all.

In all honesty i cannot wait to move out, i should be making 40k+ a year within 1.5 years of graduating high school, as i plan to go to UTI and get my ASE certification, then work at a shop or dealer (not necessarily BMW). After i get some money saved i plan to apply to STEP, i have no doubts my GPA at UTI will be well within the boundaries for applying to step. All the time while im working and saving for step i plan to start working for a degree in business, so that i will have more options in the automotive world.

I honestly dont even consider myself poor, compared to some of the kids that i know im very well off, but i suppose that is mostly of my families old lifestyle, we still live in a house thats meant for an income of 150k+ a year, and we have alot of the things that are left over from that income.

All you baller west coast kids, dont take having money for granted, be glad you dont have to deal with being poor, recognize that you are lucky.

Wow, this post is longer than it was originally supposed to be.

..kinda sounds like my family..just not as bad.
life in a nutshell for Chris:
parents both immigrants that came here with 100$. They went from 0-alot in about 15 years. during the internet/silicon valley boom we were spending 30k a month on american express.
My dad was a machinist who ran a contracting business on the side(he was a supervisor at the machine shop) and my moms was a periodontist assistant for 35$(went up to 45 before she left).
Then the economy went to shit, we moved out of the city into the house we built on the weekends. My parents were unemployed for a year or so..we went from having +200 thousand + a paid off house to currently having a mortage with a couple zeros.
I were pretty well off..my parents just made a couple mistakes in teh past few years, leaving us in the "shitter".(luckly were slowly working our way up again.)

**RogueRonin** · 11-15-2005, 11:50 AM

Yeah, Spieluhr, I hate that damn Sweet 16 show. Those kids disgust me. A bunch of whiny fuckin' babies, who get everything they want. Rollin' into a Benz dealership, and picking out an SLK55. What the fuck are you gonna do with that car!?!? You're 16, and have no idea how to properly drive a machine like that. They could learn a few things from Lindsay Lohan, on driving performance vehicles...or should I say, how NOT to. My family did all right. Mom and pops divorced when I was 2, then mom met another guy. He had a kid from a previous marriage, so the 4 of us lived in a 2 bedroom apt. Mom got pregnant, so we moved into a decent house. Fridays, we could either: a.) Go out to eat, and rent movies for the night. Or b.) Eat at home, and go see a movie at the theater. Beyond that, we didn't get anything except what we needed. (i.e. clothes for school, food, etc.) My dad bought me my first car: A 1984 Honda Accord, 4-door, for $1500. Beyond that, it was up to me. I do okay for myself, working IT for a real estate co. for around 30k/yr. I'm new to the field, since I joined the Army right after high school. No certs yet, but I'm going to be getting into the security sector real soon. Holy Jesus, this is a long post.

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