What was your parents' anual income when you were growing up?

[Anonymous]

Dirt poor. Dad was injured at his job and my mother had to work retail to keep the family afloat and put herself through school so we had a chance at improvement. Medical bills are up any savings they had. I don't know any numbers, but full time retail at a hardware store doesn't pay much now, and it didn't pay much 30 years ago either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was born my parents were renting a one bedroom apartment in the Philly burbs. Both came from very, very poor backgrounds. They bought a SFH in 1983 which cost $205,000 and it was a HUGE stretch for them. SAHM Mom for all of my childhood and still to this day. By the age of 12 my Dad was doing well enough that they joined a country club. By 14 they bought a house at the Jersey Shore. By 25 my Dad set up annual gifting to us as part of their estate planning. By 31 they were gifting both my husband and I the annual max (so $56K per year) and doing the same for my 2 siblings and their spouses. At 32 I was told that they had set up an actual trust fund for me. That trust is just over 10 million today, and they have done the same amount for each sibling, and started annual gifting to all of our (10 all together) children. I feel very fortunate to have what I have now, but also lucky to have come from a background where I didn't lead a spoiled childhood or have my every want granted. We are trying very hard to raise our kids the same way.

Wow, how wonderful! What is it your Dad did?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually just found this out recently... When I was around 7 years old, we were a family of 4, and my dad was making $24K as a medical resident (1989/1990). When I was 18 (family of 5) and getting ready for college, his salary was around $270K (2000). Now that I'm 34, his salary is at least double that.

Not bad for a man who came to this country with $214, a wife, a kid, and a huge dream. We may not have had it all when I was growing up, but he's worked his ass off to give us the world and he still works his ass off just to continue giving us all that he can.

(My mom has never worked outside the home. She's a SAHM and her FT job has always been our family, which is a huge undertaking.)

Bro, can we stop saying shit like this? Working moms' jobs are ALSO their families. They just have to be energetic enough to do TWO FT jobs (one for pay, and one for free).

+ a million

[Anonymous]

Mom was a teacher. Dad worked in an office where I think he made a bit less than her. I don't know actual numbers. It was never discussed. We were told we had "enough". Dad took part time work so we could go to camp and take lessons. Our cars were old and we were told that name brands were too expensive. Because I didn't know what they made, I thought we didn't have enough. But they paid for 2 kids to go to state schools and have nice weddings. In retirement they travel nicely and still have best up old cars. I don't know what they have in the bank, but when asked what happens if shit hits the fan, they insist they have "enough".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom made about 70k as a teacher. My dad owns a small business, and some years he made over 500k, but other years less than what my mom made.

We had a horse farm in Western PA and a beach house in South Carolina and split time between the two places. I think we were solidly middle class.

No dear, you were not. Solidly middle class = / = vacation home and horse farm. That's upper middle.

+1 Bahahahaha! A horse farm.

My parents were blue collar, drove used chevys, and took us camping for vacations, but paid for a sfh and for 2 kids to go to college. That's solidly middle class.

[Anonymous]

So much wealthier than us. My dad retired young, early 50s, in the mid 90s. His salary at the time was in the $700,000s (I remember him talking to my mom about negotiating retirement based on that base). He retired with a pretty solid package. Never worked for pay again but did a lot of charity work. My mom stayed home, did some PT work at a school for years. Still doing some.

However, fast forward to now, my parents are fine but the market and investments have not done as well as they hoped. They live comfortably, and have great insurance, long term coverage, etc. and a nice home, 2 cars, but definitely watch their money a lot more now.

We make less but both work and plan to work longer than early 50s.

[Anonymous]

My parents rented an apartment in Riverdale MD in the 80's. Don't remember rent. Then they bought a house, the house cost $89K. But both parents were blue collar workers the most they made yearly until my dad retired in 2000 was $65,000. They were frugal, I mean real frugal. Saved enough for their retirement but they no longer live in the country, they just couldn't afford to pay for home + other expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually just found this out recently... When I was around 7 years old, we were a family of 4, and my dad was making $24K as a medical resident (1989/1990). When I was 18 (family of 5) and getting ready for college, his salary was around $270K (2000). Now that I'm 34, his salary is at least double that.

Not bad for a man who came to this country with $214, a wife, a kid, and a huge dream. We may not have had it all when I was growing up, but he's worked his ass off to give us the world and he still works his ass off just to continue giving us all that he can.

(My mom has never worked outside the home. She's a SAHM and her FT job has always been our family, which is a huge undertaking.)

Bro, can we stop saying shit like this? Working moms' jobs are ALSO their families. They just have to be energetic enough to do TWO FT jobs (one for pay, and one for free).

PP here. Bro, can we stop being so insecure? What I wrote wasn't a knock against anyone. You taking it that way is on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually just found this out recently... When I was around 7 years old, we were a family of 4, and my dad was making $24K as a medical resident (1989/1990). When I was 18 (family of 5) and getting ready for college, his salary was around $270K (2000). Now that I'm 34, his salary is at least double
Not bad for a man who came to this country with $214, a wife, a kid, and a huge dream. We may not have had it all when I was growing up, but he's worked his ass off to give us the world and he still works his ass off just to continue giving us all that he can.

(My mom has never worked outside the home. She's a SAHM and her FT job has always been our family, which is a huge undertaking.)

Bro, can we stop saying shit like this? Working moms' jobs are ALSO their families. They just have to be energetic enough to do TWO FT jobs (one for pay, and one for free).

PP here. Bro, can we stop being so insecure? What I wrote wasn't a knock against anyone. You taking it that way is on you.

Sorry your comment about SAHM being her FT mom was completely unnecessary and obviously inflammatory. You could have just said sorry, it wasn't relevant. But instead did a did a passive aggressive blame the victim crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually just found this out recently... When I was around 7 years old, we were a family of 4, and my dad was making $24K as a medical resident (1989/1990). When I was 18 (family of 5) and getting ready for college, his salary was around $270K (2000). Now that I'm 34, his salary is at least double that.

Not bad for a man who came to this country with $214, a wife, a kid, and a huge dream. We may not have had it all when I was growing up, but he's worked his ass off to give us the world and he still works his ass off just to continue giving us all that he can.

(My mom has never worked outside the home. She's a SAHM and her FT job has always been our family, which is a huge undertaking.)

Bro, can we stop saying shit like this? Working moms' jobs are ALSO their families. They just have to be energetic enough to do TWO FT jobs (one for pay, and one for free).

So motherhood can't be a full time job if you are a SAHM yet it IS a full time job for WOHM who aren't with their kids all day.

That's some twisted thinking, right there. If you aren't laughing at your own double standard, I sure am!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was born my parents were renting a one bedroom apartment in the Philly burbs. Both came from very, very poor backgrounds. They bought a SFH in 1983 which cost $205,000 and it was a HUGE stretch for them. SAHM Mom for all of my childhood and still to this day. By the age of 12 my Dad was doing well enough that they joined a country club. By 14 they bought a house at the Jersey Shore. By 25 my Dad set up annual gifting to us as part of their estate planning. By 31 they were gifting both my husband and I the annual max (so $56K per year) and doing the same for my 2 siblings and their spouses. At 32 I was told that they had set up an actual trust fund for me. That trust is just over 10 million today, and they have done the same amount for each sibling, and started annual gifting to all of our (10 all together) children. I feel very fortunate to have what I have now, but also lucky to have come from a background where I didn't lead a spoiled childhood or have my every want granted. We are trying very hard to raise our kids the same way.

Wow, how wonderful! What is it your Dad did?

Sorry, not running the risk of being outed on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Buckets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually just found this out recently... When I was around 7 years old, we were a family of 4, and my dad was making $24K as a medical resident (1989/1990). When I was 18 (family of 5) and getting ready for college, his salary was around $270K (2000). Now that I'm 34, his salary is at least double that.

Not bad for a man who came to this country with $214, a wife, a kid, and a huge dream. We may not have had it all when I was growing up, but he's worked his ass off to give us the world and he still works his ass off just to continue giving us all that he can.

(My mom has never worked outside the home. She's a SAHM and her FT job has always been our family, which is a huge undertaking.)

Bro, can we stop saying shit like this? Working moms' jobs are ALSO their families. They just have to be energetic enough to do TWO FT jobs (one for pay, and one for free).

PP here. Bro, can we stop being so insecure? What I wrote wasn't a knock against anyone. You taking it that way is on you.

+1 I am a SAHM and my family could not function at the high level they do with me working. Two income families sure have more money but they also have to spend more. I see costs for tutors, therapies, cars, drivers, camps, clothing, food, cleaning ... all adding up at two income households. But they also have money to throw at their problems. We went another route. To each their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom was homeless and dad was on disability/handouts from his parents. Doubt they cleared a combined $20,000.

Where did you live, with your dad? Sorry, sounds rough. I have family flirting with homelessness and its grim.

We lived in shelters, with friends, and we bounced from apartment to apartment. (We'd live someplace for a few months and then leave in the middle of the night after not paying rent.) Also lived briefly with dad, but he self-medicated and wasn't a great solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually just found this out recently... When I was around 7 years old, we were a family of 4, and my dad was making $24K as a medical resident (1989/1990). When I was 18 (family of 5) and getting ready for college, his salary was around $270K (2000). Now that I'm 34, his salary is at least double that.

Not bad for a man who came to this country with $214, a wife, a kid, and a huge dream. We may not have had it all when I was growing up, but he's worked his ass off to give us the world and he still works his ass off just to continue giving us all that he can.

(My mom has never worked outside the home. She's a SAHM and her FT job has always been our family, which is a huge undertaking.)

Bro, can we stop saying shit like this? Working moms' jobs are ALSO their families. They just have to be energetic enough to do TWO FT jobs (one for pay, and one for free).

PP here. Bro, can we stop being so insecure? What I wrote wasn't a knock against anyone. You taking it that way is on you.

+1 I am a SAHM and my family could not function at the high level they do with me working. Two income families sure have more money but they also have to spend more. I see costs for tutors, therapies, cars, drivers, camps, clothing, food, cleaning ... all adding up at two income households. But they also have money to throw at their problems. We went another route. To each their own.

Even if you're spending every penny of your salary on this stuff you would still be contributing to retirement. For example, I'm saving around 50k a year towards retirement including company match, pension etc.