I plan on getting married in March 2015. Without really revealing how much I make, what is the salary range I should be at when I get married? What were your husbands or if you’re a guy salary when you were married? Should I buy a house or is having an apartment ok when I get married? On a side not, what is considered a “good” income. I’ve heard that those who make 70k+ are most satisfied.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
Depends how many people you have to financially support. Whatever you make now add another person's expense into that. I would say it's about $1000 USD for each person in the household. So say it's just you and your wife, then you can live comfortably on a monthly income of as low as $2500 given you have no other debts. You have to look at where you are living too. For example, a person making $70k in New York will not do so well but the same salary will get you a lot more in Texas.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
1)Where are you located?
2)How much does your father in law make?
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
Where you live will determine cost of living and salary is relative to that.
A six-figure salary is considered more than respectable if you live in most cities and would allow you buy a nice home, own a car, pay for nice things, including vacations and save money. But if you live in NYC, while over $100K is still a good salary - it won't go as far because of the cost of living. In that same way, $50-$60K will provide a comfortable living in other smaller cities where housing is cheap.
But as far as how much is enough, insaani fitrat is no rarely be satisfied with what we have - we usually want more. So instead of thinking how much your salary needs to be - think about whether you can support yourself (pay rent/mortgage, transportation, daily necessities and maybe the odd modest extra, plus be able to save a little bit for a rainy day) and that will be enough. Rizq Allah deyta hai and he provides us with how much we need.
Oh, and another point. You'll find that more than an exact figure - its about the desire and ability to support a family.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
What your salary is matters little in the grand scheme of things. What is your savings and what are you living expenses. That is the crux of the matter. I get paid adequately but I have saved for years before I got married, so it places a cushion for my mental well-being when it comes to married life.
Take some basic points into account.
1. Your current living costs - when married triple them.
2. Put aside 2x your salary for furnishing your own place. If you have a higher standard of living you need to make it 3x or 4x.
3. You won't save any money from the moment of your wedding till the end of your 6 or 7 months after your wedding. You need to make sure you have enough savings to make that transition comfortably.
4. Do not be stupid and take on too many financial liabilities as soon as you get married. Meaning do not buy a home, do not make financial investments right when you are married. Patience is a virtue after all.
I would highly recommend you look at a home buying or an apartment by the end of your second or third year of marriage. But that is a personal preference due to economic insecurity and the volatility of the world economy.
And I would make a basic point about marriage most men are lucky to get without thinking about it but I have friends who have been burned by this.
Marry a woman who understands the realities of life and that living on your own is hard. If you don't get a woman like that no matter what you salary, saving or living standards are it won't make a ****ing difference.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
What your salary is matters little in the grand scheme of things. What is your savings and what are you living expenses. That is the crux of the matter. I get paid adequately but I have saved for years before I got married, so it places a cushion for my mental well-being when it comes to married life.
Take some basic points into account. 1. Your current living costs - when married triple them. 2. Put aside 2x your salary for furnishing your own place. If you have a higher standard of living you need to make it 3x or 4x. 3. You won't save any money from the moment of your wedding till the end of your 6 or 7 months after your wedding. You need to make sure you have enough savings to make that transition comfortably. 4. Do not be stupid and take on too many financial liabilities as soon as you get married. Meaning do not buy a home, do not make financial investments right when you are married. Patience is a virtue after all.
I would highly recommend you look at a home buying or an apartment by the end of your second or third year of marriage. But that is a personal preference due to economic insecurity and the volatility of the world economy.
And I would make a basic point about marriage most men are lucky to get without thinking about it but I have friends who have been burned by this.
Marry a woman who understands the realities of life and that living on your own is hard. If you don't get a woman like that no matter what you salary, saving or living standards are it won't make a **ing difference**.
This here is make or break! Now, how is one to supposed to find that out before marriage? PCG?
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
As much as it pains me to agree with Zafra, he is spot on. The wife has to be realistic about the cost of living and being "supported" by her husband.
A lot of families are dual income families and the couple has the luxury of two incomes which helps with paying for living expenses and makes the both partners value how hard-earned those salaries are. Most couples think of earning and supporting the family as a joint venture. The ones that don't are in the minority imo, despite evidence to the contrary on this board.
The wives who are being supported by their husbands are I think for the most part realistic about their husband's salary and know that financial budgeting is a necessity. It's the princess complex girls who were handed everything by mummy and daddy and who have never worked a day in their lives who may not adjust to financial struggles. A guy has one of three choices if he marries a princess:
1) Work two jobs and pay for her luxuries
2) Sit her down before the wedding and discuss the financial realities of single-family income and the need for budgeting
3) Or not marry her at all.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
As much as it pains me to agree with Zafra, he is spot on. The wife has to be realistic about the cost of living and being "supported" by her husband.
A lot of families are dual income families and the couple has the luxury of two incomes which helps with paying for living expenses and makes the both partners value how hard-earned those salaries are. Most couples think of earning and supporting the family as a joint venture. The ones that don't are in the minority imo, despite evidence to the contrary on this board.
The wives who are being supported by their husbands are I think for the most part realistic about their husband's salary and know that financial budgeting is a necessity. It's the princess complex girls who were handed everything by mummy and daddy and who have never worked a day in their lives who may not adjust to financial struggles. A guy has one of three choices if he marries a princess:
1) Work two jobs and pay for her luxuries 2) Sit her down before the wedding and discuss the financial realities of single-family income and the need for budgeting 3) Or not marry her at all.
Have personally seen both types of women and there is a big big difference in the way both manage money. Not saying those who have never worked to earn money are irresponsible but they just don't know how to manage money. They have no concept of budgeting but that's to be expected I guess. Most women I know, working or not, understand that money doesn't grow on trees and have a spending limit.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
Have personally seen both types of women and there is a big big difference in the way both manage money. Not saying those who have never worked to earn money are irresponsible but they just don't know how to manage money. They have no concept of budgeting but that's to be expected I guess. Most women I know, working or not, understand that money doesn't grow on trees and have a budget.
In all fairness, not all coddled daughters will go on to be a spoiled wife, unable to balance a checkbook or who can't appreciate working within a budget. Many mature and realities of life and finances teach them a thing or two about budgeting.
But there is a subset within the group of pampered princesses who give the rest a bad name. I say this based on a few girls I know who just leave me shaking my head. And the funny thing is - it's not that they came from wealthy backgrounds and that their parents could afford tons of luxuries - its that the parents spoiled their daughter and made it seem as if whatever she wanted was hers for the asking, even if dad had to drive a 15-year old car.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
^O totally agree! Only know one woman with this princess complex.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
Sehrysh you should like my post if you agree with it :D
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
Check out a household survey in your area. Find the income or housing square foot threshold below which no people are married.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
Depends where you live.
For NYC I would say if one person is making atleast 75K then your pretty well off, you can pay all your bills and still have some to save. You can live off of 65k as well, but it will be a tighter buget. For a house, if you have the money to buy the house, and you have savings for atleast a year, and you know you can afford it and still have some money left over for wiggle room monthly, definately buy before you get married. Its harder to safe afterwards, because you want to go out, go to the movies, dinner. when your single your willing to forgo some luxuries.
The reason I say this is that once you are married, you have to involve that person in home shoping, and what your willing to ignore (like a small backyard) maybe something he or she really wants.
If both people work, its ALOT easier, and you can almost not worry about much. I agree with one of the posters above, your not going to have anysavings from right before you get married to atleast 6 months after. your going to be busy paying for your wedding, furniture, and other house hold stuff.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
75 k main to banda keery ki zindagi guzary ga NYC main… 
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
Not really,
Say a one bedroom apartment in brooklyn or queens 1400
electric (Im putting the max due to ac in the summer) 200
2 cell phones 150
cable/internet/phone 100
dishnetwork for pakistani shows 110
netflix 35
gas 100
food and household stuff like soap, laundry (including random davat expenses) 800
metrocard 125
leaves about 500-900 left for whatever personal expenses you have, so you can spend it on a nicer apartment or you can save it.
I think in the way society is set up is that 2 people must work. with one salary you pay all the living expenses, and the other salary you save for vacations, a house, … You can live on one salary, but its very hard.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
Don't worry about how much you make...worry about the kind of woman you want and make her want you :)
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
True that!
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
First of all, why are you getting married?
aney wali apna hisaab kitaab le kar aye ghi
If you start your relationships fretting about money, you will die but money issues will not end. Money comes and goes, only YOU know how much you need to live, not us... so focus on *real *priorities.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
About $70 k in North America is good. That said, always tell the girl's family or the girl your income, along with any family obligations that you may have eg getting sisters married, supporting parents financially, debts etc. for some, your income level will bee considered high, for others low. Plus there shall be factors such as whether the wife will be working or not. Esp in cases where you marry a non citizen and may go through years of being on an H4 visa etc. and whether you want your wife to work and if she wants to work etc.
Re: Income/Housing required to get married
About $70 k in North America is good. That said, always tell the girl's family or the girl your income, along with any family obligations that you may have eg getting sisters married, supporting parents financially, debts etc. for some, your income level will bee considered high, for others low. Plus there shall be factors such as whether the wife will be working or not. Esp in cases where you marry a non citizen and may go through years of being on an H4 visa etc. and whether you want your wife to work and if she wants to work etc.
Do we have to tell her out debt even if she doesn't ask? What if someone was a student and had a student loan of 200k, wouldn't that scare potential girl away