What you need to feel rich: $150,000 a year

I've noticed a lot of negative, smart **** remarks towards people that earn over 100+K, that have said, "150K isn't as much as one thinks".. Why is that?  Why do people feel the need to say rude ****?  They're all just opinions coming from many different people, from many different walks of life. 

I for one make over 100K, I never went to college, I barely graduated highschool for christs sake, but I bust my **** working hard, always have.  I've worked full-time since I was 15 yrs old, I've never been without job longer than 1 day, and I'm 33 now.  I've been with my current company for 11 yrs, and started my own company on the side 3 yrs ago.  It just takes motivation and common sense.  I think a lot of people get wrapped up in thinking they deserve more than they do, without having to work HARD for it.  Your not going places or progressing sitting at home collecting unemployment checks and food stamps, thats for sure.  I know quite a few people that sit at home, collect their checks and are perfectly content with it... Well, there ya go.. Thats what they deserve then, the bare minimum.  They're next job will be the bare minimum, and so on, and so on... You have to WANT and be WILLING to go above and beyond to change your current situation.. I paid my dues when I started with my current company, i worked 60-80 hrs a week for 4 years with NO overtime or compensation, I didn't bitch or complain about it either, but when it came time when work slowed down and everyone got laid off, guess who was still there? And thats the same reason I'm still with the same company today, 11 yrs later.. I had faith that my hard work would pay off, and it did, I've been able to endure these rough few years by staying employed, and its all due to my work performance 9 years ago.. Hard, honest work, eventually, will always pay off.

Riches are not necessarily monetary.  The riches mentioned in the article are based on money.

I too was born into what is considered a poor family.  I was taught to work hard, keep my word, and pay my bills.  I have always been a very hard worker and have been blessed for it.  I do not have a college education, (didn't have enough money to go to college.) My husband and I are now in our 50's, have 7 children and own 5 businesses, which employs over 100 people.  We have found the more we give to others the more blessed we are.  We have been given wisdom and the ability to help and bless others.  Our employees are our extended family.  As we help others, mostly by training and teaching people simple skills, responsibility, respect, discipline, through working with them and providing them jobs...many times when we don't really need them, but they want and need a job...we find a place for them.  Our lives are full, yet we keep growing.  The more we grow, the more people we can employ and embrace.   We are definitely in the people business.  Without our employees and family, we do not have businesses.  They are the most important gift to us.  In return, we will always make room for them.   My prayer is for every person who responded to this, would find a job and find happiness...Jobs are out there...you must be willing to work...I do believe that having a positive attitude, and believing in yourself....makes a huge difference.  Opportunities are all around us if we open our eyes to see them.  Jobs are all around us.  You will only see them, if you are willing to work hard at anything.  It may not be your first choice, but work hard, with your best effort, and you will be rewarded. 

By some standards (this article, and Obama) I am considered financially rich. My wife and I are in our mid 30's (36 & 35). I make approximately $210K a year (IT) and my wife makes $90K a year (Lawyer). Together, we make $300-310K annually. We are very appreciative for what we receive and do not for one second take it for granted.  This year we will be paying approximately $80k in federal income taxes.  Because many in Congress, and those in the Occupy Movement feel that we aren't paying our "fair" share, I fully expect my tax rates to be going up.

I understand that our current income puts us in about the top 1.5% of all income earners, but I don't take it for granted. We spend, and live like we made 100k (up until this year my wife drove a 11yr old car because she didn't want to have a new car payment, and my house is worth about $175K. I'm willing to bet that there are many readers reading this that make less than me, but have a house worth more than mine.). Unfortunately, it appears that many don't follow similar life styles.  My wife is a bankruptcy lawyer, so she deals with people daily who have hit the hardest of financial times, and one thing that is consistent is that people have a hard time managing their money, and understanding what is affordable. While many do fall on hard time (lost job, health problems), poor financial management is a big portion of her cases. It surprsing what a person making $35-40K a year things they can afford.  $700 month BMW payment, $150 month cell phone bill, $10-15K in credit card debt. These cases are way to common.  I watched a show on Discovery channel a couple of years ago that followed Lottery winners. In the show they displayed an alarming statistic. They said that 75% of all lottery winners in the US go broke after 5 years from their last lottery check. This is surprising, and embarrassing quite honestly.

Americans have to get better with financial management. Living comfortably just means living within your means, so a couple making $100K a year can actually have more financial freedom than a couple making $400K a year if they know how to manage their properly.

I make about $150K annually and have a net worth of about $750K.  I worked my butt off like Zerozee to get where I am today.  Excellent post by the way.  I don't feel rich, I feel "vaguely comfortable" because I know it could all come crashing down tomorrow.  2008 was a huge wake-up call for me.  We live within our means and I always make sure there is something - anything - put aside each paycheck.  We support charities where we can, help out our adult kids without making them dependent, and *gasp* yes, we even loan money on occasion to family that really, really need it.  I too max out every year on social security taxes and fully expect it to not be there when I eventually retire.  Rather than getting irate over not getting out what I paid in over the past 40 years, I prefer to think of it as the price of admission for living in the greatest country in the history of the plant.  Yes, we have our problems - but would you want to live anywhere else?

I guess I'm rich enough to drop a few dollars into the fire department or rescue squad pail at the intesections...leave​ a quarter in a vending machine, so some kid finds it....rich enough to give to my local churches (regardless of denomination), who provide help to those who need it in my community...rich enough to drop a bag of toys into the "toys for tots" bin during the holidays...rich enough to donate my time at project for humanity and our local soup kitchen....

Let's be honest...many of us make more than we really need, even if we have continual wants...If you started with very little (like myself) and are now relatively comfortable, hopefully you don't forget where you came from and are not afraid to give back when you can. I remember reading somewhere recently that those who make more than 100k represent less than 10% of our population. So if you make that or more, remain humble and consider yourself blessed that you were given the good fortune or capability to do so. I know I do.