Individual Income Poll

[FlamesAddiction]

I would be interested in a poll that indicates how rich people actually feel when you consider not just money, but time as well. There's that whole balance that people stuggle with about not making yourself financially rich, but also time poor at the same time. This is the curse for a lot of people with high paying positions... there is quite often a time sacrifice that goes along with it.

One of the wealthiest people I know hasn't taken a vacation in 10 years and when I do, he always talks about how he wishes he could drop things and do that.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

#occupynorthlandvw

Free hotdogs.... AND balloons for the kids. Don't say we aren't charitable.

[Bownesian]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Damn CP is ballin. What are we all doing watching hockey? We should be equestrian fans & high society types.

Have you seen the ticket prices for Flames Games?

You could probably attend a year's worth of equestrian events at Spruce Meadows for the cost of one ticket in the lower bowl.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by username

When you make 100K and your wife is a stay at home mom with 2 kids

For some reason, that scares the crap outta me.

[Discoste]

Originally Posted by username

When you make 100K and your wife is a stay at home mom with 2 kids

Originally Posted by Muta

For some reason, that scares the crap outta me.

Reminded me of this:

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would be interested in a poll that indicates how rich people actually feel when you consider not just money, but time as well. There's that whole balance that people stuggle with about not making yourself financially rich, but also time poor at the same time. This is the curse for a lot of people with high paying positions... there is quite often a time sacrifice that goes along with it.

One of the wealthiest people I know hasn't taken a vacation in 10 years and when I do, he always talks about how he wishes he could drop things and do that.

Teachers have it best. Incredible compensation (including benefits and pension) and an unreal amount of time off.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by photon

I think it's safe to assume that people are voting accurately; they're not lying.

But its not a poll of Calgarians, since many people who read the forum are from out of town and country. It's not a poll of forum members, since only 200 people voted out of the 10,000 members, and the people that voted self select towards a specific group of posters.

It's not surprising to me and I think it's accurate for the group the poll represents.

I still think my idea's the most accurate. The guys making over $100k are happy to answer a poll like this. They want to do it. Even though you can't do it, if you could somehow force every member to vote, it wouldn't be anywhere near what it is now, imo.

[username]

Originally Posted by Discoste

Reminded me of this:

Those car stickers are a real gear grider....man I hate those things. It's like, OK, I get it, you have a family. You're really special and so different from every other family driving a minvan.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by J pold

Yes I get it – we are foolish scumbags who sell our souls to chase the almighty dollar. One day we’ll wake up and realize that it wasn’t worth it. We would have been better off carving out a decent middle class, simple kind of life, just like everybody else.

Jpold, what happened, man? You used to be a totally chill, funny poster. Now you just talk about how you have a good job, work hard and long hours and how you're not sorry that you do it, all the time.

[puckluck]

Nm

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Thanks... its "in canada" ... having lived in both cities, I think SF Bay Area might be slightly higher? Certainly a lot in Calgary though... I've only lived in 3 places (Calgary/Edmonton/SF Bay Area) so I don't know how that compares to, say, Toronto or Vancouver.

I'd imagine many of the Sillicon Valley tech folk aren't actually PEs. Are they?

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Damn CP is ballin. What are we all doing watching hockey? We should be equestrian fans & high society types.

I propose we rename CP to CalgaryEquestrian

Doesn't hockey tend to skew towards a wealthier demographic?

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by pylon

No I did not realize that. I thought my casual observations I jotted down on a napkin could be submitted to Industry Canada as scientific fact.

Originally Posted by pylon

If I took a poll of the incomes I see daily, this is bang on. It is shocking the type of cash floating around Alberta. If I were to take a rough guess, I would say 50-60% of the people I deal with are 100+.

Just on a fishing expedition I guess.

[J pold]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Jpold, what happened, man? You used to be a totally chill, funny poster. Now you just talk about how you have a good job, work hard and long hours and how you're not sorry that you do it, all the time.

Well this post was actually meant to be funny, guess I'm losing my sarcastic edge?

When the RTT died, the poster formerly known as J pold died. Things where simpler then, instead of worrying about cash flows all I needed to worry about was getting pizza delivered in the 30 minutes or less.

Non Sequitur: ResAlien is a pathetic loser.

[Titan]

I think something that has not been posted is a lot the people in the group you would think are doing pretty good have paid a very steep price to get there. My wife and I both have advanced degrees, and the debt to get there. If I told you the amount you probably wouldn't believe me. It was more than our first condo in Calgary.

I am not sure it was worth it.

So far Darklord seems to be in the best place...

[Scoopdogg]

Originally Posted by Titan

I think something that has not been posted is a lot the people in the group you would think are doing pretty good have paid a very steep price to get there. My wife and I both have advanced degrees, and the debt to get there. If I told you the amount you probably wouldn't believe me. It was more than our first condo in Calgary.

I am not sure it was worth it.

So far Darklord seems to be in the best place...

Maybe some people are like that but not all. I have a 2 year diploma from SAIT and I'm making over 100 g's a year. You don't have to spend your twenties in University to have a good career. You just have to get your foot in the door somewhere and show them u aren't a complete moron and you should be able to quite well for yourself. I have moved around alot in my career and that has helped with my salary increase over the years

[Karl]

Originally Posted by puckluck

You can make 100K easily in Calgary, but you just have to be a hard worker and have a little business sense.

Heck, I know people who drive taxis, work in construction, own painting companies who make more than 100k every year.

Damn! That sounds impressive. Then again, if they're the types that serve many high-earning customers and/or drive a lot of rich people to expensive events it makes sense.

[Sr. Mints]

I think I work waaay to hard not to be raking in 100k. But I enjoy what I do (most days) so I can't complain too much.

I'm gonna add: my fiance makes about 50% more than I, but she doesn't really enjoy what she does, works odd hours, and has really long commute.

A lot of people overlook the happiness factor, I think. There's no way in hell I'd remain in a soul-sucking, unrewarding, unhappy position for very long, no matter what kind of money came my way. Life's too short.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by icarus

Wow I am poor compared to everyone else on CP, even after converting GBP to CAD. What the hell am I doing here?

I had a few of my english friends visit me about a year and a half after we all left Disneyworld. They were shocked that i had a car and a townhouse without borrowing any money from family while working a 30 hour week job. They said it would take them like 12 to 15 years to be in the same boat I was in England. Course you can't really buy a 1200 sqft condo for $80k anymore here.. hehe

Sure sometimes it's cold as hell here, but I can't think of a better place to work and live than Calgary!

My sister in law just bought a 700 square foot 3 bedroom apt in Hongkong for $1.4millionUS. insane!!! The actual size of the apt is only like 580 sq ft but they count the balcony as sq footage as well as the area outside your front door to the elevator.

[flamesfan6]

i really get a laugh out of looking at the poll results on here... and how because its the internet you feel like you can put in any number salary range...

you really expect us to think that 30% of you on this forum make over 100k?
you really expect us to think that over 75% of you who responded make more than canada's national average?

I don't doubt that there are some on this forum that do, but really?

I guess whatever makes you feel better about yourself... Hopefully high school grads aren't reading this thread and basing their expected salary off what has been said on this thread or the other

3.2.1.... people quote this and say "BUT I DO!!!"

[pylon]

Originally Posted by flamesfan6

i really get a laugh out of looking at the poll results on here... And how because its the internet you feel like you can put in any number salary range...

You really expect us to think that 30% of you on this forum make over 100k?
You really expect us to think that over 75% of you who responded make more than canada's national average?

I don't doubt that there are some on this forum that do, but really?

I guess whatever makes you feel better about yourself... Hopefully high school grads aren't reading this thread and basing their expected salary off what has been said on this thread or the other

3.2.1.... People quote this and say "but i do!!!"

but i do!!!

In seriousness, I was actually thinking about this thread today and why we are seeing these results. I have a couple theories.

Firstly, I think a forum like this, that for the better part requires a reasonable level of intellect to successfully contribute is going to weed out a lot of the bottom rung. Smarter, well spoken people tend to make more money. You are not gong to see hard up drug addicts, living in a trailer here. Plus those people are more interested in the TMZ, and the Judge Joe Brown website for their daily cyber fix.

Also it represents a certain level of luxury. So I think you are eliminating a big chunk of the low income scale on technological attrition alone. A big portion of the lower income scale will not have internet access. Also bring in the factor that there is a lot of, computer...err...umm... computer NERDS on here. You know those stories about how the nerd in school ends up driving BMW, becomes rich and steals your hot girlfriend, well, they are true. 100% true. A big brain will get you more cash and action than a big cack. See revenge of the Nerds as reference. You will woo all the girls with your electric violin solo, in the battle of the bands competition, and become the caulk of the walk. Girls will even forgive you for forcing yourself upon them wearing Darth Vader mask and under false pre tenses, and filming their genitals with hidden cameras. again Jeff Kanew's brilliant, and may I say moving, 1984 film, Revenge of the Nerds, taught me this valuable information which I practice daily.

Also, a lot of the regular posters on this site, post throughout the work day. If you are able to post during the day at work, it is likely you are in a position with a lot of freedom, and little supervision. 9-5 jobs like that usually mean you are a Champion and own a billion dollar multinational with a harem of supermodels, or you are in a pretty senior role, which tends to pay a lot more than Joe "get back to work!" Blow.

Combine that in with the fact we do have a relatively 'senior' board, we are all just super awesome at what we do, and we have our secret weekly meetings at the Ogden legion where we sing medieval drinking songs, and hand out the google ad revenue for the site.... and there you have your 30%. Stick around long enough and you might get the secret invite.