| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | What does a decent living mean for you nowadays? Thread poster: S_G_C
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S_G_C
Romania
Local time: 23:11
English to Romanian
In terms of monthly income, after all taxes, so net worth?
What amount makes you feel safe, allows you to sleep tight at night? I know that "a decent living" may well mean different things for each of us, but still?
(and especially with the increasing living costs)
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If you compare minimum wages in the EU Member States you might get a very rough idea of the huge differences:
https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/data/statutory-minimum-wages-2023
Minimum monthly wage in Norway is around 28,000 NOK (2,600 Euros). AFAIK Switzerland has no official minimum wage, but the majority of the voluntary collective bargaining a... See more If you compare minimum wages in the EU Member States you might get a very rough idea of the huge differences:
https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/data/statutory-minimum-wages-2023
Minimum monthly wage in Norway is around 28,000 NOK (2,600 Euros). AFAIK Switzerland has no official minimum wage, but the majority of the voluntary collective bargaining agreements contain clauses on minimum compensation, ranging from 2,200 to 4,200 francs per month for unskilled workers and from 2,800 to 5,300 francs per month for skilled employees.
P.S. I’m not saying that minimum wages allow for a decent living… ▲ Collapse
| | | | texjax DDS PhD 
Local time: 16:11
Member (2006)
English to Italian
+ ...
S_G_C wrote:
What does a decent living mean for you nowadays? In terms of monthly income, after all taxes, so net worth?
What amount makes you feel safe, allows you to sleep tight at night?
Why don't you start by stating what figure makes or would make you feel financially comfortable, just to get the ball rolling? 
As a side note, I've never considered my income in terms of net monthly earnings, but rather as annual gross income.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 22:11
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| 75k before taxes | Sep 7, 2023 |
S_G_C wrote:
What amount makes you feel safe, allows you to sleep tight at night? I know that "a decent living" may well mean different things for each of us, but still?
I believe my wife and I would need a combined income before tax and deductions of EUR 80-95 000 to feel safe. In other words, if my wife stopped working, then I would have to invoice EUR 80-95 000 per year to feel safe. I earn 1.5 times as much as my wife. Sleepless nights would begin if our combined income before tax dropped to under EUR 50 000. We would be in dire straits at around EUR 35-40 000. At EUR 25 000 we would not make rent. (Note that these amounts are all before tax... I don't know the after-tax amounts.)
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote:
If you compare minimum wages in the EU Member States you might get a very rough idea of the huge differences...
Minimum wage in the Netherlands is EUR 1600 per month, or EUR 1200 after tax.
[Edited at 2023-09-07 21:34 GMT]
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:11
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Outgoings + income | Sep 8, 2023 |
My average monthly outgoings are about £1500. My income is more than that. I also have a safety net for a rainy day. That's all I'm saying. I worked hard to get into this situation, and now (inshallah) I have a decent living although it doesn't depend entirely on translation because I also have other sources of income.
Oh and BTW I inherited *nothing*.
If I were American I would probably blandish the full details and brag. That's what Americans do (sorry, Americans, bu... See more My average monthly outgoings are about £1500. My income is more than that. I also have a safety net for a rainy day. That's all I'm saying. I worked hard to get into this situation, and now (inshallah) I have a decent living although it doesn't depend entirely on translation because I also have other sources of income.
Oh and BTW I inherited *nothing*.
If I were American I would probably blandish the full details and brag. That's what Americans do (sorry, Americans, but you do).
[Edited at 2023-09-08 07:39 GMT]
[Edited at 2023-09-08 08:16 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Zea_Mays
Italy
Local time: 22:11
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
In Italy you pay around 30-50% tax and social insurance.
If you live in the north, as a single living in a rented flat,
you need to earn at least 3000 euros net in order to be also able to put some money aside,
in the south it's about 1000 euros less.
If you are a property owner (or live with your parents, like many young and not-so-young Italians)
and don't have to pay loan rates, or for a couple, it's also less.
@Samuel: I wonder how it is that you ... See more In Italy you pay around 30-50% tax and social insurance.
If you live in the north, as a single living in a rented flat,
you need to earn at least 3000 euros net in order to be also able to put some money aside,
in the south it's about 1000 euros less.
If you are a property owner (or live with your parents, like many young and not-so-young Italians)
and don't have to pay loan rates, or for a couple, it's also less.
@Samuel: I wonder how it is that you don't know what your net income is?
I see it in my tax declaration and in an Excel file I use for yearly overview. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | My idea of a decent standard of living | Sep 8, 2023 |
You don't look at receipts when shopping for food.
You always pay your bills, taxes, mortgage/loan and compulsory expenses in time.
You are never overdraught.
You own your own place by age 40-50.
You go to the dentist and change glasses whenever you need it.
You are confident that you will earn enough money next month to pay bills.
You can support your children for their studies far away from home.
You go on holiday and don't refrain from visiting a once... See more You don't look at receipts when shopping for food.
You always pay your bills, taxes, mortgage/loan and compulsory expenses in time.
You are never overdraught.
You own your own place by age 40-50.
You go to the dentist and change glasses whenever you need it.
You are confident that you will earn enough money next month to pay bills.
You can support your children for their studies far away from home.
You go on holiday and don't refrain from visiting a once-in-a-lifetime museum, event or monument.
You always fill your car with a full tank.
You live in a place where every member of the family has their own private space.
You can see the milky way by a clear night.
You will have enough to live on when you retire.
You can indulge yourself with an outing or host a get-together now and again without second thought.
You can maintain your household in acceptable condition.
I suspect 40k/year net for a household should be ok here.
Min wage in Spain is €1260 gross/month.
Philippe ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Decent standard of living | Sep 8, 2023 |
A decent living depends on so many variables that it’s impossible to say. Do you live alone or do you have a family with school-age children? Are your adult children still living with you? Do you live in the capital city or in the most rural part of your country? Is your house paid for or do you have a mortgage or a rent to pay? Are you still paying for your car if you have one? I would add also age, general health…
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Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 23:11
Member
English to Turkish
| An odd choice of words... | Sep 8, 2023 |
Tom in London wrote:
(inshallah)
Have you converted to Islam? I can't imagine you frequenting London mosques...
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:11
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Commonly used | Sep 8, 2023 |
Baran Keki wrote: Tom in London wrote:
(inshallah) Have you converted to Islam? I can't imagine you frequenting London mosques...
It's commonly used here in London including by non-Muslims. It is meant respectfully.
| | | | expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 21:11
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Baran Keki wrote: Tom in London wrote:
(inshallah) Have you converted to Islam? I can't imagine you frequenting London mosques...
I always use "oxalá" (in Portuguese) and I used many times "inshallah" (not because I converted, but for other reasons that is not Proz's business) but always referring to the future, and I know that in Arabic it is used in the same way.
As for the question I fully agree with Teresa. It depends on many aspects...
If you are single things can be more difficult, but nothing that hard work and persistence, more actions and fewer words can't solve. Actions speak louder than words.
[Edited at 2023-09-08 09:51 GMT]
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 23:11
Member
English to Turkish
Tom in London wrote:
It's commonly used here in London including by non-Muslims. It is meant respectfully.
I never knew that. Though I find it inconceivable that an English person would utter this word...
It's one of the words that I always avoid using when translating something from English. You never know if the client is a die hard secularist that hates everything about Islam or a supporter of the current regime. It's best to play it safe and use "hopefully" instead.
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| "London" again | Sep 8, 2023 |
We all should know by now what "London" stands for, shouldn't we, Baran?
(this is just another example of "toilet" related German humour)
[Bearbeitet am 2023-09-08 10:09 GMT]
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:11
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Even worse... | Sep 8, 2023 |
Baran Keki wrote:
....I find it inconceivable that an English person would utter this word...
Even worse, an Irish person.
| | | | Baran Keki
Türkiye
Local time: 23:11
Member
English to Turkish
Tom in London wrote:
Even worse, an Irish person.
Late Shuhada Sadaqat (Sinéad O'Connor) must have used that word quite often...
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