Okay I’ll bite, and I have to admit that its only because you put a $ figure on your income I got a boost. I don’t need a tax accountant because …well basically for the last 15 years I have been an ex pat and don’t pay tax. For the last three years I have aced your top line.
I don’t have a wife or ex wife or kids so my income is my own. The best part for me with my income is that I can make a huge difference to other less fortunate people in my adopted home.
Now don’t get me wrong, am not a moral perfectionist and in no way an angel. But am really grateful that I have been so lucky to be able to make a difference to other peoples lives. What does your wealth mean to you?
oh and as an aside, how old are you dude? You sound very young
Yes I give to charity (sigh–fine, I admit it, despite my hard-assedness about it in other threads). Not a huge percentage–there are a couple of focused charities we give to.
Not sure, I’d have to do some figuring. Wife and I both max-out our 401(k)s and then we save a few grand each month on top of that.
We have a nanny, that’s it. We have a lawn service. We employ one-off shovelers alot. Peapod delivers groceries. One day I want to have a full-time maid–that would be bad-ass.
I don’t think I have any luxury indulgences really. Well, I guess I have the ability to just buy whatever small thing I want without thinking about it even for a second (i.e, I can go shopping and spend $300 on a couple of things with no planning at all). Back in college I was counting every dime and trying to find ways to spend less on everything.
Oh, I don’t know, I guess it means the ability to take care of my family much easier than my mom was able to take care of me. I like knowing that if my daughter gets interested in horses or flying airplanes or whatever I have the ability to let her do that, and she won’t have to worry about paying for school.
I’m 33.
Yeah, I like being a tax attorney. It’s indoor work with no heavy lifting. I’ve loved tax since my first tax class in law school. I think I got lucky that I like the subject matter because how tax is practiced (v., say, general corporate) fits my personality (i.e., I like being a specialist).
Free time, I would say generally two hours a day on week days, and all of most weekends. I rarely work on the weekends, and when I do it’s usually just in the morning.
Ah okay, I liked your reply that you said that your wealth helps you to progress your own family’s needs. ( as opposed to your own) Speaking of which, where do you think you lie on Maslow’s pyramid?
Am always grateful that not having to worry about day to day cash problems for myself gives me the privilege to be able to help others.
I am surprised you don’t use a tax preparer. Since the Foreign Exclusion limit is only about $90K, you earn well above that so should surely be paying tax. How do you not pay tax above the Foreign Exclusion Limit + your std deductions?
I have been an expat for over 8 years, earn over $250K and most surely do pay tax… though the first $110K or so does work out to be tax free.
What does it feel like to have so much and then read other Dopers’ accounts of their own hardships regarding money? When you read that someone is getting evicted, and there you are wiping your ass with hundred dollar bills, does that feel somewhat… awkward? Are you ever moved to want to help out? Do you want my address?
I’m not super-interested in debating the definition of “rich,” thanks though. I’ve laid out the facts. If you think I’m rich, fine, if you don’t, fine, I don’t care either way.
BTW THK, I have disability insurance (group and personal), so lifestyle would only diminish slightly (although definitely wouldn’t increase as much as I’m expecting it to).
Rover you are so full of yourself. I am reminded of a woman interviewed on the radio last year. She wrote a couple books on the wealthy and started 2 successful magazines on them. She sold out for 10 million bucks and declared herself rich. She said what do i do with all this money. Well, I know the rich I will ask them.
The first said she lived on the wrong side of the river. Time to move. She got a real estate agent and looked at apartments. 10 mill was a smaller apartment than she had and was practically entry level in that area. So she asked again. He suggested an airplane, the rich don’t fly with other people. She checked out a jet . the cost and maintenance and crew would eat it all. Then she checked out art investment. She could not go far in that field either.
So she threw it is banks and investments and stayed where she was, settling on being a bit more comfortable and secure.
The rich are far above even our imagination nowadays.
