Is a US$42k Salary Enough to Fund Marrying an FSU Girl with a Child?

[Manny]

A girl asked my wife this, she asked me, and I said I better ask some Americans. 

Is $42k per annum enough of a salary for a guy to fund the whole FSU wife pursuit? Does that kind of salary permit one to travel enough times to make the relationship work, visa fees, and all the other associated expenses we chaps incur? What if the lady has a child too?

[BelleZeBoob]

Well, probably it would be enough in case the FSU earns about the same, and would be willing to share the expenses.

If they have to support a kid, that might be tougher, and both probably would have to live on a tight budget.

[Boris]

A girl asked my wife this, she asked me, and I said I better ask some Americans. 

Is $42k per annum enough of a salary for a guy to fund the whole FSU wife pursuit? Does that kind of salary permit one to travel enough times to make the relationship work, visa fees, and all the other associated expenses we chaps incur? What if the lady has a child too?

Manny, it depends on his debt. If he is making a house/car payment and has other debts I would say he is being unrealistic. It also depends where he lives. People here live on that amount and have families.

It would also depend on her expectations. It seems that they are already at the balance sheet stage. Have they even met yet? Is he throwing this information around or is she asking for it? I wouldn't discuss the specifics until I was further down the relationship road.

Kevin Hayes and I had an interesting discussion last summer. He is amazed that men travel to Kherson on their last dime hoping to make a relationship work.

It can be done on 42k. But it might be very tight. But everyone is in this for love, right?  :  

[Markje]

I would say $42k is not enough for a comfortable life. If they truly love each other, the woman will NEED to work, or live in poverty with this man.

[WestCoast]

$42K certainly isn't enough money for a Russian bride hunt if the man lives in Vancouver, BC.  In Vancouver, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1800 sq. ft. house goes for at least $500,000.  Plus of course being on the other side of the world all travel costs are more than if you lived on the east coast of North America or in Europe. 

I personally wouldn't want to try to do it while having my new wife and her child try to integrate into a new community and learn a new language and culture. As I've mentioned many times it would be very difficult for any Russian woman to find a good paying job when she first arrives in Canada.  She could work at McDonald's or Walmart but that's only $10/hr at best.

[Chris]

I would say $42K is tight too, but it depends on many many factors, some of which are existing debts, mortgage/rent payments lifestyle, area he lives in and so on, but we all know, this endeavour costs usually more than we anticipate and there is always a horror payment to come up with hiding around the corner at some stage with regards legal fees, visas and so on.

Getting a lady to your country is one thing, looking after her and her child and paying for them along the way is another thing that needs to be considered early doors,  and yes as Boris stated during his discussion, this is something many men do not even take into account when starting their search.

To be able to advise a third party if it is enough to subsidise an International relationship is dependent on many factors and you would need a more in depth discussion with said person IMO to be able to advise them adequately enough to prepare them.

[GREGK]

I would say 42K would be enough to support the woman until she is able to work but unless the guy has a "nest egg" of savings I would not throw a child into that scenario.

[froid]

Depends on his cost of living and cost of travel.  Average income in the U.S. in 2004 was $54000...so he is below the average.  I found a nice breakdown of average spending by major categories on the web.   

If you put $42000 into their calculations...

Average income (before taxes):$42,000   
Average annual expenditures:$35,280   
Housing:$13,440   32%
Food:$5,460   13%
Apparel and services:$1,680   4%
Personal insurance and pensions:$4,620   11%
Health care:$2,520   6%
Transportation:$7,560   18%

Doesn't leave him with much leftover if he tries to be an average household.  In fact if we include taxes too he is probably out of money or in the negative. 

If he owns his home and has no car it changes things of course.

In the end he doesn't have much to spend on trips to the FSU. 

What is the average cost of a week in FSU?  I know my trips cost me approx $3000 every trip between flight and accomodations. 

[Boris]

2007 median household income 50233.00

Median earnings men 45113.00
Median earnings women 35102.00

[ECR844]

You can do just fine with 42k a year if you utilize proper money management  techniques, budget properly, etc...

[froid]

But can you afford several trips to the FSU to start and build a relationship at the same time? 

[ECR844]

But can you afford several trips to the FSU to start and build a relationship at the same time? 

Yes.

[shakespear]

Is $42k per annum enough of a salary for a guy to fund the whole FSU wife pursuit? Does that kind of salary permit one to travel enough times to make the relationship work, visa fees, and all the other associated expenses we chaps incur? What if the lady has a child too?  

Considering that the median US gross family income in 2007 was $50,233 it is likely that $42,000 is NOT going to be sufficient for most men.

However there are exceptions to every rule.  If a person is living in a particularly low cost of living area, like areas of Texas around San Antonio and he lives a very frugal lifestyle and services little or no debt, it may be possible, but difficult.  

Almost certainly, the FSU woman would need find even menial work to supplement the family income.  Beginning 7-24-2009, the minimum wage rises to $7.25 per hour.  The extra $15,000 per year gross annual income a minimum wage job would generate would be vital to meet the extra expenses incurred when bringing a wife (and children) over from the FSU.        

[fireeater]

From what I have read so far it seems to be a mixed opinion. 

From the question posed the man is being honest with this lady, about his life.

From her question to Manny's wife, she sounds like a mother who has her child's interest in mind with this question. Something that should be asked.

The question always will come done to whether they both have enough interest in each other to handle any downfalls that will happen in the marriage, or just the good times that money is suppose to bring.
 
You could start with what is deemed acceptable for this quest, get your lady, bring her here, yet end up in hard times after. In this economy there is no guarantee that your income will survive for a lifetime.

No matter where you find her, are both prepared to handle life's challenges together, or is one ready to bail when times get rough.
 

[froid]

Maybe the question should be...

Is $42k salary enough for him to keep myself and my child at the same (or better) standard of living as we have now? 

Of course you can't answer it without knowing his whole situation and where he lives and what her situation is and how she lives now.

[Manny]

All I know of the guy up to now is that he is on the West coast somewhere and I think he is a tenant rather than a homeowner. I doubt the girl is demanding to live in the lap of luxury, but to consider uprooting herself and her kid to live on the breadline would be foolish of her; she can stay in Russia and be poor, no need to go to the US to do it. 

$42k would not be enough here really, but I am unaware of the real cost of living in the US. I know some stuff is very cheap but you have all kinds of insurances and healthcare deals that differ to us, and a new wife and a kid must pump those bills up somewhat. That's why I thought I would canvass you chaps rather than give my guess (which would have been its not enough unless you live rural and inherited a house and had savings).

It is interesting that $42k is a below average wage. I will try to find out more about his town, job and get a better feel as if he has debt, etc.

[TomT]

The crucial factor would be the expectations of the woman.

[jb]

Is a US$42k Salary Enough to Fund Marrying an FSU Girl with a Child? 

In a word, no.  Depending on where in the USA he lives, $42K won't cut it in most cases if a man has any kind of life.  $42K isn't living, 42K is existing.

I don't know why some folks think Texas is such a low cost of living area.  Well, we are compared to San Francisco or NYC,,, however there are much cheaper places to live, for example, most of Arkansas, the Ozarks, and much of the Appalachia areas are dirt cheap by comparison.   However, $42K would be considered a low income in any Texas metro area I know of. 

[chivo]

Because it's true. You can live anywhere in Texas for $42k.

Housing in Houston for a 2000 sq.ft house in nice areas goes for 100-150k, or about $600-800 a month.

http://houston.cbunited.com/property/property.asp?PRM_MLSNumber=4566904&PRM_MlsName=Houston&VAR_AgentCode=7285272&VAR_OfficeCode=3408950

This is in Katy where my brother lives, a suburb of Houston. Over 2500 sq ft. of very comfortable living for under $140k.

Not to mention Corpus Christi were some of the cheapest real estate can be found.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/7110-Crested-Butte-Dr_Corpus-Christi_TX_78413_1108300493

You think a FSUW would mind living here with a man she loves.  :

Much depends on available income, area, expectations and place of/in life, etc. The cost of bringing her over will not be cheap, but again, that goes back to available income.

You can do just fine with 42k a year if you utilize proper money management  techniques, budget properly, etc...

Agree.

I remember when I was living in Houston back in the mid/late 80's. As a young man in my early twenties, I was able to save $20k in a little over 3 years putting aside $500 on average from my then "staggering" income  of about $2k take home a month, and still have money to burn (my rent was $400 at the time).

I had a car that was paid for, I was single with no dependents, and also liked to go out with friends and have a good time. My total monthly nut was about $800, which left me around $700 a month to do what I wanted, and still sock away $500. Point is it can be done.

$42k, is about 2800 take home. Minus the mortgage (which includes impounding the taxes BTW), and you're looking at around 2k for monthly living expenses.

Food - $500
car - $500 if applicable
misc.- 500 

and still have another $500, or up to a $1000 if one already owns a nice car. Now you might not be living like the Rockerfellas, but comfortable. You could definitely do worse. 

I would not go into this venture lightly. But, if you access your situation correctly, are not in debt, and know how to budget, it is most certainly possible.

Picking the right woman for you...well, that's another matter  .

chivo

[Manny]

The guy was not in TX, I gather it was CA. I hear that the lady in question has discontinued correspondence with the chap on the grounds of him being impecunious. The feeling is that she can stay in the FSU and be impecunious, no need to do it abroad. 

[Olga_Mouse]

$42k, is about $2800 take home.

42.000 \ 12 = 3.500.

Where are the $700 going monthly? What was that mysterious English word that I keep forgetting... ah, taxes? 

Minus the mortgage (which includes impounding the taxes BTW), and you're looking at around 2k for monthly living expenses.

Food - $500
car - $500 if applicable
misc.- 500 

and still have another $500, or up to a $1000 if one already owns a nice car.

Now you might not be living like the Rockerfellas, but comfortable. You could definitely do worse. 

But these were the calculations for a single man - do you think it would be enough to support (at least before she finds a decent job!) a woman and her child? 

[Chillidog]

The crucial factor would be the expectations of the woman.

The guy was not in TX, I gather it was CA. I hear that the lady in question has discontinued correspondence with the chap on the grounds of him being impecunious. The feeling is that she can stay in the FSU and be impecunious, no need to do it abroad. 

question of expectations of the woman---- answered

in defense of this woman (who I do not know) I cannot blame her for this decision, whether she has a child or not. We hope everyone is wanting to find love but, how "easy" is love to maintain in a relationship when you see the struggle to just make ends meet everyday

[jb]

Because it's true. You can live anywhere in Texas for $42k.

Housing in Houston for a 2000 sq.ft house in nice areas goes for 100-150k, or about $600-800 a month.

http://houston.cbunited.com/property/property.asp?PRM_MLSNumber=4566904&PRM_MlsName=Houston&VAR_AgentCode=7285272&VAR_OfficeCode=3408950

This is in Katy where my brother lives, a suburb of Houston. Over 2500 sq ft. of very comfortable living for under $140k.

Not to mention Corpus Christi were some of the cheapest real estate can be found.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/7110-Crested-Butte-Dr_Corpus-Christi_TX_78413_1108300493

You think a FSUW would mind living here with a man she loves.  Roll Eyes

Much depends on available income, area, expectations and place of/in life, etc. The cost of bringing her over will not be cheap, but again, that goes back to available income.

Well, Mr. Chivo, you've missed the point that owning that house in Corpus Christi for $579/mo doesn't include tax and insurance.  Factor in PI +TI and your monthly payment on that house is going to be approximately $1K/mo,,, ($4,200.00 annual property tax plus $1,400.00/yr  insurance).  

Oh yeah,,, let's not forget the utility bill each month is going to be pushing $250.00+ for lights, water and trash pickup, etc.

BTW, I live just down the road a bit.  I'm very familiar with the neighborhood.  Those houses were built 20 years ago and by now you'd have to be setting aside some money each month for a new roof, plumbing fixes, new A/C unit, and other odds and ends maintenance that go along with ownership of an aging house.    It ain't as cheap as you suggest.  Actually, CC is kind of pricey to live here.

It'd be a struggle on $42K and the person doing it on that amount of money would be just one major car repair, or one uninsured medical event from bankruptcy.

[fireeater]

The crucial factor would be the expectations of the woman.

The guy was not in TX, I gather it was CA. I hear that the lady in question has discontinued correspondence with the chap on the grounds of him being impecunious. The feeling is that she can stay in the FSU and be impecunious, no need to do it abroad. 

question of expectations of the woman---- answered

in defense of this woman (who I do not know) I cannot blame her for this decision, whether she has a child or not. We hope everyone is wanting to find love but, how "easy" is love to maintain in a relationship when you see the struggle to just make ends meet everyday

Chillidog, considering how many are existing on less, yet seem to survive that daily struggle, I would have to say love is a huge factor in maintaining your relationship, with each other.

Without it,  no matter what your income, I doubt if you actually have a good marriage.  Money makes your existence better, but does not buy you happiness with it. Only another can provide that one precious item to you.    

[Chillidog]

Chillidog, considering how many are existing on less, yet seem to survive that daily struggle, I would have to say love is a huge factor in maintaining your relationship, with each other.

Without it,  no matter what your income, I doubt if you actually have a good marriage.  Money makes your existence better, but does not buy you happiness with it. Only another can provide that one precious item to you.    

just trying to play "devil's advocate" and look at it thru the "eyes of the woman" who has to sacrifice everything she has ever known in her life, without any knowledge of the USA (thanks to our strict Visa regulations) and what probably appears to this woman as a struggle in everyday life.

How positive can she feel with all of this that "love will win the day"?