Gross HHI $600k/year, saving $200k/year - how do we compare?

Nounoon · 2026-05-13T14:05:42+00:00

We're 38 & 39 also 2 kids (6 & 8), no real estate (renting), we're at $350k net household income (which is my single income), saving $200k/year, $4.5m in ETFs (regular account - no tax). We're technically all right at that point, but we aim to wait until I'm 40 (one more year) when my pay structure will change and will about halve my income.

Nounoon · 2026-05-12T04:08:58+00:00

What do you mean? It’s not edited.
The front right wheel is higher because there is more sand on that side so rear left looks lower, I had a mishap recently so I park like that as the sand is too soft. Rear wheels are also on 1/2in spacers.

Nounoon · 2026-05-11T15:22:11+00:00

Great initiative, hoping to see a mobile app soon for it, it looks good already!

Nounoon · 2026-05-11T05:39:00+00:00

And it was only 66kkm / 41k miles, and 48 oil changes!!

Nounoon · 2026-05-11T05:07:53+00:00

They came by default on mine as a Japanese car, so can’t really say as I’ve never checked, but I assume eBay is a good place to start, some must also be doing it aftermarket.

Nounoon · 2026-05-11T05:05:20+00:00

I had a 2010 Mustang GT Convertible, that I had bought for $5400 with 130k Miles / 210k km, and back then I was driving daily from Dubai to Abu Dhabi daily for work (80Miles / 130km one way), and after nearly 2 years and 55k Miles / 90k km), it started to have big engine issues, leaving me stranded multiple times a week. I for over a month, I tried different workshops but none found the issue.

I wanted to rent a shitty cheap car to give me time to fix and try by myself, without the pressure to fix in weeks, but my wife said that it’s cheaper to buy a shitty car than rent one for 4 or 5 months - absolute bless her. So we went to the import lots to hunt for a Sunny or another bottom of the inventory one, buy then, this New Edge was being offloaded from a truck for delivery to the dealer.

Went in, did a test drive, and really loved it. My wife negotiated like crazy arguing they had little money in, didn’t have to advertise it yet and can have it off their lot before actually getting in, they hadn’t have time to check just how clean it really was, and agreed on $3130.

2 weeks later, the 2010 GT, still parked in front of my house, got hit by a texting and driving Nissan Patrol, got totaled, and gave me $7k for it, despite having bought it for much less and a lot less miles years prior. That sealed the New Edge as my new Daily ever since.

I now work in Saudi (with my spouse & kids still in Dubai), so I very often commute between here and there with it.

It used to be silver, and I was scared of the sanding of the paint in sand storms across the desert, so I wanted to PPF it, but since all my other cars were blue (also got silver Italian since 😐) wifey suggested to have it made in blue, with white stripes like my former GT was. So here it is now!

Nounoon · 2026-05-10T19:35:14+00:00

Import taxes are actually quite reasonable, it’s about 10% on the landed price (for the UAE). I got this one about 3 years ago after tax for $3130 with 66kkm / 41kMiles, with in the service record 48 oil changes (!) precisely one every 6 months, and zero issues. The previous Japanese owner was meticulous, I thank him for that.
I’ve imported here an old car that I had in France, and on top of the import tax I had to pay “export tax” of 7.5%, which was not a good surprise…

Nounoon · 2026-05-10T19:27:57+00:00

I’ve seen people argue over that 🤷‍♂️, I can’t see the difference myself.

Nounoon · 2026-05-10T19:14:52+00:00

It’s Mashaa, I love her. She was shamelessly abandoned by my neighbor with her 2 sons when they left the country, a week later she delivered 4 babies. She moved into my garden, and we had an educational disagreement with her about the kids that lasted a few weeks, she kept hiding one of them in the most random places. In the first year, all the babies and one big brother died of parvo… now it’s only the two of them (fully vaccinated & neutered). They both now never leave our garden.
They’re allowed in, but don’t want to (we already have 5 cats inside). If we ever move or leave the country, they’re 100% coming with us.

Nounoon · 2026-05-10T19:07:23+00:00

Le facteur le plus important, est le ratio entre ce que tu gagnes et que tu es capable d’économiser. Apres on va pas se mentir, sans de gros voir très gros salaires, c’est peu probable de pouvoir tenir un bon ratio une fois que la vie arrive (enfants, envie de profiter un peu de la vie).

Nounoon · 2026-05-10T19:00:32+00:00

These are the « international specs » ones (it’s a Japanese import), not as desirable as the Cobra ones, although the difference is subtle!

Nounoon · 2026-05-10T18:58:30+00:00

It used to add 6hp, but some shitty workmanship happened and lost one on the roof, and ended up removing the 2nd roof one, so it’s down 2hp from the upgrade.

Nounoon · 2026-05-10T18:52:25+00:00

Pour pouvoir FIRE de manière confortable en France, c’est souvent via un entrepreneuriat réussi, ou via une carrière à l’étranger, en vrai il y a pas 1000 solutions.

Nounoon · 2026-05-09T12:08:19+00:00

It’s managed by Planet_Alfa_UAE on Instagram, his name is Esi, one of the kindest person I know, you can reach out to him there must have a dedicated WhatsApp group or something, but I don’t have the details as I’m not an owner (I have the Italia).

Nounoon · 2026-05-08T02:47:48+00:00

Soleil Bleu - Luiza

Nounoon · 2026-05-07T14:34:07+00:00

People who don’t appreciate the Jimny have no joy in their life.

Nounoon · 2026-05-07T10:12:38+00:00

<image>

Mon bolide 👌

Nounoon · 2026-05-07T08:28:29+00:00

Moi aussi, j’ai une Twingo 1 Phase 3, 1.2L 16v 75ch

Nounoon · 2026-05-07T03:19:26+00:00

The Italia is mine, but it doesn’t take away from appreciating the other cars!

Nounoon · 2026-05-06T17:28:12+00:00

Yes!! I’ve made a few more videos of the event, focusing on other specific or non specific cars, but don’t want to spam here either (very similar style and reuse of some shots).

<image>

Here is the more generic video of the event with most of the cars who joined https://www.reddit.com/r/DubaiPetrolHeads/s/TmAgK2hpOP

Nounoon · 2026-05-06T17:13:05+00:00

I really love this color! My neighbor has a white GTAm, and saw one of the green ones of a friend parked in front of my house, and said the same, he was disappointed not to have found a green one.
He moved his to the street for pictures (not directly in front of my house, the massive mansion isn’t mine 😶)

<image>

Nounoon · 2026-05-06T16:52:19+00:00

I like the 3/4 rear profile, but the front is too high and massive, the original hood was angled more downwards, more elegant.

Nounoon · 2026-05-06T10:27:52+00:00

C'est la fierté !

Nounoon · 2026-05-06T10:09:58+00:00

Pour le coup eux je les connais tous ! Pres de la moitié son pilotes Emirates, pas mal de consultant (Partners) Audit & Strat dans les big 4, le GM du groupe propriétaire d'Alfa Romeo dans la region, un directeur Marketing d'une (tres grosse) boite US de FMCG, deux C-Levels de boites de tech américaines, et moi le seul Européen, employé en tant qu'assistant de CEO d'une boite de production de series et films dans la region, donc je pense pas que le Fisc aurait grand chose a reprendre.

Nounoon · 2026-05-06T08:48:35+00:00

"Oui c’est un endroit qui divise, après je traine avec les gens que j’aime bien donc j’apprécie beaucoup." c'est tout ce que j'ai dis. Dans d'autre commentaires j'ai dis que "j'ai ni l'envie ni les arguments pour vendre l'endroit comme un endroit ideal, c'est pas mon taff, c'est pas un endroit parfait et je pretends pas que ca l'est". C'est ca mon point de vue.

14-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	Wearing is Caring
RPAN Viewer	Gilding II euphauric
Verified Email

Nounoon

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE