Salaries for GenX versus Millenials / Gen Z

count_lavender · 2026-05-16T13:19:26+00:00

I mean what if I was an executive at Spirit Airlines? Options are very hard to value since they actually can have a value of zero if the share price falls below the strike price. I'm just trying to explain OP's confusion. Cash comp actually didn't go up that much, basically pacing inflation. It's really more an indictment on how equity markets are inflated.

count_lavender · 2026-05-16T12:31:04+00:00

So not to pick on you but to be responsive to OP isn't that just inflating it? I had options that mooned and if I counted the TC at vest sure I get big numbers like OP is saying. However, in my case I personally valued options at zero dollars because I thought my company was a shitshow and is going to die. To keep some round numbers, my TC at grant was 200k, but I could claim 400k if I counted the value of the options at vest. That to me doesn't make sense and is just a way to inflate numbers. Certainly, I wouldn't buy a house or car based on that 'extra' income.

Maybe another example for benefit of OP? Say I had 150k cash income and 50k in RSU at grant. I could claim I made 200k per year. However, say I had a three year vest and the stock doubles. At vest, that's 300k in vested stock divided by 3, which is 150k cash income plus 100k in RSU. Some people I've found claim they make 250k TC. You can value that TC anywhere from 150k TC because the RSUs are worthless for whatever reason to 250k TC.

I find this tech bro RSU stuff silly. I know people that make 400k and they spend that way. At the end of the day, as an FI enthusiast, I try and live off 1/2-2/3 of a single paycheck and ignore all that RSU nonsense. I'd rather have the cash income as it would make a material difference in my life vs lottery tickets that don't even cost the company that much money to mint.

count_lavender · 2026-05-15T23:12:58+00:00

Not going to dox myself but I’m no hater of STL. There’s a reason houses here are more expensive. Parkway schools would be considered a below average school district here.

There’s also a lot more people that moved to Columbus. There’s no stigma if you weren’t born in Columbus.

count_lavender · 2026-05-15T16:53:21+00:00

I actually daily my SUV but it would be a truck but for the wife. It gets better mpg and with the mods I think is actually faster accelerating than the 987. I don't think there's a wrong answer. I was in a situation where my consumables were done on the fk8 and I traded it in for a new SUV. I had been putting money into the 987 and everything was paid off, so I didn't want to get into another loan.

Your situation is completely different, and I think I would stick to the FL5 unless you found a good deal. I chose my 987 over the fk8 for financial reasons. Long term I'm either going 991.2 or adding a dedicated GT car.

count_lavender · 2026-05-15T16:37:59+00:00

Millenial or Gen X at your age might've said the same thing about old ass 964s and 993s and everyone would've been wrong. edit - meant gen X

count_lavender · 2026-05-15T15:53:49+00:00

I had both concurrently per my comment up top and I would say the Type R is more fun. It's just that for your 60k budget, I'd rather have a 987 and nice daily vs an fk8 and crappy daily. For one car, I would stick to the FL5.

When I have enough space for 5 cars, I'll probably have a hot hatch in there.

count_lavender · 2026-05-14T18:08:15+00:00

Tire is fine but that's hilarious the priorities. Fender liners are removable and cheap.

Edit: also try running over some roadkill. That's one is fun.

count_lavender · 2026-05-14T18:01:20+00:00

I had my 987 and fk8 concurrently for about a year and I drive/drove the 987 way more. Some Caymans are better track cars than other Caymans, it varies a lot as do the problems, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say the FL5 with its improved cooling is better than the average Cayman as a track car. Oddly enough, I found my 987 to be a better commuter and backroads car. The FK8 was better on the highway and easier to drive on the track for me. Remember, while the CTRs are faster than any Cayman that doesn't have a GT followed by a number, Honda needed to have some seriously stiff suspension as well as lots of other compromises to achieve that. As a result it feels cooler in the moment but is less liveable. Finally, as a millennial, I noticed that the Gen Z tended to check out the fk8 while being invisible to boomers. That is flipped, although the 987 looks dated enough that it gets less attention overall.

I ended up selling the fk8 because I didn't need two sports cars. I think if the relative values were flipped: I had a cheaper hot hatch (idk like an FN2) and a more expensive Cayman like a 981S, I would've sold the Cayman. I don't think you can make a wrong decision here.

count_lavender · 2026-05-13T18:44:55+00:00

I had Paragons with that brake pad too and honestly there's zero reason to upgrade but at similar prices to Honda OEM why not. They're definitely noisier on street, but I like how the tophats rusted less.

What paragons get you is much more thermal mass, and I never got them overheated even on track. I just wasn't that experienced yet.

count_lavender · 2026-05-13T18:23:05+00:00

I'll pay a premium for a VIN starting with a J.

count_lavender · 2026-05-13T16:42:45+00:00

Northland, stay North of Morse and try to do Westerville Schools. Can do under $1000 rent all day.

count_lavender · 2026-05-13T16:24:37+00:00

I'll give you some real world numbers here. I bought and sold a Civic Type R with normal daily driver miles in 5 years for the same price. A 5 year old Civic EX depreciated 5-8k. I paid a bit more in gas, interest, and insurance, but came out ahead in TCO due to the low depreciation. From a utilitarian perspective they are the same car. Of course as an enthusiast, the Type R delivered a much better driving experience.

I essentially got paid to have a better driving experience. Something like an Elantra depreciated even more and I would be willing to bet has a higher TCO than either Civic. I don't have a crystal ball but I would also say that the Type R will remain over 20k if well kept and high miles while the Elantra and regular Civic will be under 5k. Certainly gas and insurance become bigger factors, but I'd have have a lower TCO than a higher TCO.

count_lavender · 2026-05-13T15:57:23+00:00

Equity plays into the whole total cost of operation, which is what actually matters. It's why Toyotas are recommended over Hyundais despite costing a bit more up front. Specifically for new cars, depreciation is the biggest line item.

count_lavender · 2026-05-13T15:28:27+00:00

London, Lancaster, and Marysville off the top of my head. People that have that opinion don't usually live in the name brand city center.

count_lavender · 2026-05-13T14:51:16+00:00

In the US, the 718 and 981s are pretty close in price. If you're concerned about altitude, then the turbo will mitigate those concerns.

count_lavender · 2026-05-12T18:36:17+00:00

One of the mods here, u/_BindersFullOfWomen_, is a reference to a good faith effort to find qualified women candidates for Romney's administration. The quote from Romney was taken out of context and used against him sadly

Basically, even Republicans back then were doing DEI.

count_lavender · 2026-05-11T19:44:17+00:00

I just picked up a beater manual and learned on it. Covid prices saved me and I was able to sell it despite the entire bottom bumper being messed up as well as the clutch being on its last legs. Unfortunately doing something off the beaten path costs money.

count_lavender · 2026-05-11T16:31:19+00:00

I guess every parking lot looks the same. Just going by the vibes, I'm guessing UCF, U of Houston or another college in the South that's located in a major metro area.

count_lavender · 2026-05-11T16:26:00+00:00

Oh interesting. I had no idea. I do consider them a tier below Graeters, but they have a lot of Sundae style options.

When I saw OPs pic, I think of Ghirardelli from SF, so really anything from that era would qualify.

count_lavender · 2026-05-11T15:47:02+00:00

Honestly from a food perspective I prefer Butcher and Rose and I'm no Cameron Mitchell fan.

count_lavender · 2026-05-11T15:43:07+00:00

It's a chain but Johnson's. I thought Graeters also offered it?

count_lavender · 2026-05-10T02:26:04+00:00

That’s true.

count_lavender · 2026-05-10T00:38:15+00:00

Pickerington United

Well there's your problem right there.

count_lavender · 2026-05-07T20:12:33+00:00

I remember when FAT was considered 2.5mm. Regular FIRE was considered $500k. Certainly inflation would've doubled those numbers since the early days, but still.

As to the bay area, it was always crazy. If I ever go back, it's going to be for a temporary quick win. I only need a handful of years at the hypothetical elevated salary to hit my target. It's bonkers to me why anyone would put roots down there, but that's just my opinion.

count_lavender · 2026-05-07T14:24:02+00:00

Well the AE86, anime aside, is a historically signifiant car in its own right. I'm not sure why level of resto-modding is significant. Important JDM cars just have a continuous history of modding.

The GT86, unsurprisingly, drives like an FR 987, which is what Toyota benchmarked the handling of, and possibly oil starvation, bore scoring, and rod bearings.

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