Hacker News Reader

Damn. That actually would be a better way of talking about compensation. It would seriously deflate some of the SV compensations and make other locations look more attractive.

They would if people were cash-flow producing assets to be bought and sold.

I think nappy-doo's point is what happens when taxes, mortgage, health insurance, food, shopping, etc is NOT taken into account. If you make $100k but spend $150k you're in the red, doesn't matter how effusively you celebrate making $100k.

I think nobody would say I made $70k after rent last year.

But net salary is what people often mention or look at when considering offers.

So, my net salary / take home pay is $X is what is normally talked about between people etc.

> I’ve never heard anybody say “oh I made $70k last year after taxes and rent.”

Really? That's pretty much how I and everyone I know talks about compensation.

They subtract their rent? Really? Taxes I understand. Or even 401(k), or benefits, or whatever else is between Gross and Net. But I've never heard someone deducting certain categories they spent their income on.

Maybe this is a regional thing?