Washingtonian Magazine calling for your stories on "What is Costs to Live in the DC Area Now"

[Anonymous]

Washingtonian magazine is doing a story on what it costs to live in the DC area now and we're looking for personal stories -- stories about people who are doing well or people who are struggling or just people who are surprised about how much money it takes to live in this area today.

Although this list is by no means comprehensive, here are a few examples of what we're looking for:

* New homeowners who are finding their mortgages to be a stretch.
* Would-be-homeowners who are unable to find something affordable, no matter where they look.
* Renters who have found it hard to find an affordable place to live, or who have scored a spot that's under-market and plan to stay as long as possible.
* People who are making solid, even great incomes — let’s call it $400,000 a year or so — but are finding that even with that much money coming in, far too much is going out. The house. The nanny. The social commitments. The far-too-expensive restaurants in the neighborhood. Et cetera.
* People who could be defined as middle class and yet feel like they’re always just one missed paycheck away from failing to make the rent/mortgage/car payment.
* People who are getting by okay, but can’t figure out how in the world everyone else around them seems to be able to afford the house, the nanny, the social commitment, and the far-too-expensive restaurants.
* People who are killing it. Who feel like they’re doing a lot better here than they could/would do elsewhere.

Said more briefly: Are you someone who believes that it takes an almost uncomfortably large amount of money to live in the Washington area today? Or are you someone who thinks concerns over DC's cost of living are overblown? And, either way, are you someone who -- or do you know someone who -- would be willing to talk about what it costs for YOU to live here now?

We're hoping to hear from folks at all different income levels who are from all over the area -- the District, Fairfax, Great Falls, McLean, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Arlington, Alexandria, and anywhere and everywhere else around here where money seems to be more important than ever.

Ideally, we're looking for sources who would be okay with being identified. But if you or someone you know is sensitive about revealing their financial standing, we'd also consider protecting identities.

The deadline is fast approaching for this. I need stories by September 8. So if you'd like to share your story or pass along my contact info to someone you know who might have a good tale to tell, please do. My contact information follows.

Thank you.

— —— — ——
Joseph Guinto
[e-mail]
www.josephguinto.com/wp

[Anonymous]

Interview my dry cleaning lady at the Spring Valley shopping center and ask her how she justifies charging $31 for two items!

[Anonymous]

Does there really need to be an article highlighting people who make 8 times a middle class income complain about how there is no money left after they spend and save it all? Is this really for the onion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washingtonian magazine is doing a story on what it costs to live in the DC area now and we're looking for personal stories -- stories about people who are doing well or people who are struggling or just people who are surprised about how much money it takes to live in this area today.

Although this list is by no means comprehensive, here are a few examples of what we're looking for:

* New homeowners who are finding their mortgages to be a stretch.
* Would-be-homeowners who are unable to find something affordable, no matter where they look.
* Renters who have found it hard to find an affordable place to live, or who have scored a spot that's under-market and plan to stay as long as possible.
* People who are making solid, even great incomes — let’s call it $400,000 a year or so — but are finding that even with that much money coming in, far too much is going out. The house. The nanny. The social commitments. The far-too-expensive restaurants in the neighborhood. Et cetera.
* People who could be defined as middle class and yet feel like they’re always just one missed paycheck away from failing to make the rent/mortgage/car payment.
* People who are getting by okay, but can’t figure out how in the world everyone else around them seems to be able to afford the house, the nanny, the social commitment, and the far-too-expensive restaurants.
* People who are killing it. Who feel like they’re doing a lot better here than they could/would do elsewhere.

Said more briefly: Are you someone who believes that it takes an almost uncomfortably large amount of money to live in the Washington area today? Or are you someone who thinks concerns over DC's cost of living are overblown? And, either way, are you someone who -- or do you know someone who -- would be willing to talk about what it costs for YOU to live here now?

We're hoping to hear from folks at all different income levels who are from all over the area -- the District, Fairfax, Great Falls, McLean, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Arlington, Alexandria, and anywhere and everywhere else around here where money seems to be more important than ever.

Ideally, we're looking for sources who would be okay with being identified. But if you or someone you know is sensitive about revealing their financial standing, we'd also consider protecting identities.

The deadline is fast approaching for this. I need stories by September 8. So if you'd like to share your story or pass along my contact info to someone you know who might have a good tale to tell, please do. My contact information follows.

Thank you.

— —— — ——
Joseph Guinto
[e-mail]
www.josephguinto.com/wp

Yes, but I don't want everyone knowing that I basically piss away 330k a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does there really need to be an article highlighting people who make 8 times a middle class income complain about how there is no money left after they spend and save it all? Is this really for the onion?

That's the problem - If I do an article and say "hey we make about $300k but honestly it's not enough" Itll just come across as a smug shithead.

[Anonymous]

Yuck -- typical Washingtonian article -- it's all about the money. How about this for a title? "Let 'em eat cake" -- wait, that has a familiar ring to it, doesn't it?

[Anonymous]

This should be entertaining. Is the person here with the 400k household income and identifies as "middle class" going to respond with her struggles to afford living in the area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This should be entertaining. Is the person here with the 400k household income and identifies as "middle class" going to respond with her struggles to afford living in the area?

Spoken from someone who truly doesn't have a clue about the COL in this area. Have you broken down a budget for a 800k mortgage, college, savings , child care? I doubt it. Or are you one of those I live in a bad school zone, have a 2 hour commute and bought my first dc area home in 1995, why didn't everyone else do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washingtonian magazine is doing a story on what it costs to live in the DC area now and we're looking for personal stories -- stories about people who are doing well or people who are struggling or just people who are surprised about how much money it takes to live in this area today.

Although this list is by no means comprehensive, here are a few examples of what we're looking for:

* New homeowners who are finding their mortgages to be a stretch.
* Would-be-homeowners who are unable to find something affordable, no matter where they look.
* Renters who have found it hard to find an affordable place to live, or who have scored a spot that's under-market and plan to stay as long as possible.
* People who are making solid, even great incomes — let’s call it $400,000 a year or so — but are finding that even with that much money coming in, far too much is going out. The house. The nanny. The social commitments. The far-too-expensive restaurants in the neighborhood. Et cetera.* People who could be defined as middle class and yet feel like they’re always just one missed paycheck away from failing to make the rent/mortgage/car payment.
* People who are getting by okay, but can’t figure out how in the world everyone else around them seems to be able to afford the house, the nanny, the social commitment, and the far-too-expensive restaurants.
* People who are killing it. Who feel like they’re doing a lot better here than they could/would do elsewhere.

Said more briefly: Are you someone who believes that it takes an almost uncomfortably large amount of money to live in the Washington area today? Or are you someone who thinks concerns over DC's cost of living are overblown? And, either way, are you someone who -- or do you know someone who -- would be willing to talk about what it costs for YOU to live here now?

We're hoping to hear from folks at all different income levels who are from all over the area -- the District, Fairfax, Great Falls, McLean, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Arlington, Alexandria, and anywhere and everywhere else around here where money seems to be more important than ever.

Ideally, we're looking for sources who would be okay with being identified. But if you or someone you know is sensitive about revealing their financial standing, we'd also consider protecting identities.

The deadline is fast approaching for this. I need stories by September 8. So if you'd like to share your story or pass along my contact info to someone you know who might have a good tale to tell, please do. My contact information follows.

Thank you.

— —— — ——
Joseph Guinto
[e-mail]
www.josephguinto.com/wp

You must be new here, Joseph. No one wants to read another sob story about people making 8 times the national HHI who feel "poor." We can do that here everyday, AND have the satisfaction of telling these people that they are too dumb to have that much money if they can't manage it.

[Anonymous]

Joseph, I look forward to your story. Don't think we can help, though. The cost of living here is insane to us. We have $3M in the bank, a low mortgage, and 2 kids getting ready for college. We have HHI of $300K. we don't feel rich with that after we pay for upper middle life style. There are so many around us that are richer. Where do they all come from? We stay here b/c where else would we get that salary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Joseph, I look forward to your story. Don't think we can help, though. The cost of living here is insane to us. We have $3M in the bank, a low mortgage, and 2 kids getting ready for college. We have HHI of $300K. we don't feel rich with that after we pay for upper middle life style. There are so many around us that are richer. Where do they all come from? We stay here b/c where else would we get that salary?

You have 3 million dollars in the bank and that doesn't help you relax at all?

[Anonymous]

Joseph - please don't write this story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Joseph, I look forward to your story. Don't think we can help, though. The cost of living here is insane to us. We have $3M in the bank, a low mortgage, and 2 kids getting ready for college. We have HHI of $300K. we don't feel rich with that after we pay for upper middle life style. There are so many around us that are richer. Where do they all come from? We stay here b/c where else would we get that salary?

You have 3 million dollars in the bank and that doesn't help you relax at all?

We are number 4 & 5 on his list. But with that money we would like to retire!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Joseph - please don't write this story.

"* People who are making solid, even great incomes — let’s call it $400,000 a year or so — but are finding that even with that much money coming in, far too much is going out. The house. The nanny. The social commitments. The far-too-expensive restaurants in the neighborhood. Et cetera."

Please do write this story. Would like to hear from others on this without the disruption of people on DCUM who dismiss it as ungrateful or don't understand how expenses can increase as income increases.

Put us squarely in the category above. We have a HHI in this range, we are saving at least a third of that, but it seems insane that it isn't more. We spend around $20K a month, have a reasonable mortgage and money in the bank but it is far from what I thought life would look like 10 years ago if you told me this is what our income would be. This is not a gripe. We know that we are lucky, simply an observation - nanny, tuition, taxes, mortgage.

Also add in the fact that I personally feel trapped - I could never leave DC and earn the same salary, or even an equivalent salary adjusted for cost of living.

This is not what earning this income was supposed to feel like - we thought we would have it made. We are comfortable and not financially stressed, but we don't have it made.

[Anonymous]

Dear Washingtonian Magazine,

You are my guilty pleasure, and I enjoy your glossy pages of fluffy nonsense about the house I should be living in, the places I should be vacationing, the people I should be having lunch with (if I were anyone), the career I should have (if I were important), the schools I should be sending my children to (if I were connected and monied), the doctors I should have perform my next plastic surgery, and the dentist I should have doing my Hollywood caps.

In short, no other cultural influence in Washington has done as much to spread affluenza among the aspiring, upcoming, young professionals, lawyers, and lobbyists in This Town as your (Money) magazine. Thank you.

A Loyal Subscriber and Reader

P.S. I love how your former Editor, Garrett Graff, always appeared to have just stepped away from St. Albans for a moment, that was a nice touch.