Reasonable income for family of 4

[Anonymous]

What income do you need for a reasonable lifestyle with 2 kids around here?

[Anonymous]

Define “around here” - DMV suburbs inside the beltway? Outside the beltway? In DC specifically? What area (Falls Church, McLean, Bethesda, Silver Spring?)

I would say you can “scrape by” on 150k, and be comfortable (but still feel middle class and worry about money) at 300k. To not feel middle class, 600k+.

[Anonymous]

^ to clarify I listed gross incomes, so a chunk of taxes are taken out of these before you get to use the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Define “around here” - DMV suburbs inside the beltway? Outside the beltway? In DC specifically? What area (Falls Church, McLean, Bethesda, Silver Spring?)

I would say you can “scrape by” on 150k, and be comfortable (but still feel middle class and worry about money) at 300k. To not feel middle class, 600k+.

Anyone who feels middle close on an HHI >$400k either has a spending problem or a very warped sense of middle class. Middle class is not private school, luxury cars, and regular international vacations.

[Anonymous]

Define reasonable (schools, international vacations? New cars, fully funded college accounts?)

[Anonymous]

I feel like 125k is a lot for a family of 4

[Anonymous]

Probably $200k during preschool ages. Little less after. Kids' activities are expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like 125k is a lot for a family of 4

your feelings may not align with reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like 125k is a lot for a family of 4

your feelings may not align with reality.

Actually most families in the area make less thN $125k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like 125k is a lot for a family of 4

your feelings may not align with reality.

This entirely depends on whether you already own a home and/or need to pay for childcare.

[Anonymous]

Median income for family of 4
-DC $182,068
-VA $121,793
-MD $138,054
Based on 2022 census
https://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/20220401/bci_data/median_income_table.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Define “around here” - DMV suburbs inside the beltway? Outside the beltway? In DC specifically? What area (Falls Church, McLean, Bethesda, Silver Spring?)

I would say you can “scrape by” on 150k, and be comfortable (but still feel middle class and worry about money) at 300k. To not feel middle class, 600k+.

Anyone who feels middle close on an HHI >$400k either has a spending problem or a very warped sense of middle class. Middle class is not private school, luxury cars, and regular international vacations.

Totally depends who you ask. DH makes $400k and would vehemently deny we could afford any of those three things.

[Anonymous]

Depends if you own real estate already or not. We now earn 300+, no private school and feel barely middle class.

[Anonymous]

100k/child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Define “around here” - DMV suburbs inside the beltway? Outside the beltway? In DC specifically? What area (Falls Church, McLean, Bethesda, Silver Spring?)

I would say you can “scrape by” on 150k, and be comfortable (but still feel middle class and worry about money) at 300k. To not feel middle class, 600k+.

Anyone who feels middle close on an HHI >$400k either has a spending problem or a very warped sense of middle class. Middle class is not private school, luxury cars, and regular international vacations.

Totally depends who you ask. DH makes $400k and would vehemently deny we could afford any of those three things.

You're missing the point entirely. Those things are upper class (or at least UMC), not middle class.