How do households live on less than 100k a year?

[Anonymous]

You live in an apartment. You might have a long commute Take public transportation. No summer camps for your kids (or private school of course). You shop at good will. You don’t eat in restaurants.

There are many ways to do it.

You must live in a bubble to even ask that question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You live in an apartment. You might have a long commute Take public transportation. No summer camps for your kids (or private school of course). You shop at good will. You don’t eat in restaurants.

There are many ways to do it.

You must live in a bubble to even ask that question.

I think the answer varies dramatically if we are talking about a one or two income household of say $90K. Easy enough with a SAHP but much harder adding in daycare costs esp if more than one child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You live in an apartment. You might have a long commute Take public transportation. No summer camps for your kids (or private school of course). You shop at good will. You don’t eat in restaurants.

There are many ways to do it.

You must live in a bubble to even ask that question.

I think the answer varies dramatically if we are talking about a one or two income household of say $90K. Easy enough with a SAHP but much harder adding in daycare costs esp if more than one child.

Depending on the income, there are day care subsidies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in an older small townhouse - that we bought in 2012. I don't think we could afford the townhouse at current prices. But I feel like most of DCUM wouldn't even look at such a townhouse anyway.

Lots of people look at and live in townhouses- but as you say even townhouses have gotten expensive! The newer build townhouses near our neighborhood cost more than many of the older SFHs.

A lot of townhomes are more expensive than SFH's and have HOA fees, which is why we didn't get one. Our house is 1000 square feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You live in an apartment. You might have a long commute Take public transportation. No summer camps for your kids (or private school of course). You shop at good will. You don’t eat in restaurants.

There are many ways to do it.

You must live in a bubble to even ask that question.

I think the answer varies dramatically if we are talking about a one or two income household of say $90K. Easy enough with a SAHP but much harder adding in daycare costs esp if more than one child.

+1
A single earner couple with kids earning around 100k can live in a SFH, own a car, go to day camps and other activities, take low-key vacations etc in the DMV, save for retirement and other larger expenses. Solidly middle class lifestyle. Two earners with kids at that HHI are likely stretched very thin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in a tiny townhome in Alexandria. DH makes 100k, I stay home with our 3 kids. Schools are not great, so we homeschool the oldest. My husband drives an old car, but I had to buy a new minivan this year to fit three kids in car seats. We have no debt besides the mortgage. We think we’re pretty fortunate. We do watch what we buy, but I’m ok with that if it means I get to stay home with the kids. I had a very stressful, but high paying job before having kids.

I’m impressed you were able to buy a minivan in cash! Did you have savings from when income was higher? Will you go back to work at some point? Also wondering what your DH didn’t opt to stay home if you earned more?

Yes, I had some savings from when I worked. Unfortunately I can’t get back into my field (ER doc) after taking so much time off. I’ll go back to work when the kids are older, but will have to find something else to do.

My husband would be a horrible stay at home parent. He has little patience for the kids and no interest in homeschooling. I would have to get a nanny, but ER docs work odd shifts and it would have been hard to find someone to work overnights or weekends.

I find it odd you cannot get a job as an ER doc. Or, with an urgent care or virtual online doctor service. Lots of options of working part time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You live in an apartment. You might have a long commute Take public transportation. No summer camps for your kids (or private school of course). You shop at good will. You don’t eat in restaurants.

There are many ways to do it.

You must live in a bubble to even ask that question.

You're describing families in the bottom of the income scale. Families who make high 5 figures own cars, don't shop in Goodwill and can afford eating in a restaurant from time to time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hunt for meat and game. Put this in your freezer.

Or have a cow share and freeze the part of your cow share.

This provides protein at very low cost.

Most families making under 100k don't hunt. They buy their stuff in supermarkets. You're describing old school people living in ruralareas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in a tiny townhome in Alexandria. DH makes 100k, I stay home with our 3 kids. Schools are not great, so we homeschool the oldest. My husband drives an old car, but I had to buy a new minivan this year to fit three kids in car seats. We have no debt besides the mortgage. We think we’re pretty fortunate. We do watch what we buy, but I’m ok with that if it means I get to stay home with the kids. I had a very stressful, but high paying job before having kids.

Why didn’t your husband stay at home if you were the high earner?

He can’t take care of the kids and has no patience for homeschooling. He would sit on his cell phone all day while the kids ate gummies and crackers. I’m a better stay at home parent. My job was stressful too. I was an ER doc in a busy, poorly staffed ER.

With all due respect, he's just lazy and irresponsible. I don't understand why his behavior keeps getting normalized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Live in a low cost rural area.

Do you realize that most of the households in urban areas make less than 100K?