Feel poor at 300k HHI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're doing something wrong OP. We make 225k and feel rich. And that's with two kids! Pay off your loans and maybe you will feel better.

Yes, but where do you live...

Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that mortgage payment seems high. How many more years of that do you have? Is it a 15 year mortgage? A huge expensive house?

You clearly are not from this area.

Not the PP, but there is cheaper housing, you just have to look for it. You don't need a 3,000 sq ft house, some people just choose to look for one and get a high mortgage.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Many good comments (and a few nasty assumptions). To be clear, we are not in debt and we more than manage to break even each year. We save and, in addition to our 401ks, have about 150k in mutual funds and savings. Would like to get that to about 200k. We also put about $500/month into a college savings account for our two year old (neither of us had parents who saved for our education, hence the student loans). We usually go to the Delaware beach for a few days in the summer but that is the extent of our vacations.

As for our home, I wish that it was a lower mortgage. We had saved for about 12 years before buying so we could put down 25% (and stay under jumbo loan territory).

And for the person who said we work all the time-that isn't exactly true. The problem is that DH and I have very early work schedules due to the unique nature of our jobs. We have to be out the door by 6 am, before daycares open (and before our kid is awake). On the plus side, we are home by 3 pm and have five hours of uninterrupted family time, which is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Many good comments (and a few nasty assumptions). To be clear, we are not in debt and we more than manage to break even each year. We save and, in addition to our 401ks, have about 150k in mutual funds and savings. Would like to get that to about 200k. We also put about $500/month into a college savings account for our two year old (neither of us had parents who saved for our education, hence the student loans). We usually go to the Delaware beach for a few days in the summer but that is the extent of our vacations.

As for our home, I wish that it was a lower mortgage. We had saved for about 12 years before buying so we could put down 25% (and stay under jumbo loan territory).

And for the person who said we work all the time-that isn't exactly true. The problem is that DH and I have very early work schedules due to the unique nature of our jobs. We have to be out the door by 6 am, before daycares open (and before our kid is awake). On the plus side, we are home by 3 pm and have five hours of uninterrupted family time, which is amazing.

With a mortgage and school loans you are in debt.

If you live in Alexandria, what do you plan on doing for schools when your children get to that age?

WIth four bedrooms and your schedule an a pair could help cut down your large nanny bill.

The only jobs I know with those types of hours are federal jobs and they have flexibility with start times. One of you could leave at your current time and one of you could leave later after day cares have opened up, then the early riser can pick up from daycare. Staggered schedules is how many families make it work. It also works well during the elementary years.

[Anonymous]

OP here- we live in North Arlington in a good school district (hoping they don't redraw the lines). Our work hours are not negotiable. Have been looking into an au pair but our house is not ideal with the bedroom/bathroom configuration.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Many good comments (and a few nasty assumptions). To be clear, we are not in debt and we more than manage to break even each year. We save and, in addition to our 401ks, have about 150k in mutual funds and savings. Would like to get that to about 200k. We also put about $500/month into a college savings account for our two year old (neither of us had parents who saved for our education, hence the student loans). We usually go to the Delaware beach for a few days in the summer but that is the extent of our vacations.

As for our home, I wish that it was a lower mortgage. We had saved for about 12 years before buying so we could put down 25% (and stay under jumbo loan territory).

And for the person who said we work all the time-that isn't exactly true. The problem is that DH and I have very early work schedules due to the unique nature of our jobs. We have to be out the door by 6 am, before daycares open (and before our kid is awake). On the plus side, we are home by 3 pm and have five hours of uninterrupted family time, which is amazing.

With a mortgage and school loans you are in debt.

If you live in Alexandria, what do you plan on doing for schools when your children get to that age?

WIth four bedrooms and your schedule an a pair could help cut down your large nanny bill.

The only jobs I know with those types of hours are federal jobs and they have flexibility with start times. One of you could leave at your current time and one of you could leave later after day cares have opened up, then the early riser can pick up from daycare. Staggered schedules is how many families make it work. It also works well during the elementary years.

[Anonymous]

Hep OP we live in a 900 sq foot house in South Arlington! You have no clue what poor is. You sound insufferable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hep OP we live in a 900 sq foot house in South Arlington! You have no clue what poor is. You sound insufferable.

And you sound angry about how your life has turned out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Many good comments (and a few nasty assumptions). To be clear, we are not in debt and we more than manage to break even each year. We save and, in addition to our 401ks, have about 150k in mutual funds and savings. Would like to get that to about 200k. We also put about $500/month into a college savings account for our two year old (neither of us had parents who saved for our education, hence the student loans). We usually go to the Delaware beach for a few days in the summer but that is the extent of our vacations.

As for our home, I wish that it was a lower mortgage. We had saved for about 12 years before buying so we could put down 25% (and stay under jumbo loan territory).

And for the person who said we work all the time-that isn't exactly true. The problem is that DH and I have very early work schedules due to the unique nature of our jobs. We have to be out the door by 6 am, before daycares open (and before our kid is awake). On the plus side, we are home by 3 pm and have five hours of uninterrupted family time, which is amazing.

OP, you are doing much better financially than your initial post indicates. You should not worry--you're doing great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that mortgage payment seems high. How many more years of that do you have? Is it a 15 year mortgage? A huge expensive house?

You clearly are not from this area.

Not the PP, but there is cheaper housing, you just have to look for it. You don't need a 3,000 sq ft house, some people just choose to look for one and get a high mortgage.

Their mortgage in No Arlington would buy them a 1940s colonial, with an addition from the 80s. Not some 3000 sq ft mcmansion.

Not much cheaper housing unless they compromise school or commute, and if work needs them to start at 6, that would be problematic.

[Anonymous]

Op, it's hard to feel sorry for you. We all make choices. Some people make stupid choices (i.e. Putting trips to Disneyworld on their credit card year after year that they pay off in large interest laden chunks) and some people make smarter choices like investing in their child's college fund and saving for retirement. Not only do you have a great HHI and a wonderful schedule for spending time with your child, you are good at saving and investing and somehow you resent all of this.

I think you need a better vacation each year. You CAN afford it and I wonder if it will make you happier about your life.

Signed--HHI of 155k in a small house in Rockville/public school kids with student loan but no credit card debt also going to a Delaware beach for vacation while my friend is currently in Paris. You make choices. Own them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Many good comments (and a few nasty assumptions). To be clear, we are not in debt and we more than manage to break even each year. We save and, in addition to our 401ks, have about 150k in mutual funds and savings. Would like to get that to about 200k. We also put about $500/month into a college savings account for our two year old (neither of us had parents who saved for our education, hence the student loans). We usually go to the Delaware beach for a few days in the summer but that is the extent of our vacations.

As for our home, I wish that it was a lower mortgage. We had saved for about 12 years before buying so we could put down 25% (and stay under jumbo loan territory).

And for the person who said we work all the time-that isn't exactly true. The problem is that DH and I have very early work schedules due to the unique nature of our jobs. We have to be out the door by 6 am, before daycares open (and before our kid is awake). On the plus side, we are home by 3 pm and have five hours of uninterrupted family time, which is amazing.

OP, you are doing much better financially than your initial post indicates. You should not worry--you're doing great.

Yup. Complaining about nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Many good comments (and a few nasty assumptions). To be clear, we are not in debt and we more than manage to break even each year. We save and, in addition to our 401ks, have about 150k in mutual funds and savings. Would like to get that to about 200k. We also put about $500/month into a college savings account for our two year old (neither of us had parents who saved for our education, hence the student loans). We usually go to the Delaware beach for a few days in the summer but that is the extent of our vacations.

As for our home, I wish that it was a lower mortgage. We had saved for about 12 years before buying so we could put down 25% (and stay under jumbo loan territory).

And for the person who said we work all the time-that isn't exactly true. The problem is that DH and I have very early work schedules due to the unique nature of our jobs. We have to be out the door by 6 am, before daycares open (and before our kid is awake). On the plus side, we are home by 3 pm and have five hours of uninterrupted family time, which is amazing.

OP, you are doing much better financially than your initial post indicates. You should not worry--you're doing great.

Yup. Complaining about nothing.

+1 off putting

[Anonymous]

People always conveniently forget to include their car payments on threads like this. ...usually because they get torched for being stupid.

What luxury crossover do you drive, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People always conveniently forget to include their car payments on threads like this. ...usually because they get torched for being stupid.

What luxury crossover do you drive, OP?

OP here. Two very fancy Honda Accords from mid 2000s fully paid and great condition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that mortgage payment seems high. How many more years of that do you have? Is it a 15 year mortgage? A huge expensive house?

You clearly are not from this area.

Not the PP, but there is cheaper housing, you just have to look for it. You don't need a 3,000 sq ft house, some people just choose to look for one and get a high mortgage.

+1

That is a big mortgage on OP's HHI.