Parents of three kids: what is your combined household income?

[Anonymous]

We have grandparents helping and low income 200k combined

[Anonymous]

Around one million. It still isn’t easy. Money doesn’t make good parents. It is hard work to be a good parent, be involved, nurture your children and provide them all with the individual type of support and parenting they need. No amount of out sourcing can take the place of parenting. Three kids is hard work if you want them well-rounded.

[Anonymous]

We are at a little over 3 million

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have grandparents helping and low income 200k combined

would not consider 200k low haha

[Anonymous]

Kids are expensive but you’ll find families with 3+ at all income levels, even in DC. It comes down to lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

My SIL has 3 kids but live in the Midwest. They make $275K (they speak openly about it and one is high level state employee) and have both grandparents that babysit. Their large house in an excellent school system was $400k!!

I will say 2 kids are clearly favored by dad and grandparents. My husband gave concrete examples to his parents about how he sees them favoring two of the kids. Grandparents have tried to work on it. Middle child is treated differently. 2 boys and 1 girl.

My husband wanted 3 kids, I said no way, after seeing the above and because of the cost (want to pay for college, travel, etc). I have seen the favoritism with cousin and friends who have 3 kids as well.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad people are asking these questions prior to a decision is made. When we adopted, we had a to go through a whole financial inventory. I feel like all parents should have to do that. Not that it should be that people of a cenrtain income are allowed to have kids, but that people should be forced to look at their finances and have tough convos about them

[Anonymous]

Did it ever occur to anyone that kids are not the only major expense? You or your partner could have major health issues. Your kid could have a ton of medical issues and/or special needs that are not reimbursable.

It's not just oh, Larlo and larla need to be at soccer and swimming and we need a sitter and 3 separate nintendo switches

[Anonymous]

I know it’s not what you asked, OP, but I wanted 3 and decided to stop at 2 in part for financial reasons (also logistical/emotional but honestly I might have made those work if I felt easier about the finances). HHI $130k.

[Anonymous]

We are in Potomac with 3, and make ~270k. We are definitely on the lower end of the scale here, and our kids aren’t going to be able to do all the things their peers will (camps, vacations, tutors and expensive activities). So I’d also factor in the hhi of the area you live as a factor.

[Anonymous]

$95K. Inherited a house in a good neighborhood though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With these HHI incomes none of you has any reason to complain about anything. You are in the top one percent. I don't know the exact percentage, but I would guess that the majority of people in this area have HHI, with both parents employed, of under $100,000.

Count your blessings and stop your whining and complaining.

The only person complaining in this thread is you.

I am not complaining but stating a simple fact. Also, even, anonymously, it is gauche to talk about how much money you make.

No it’s not, Gramps.

[Anonymous]

About $160k. Not in dc area anymore.

I could be WAY more comfortable with another $14-20k, and we’re working on it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all! OP here. We have two under three and are at about 400k. We do not have family near by, which is a huge bummer. The expenses for two are already outrageous so trying to weigh practical considerations with the desire to have three.

[Anonymous]

$128 K

we’ve been here a long time so mortgage is reasonable

Absolutely at peak income or close to it.