I Live Comfortably on Less than $70K After-Tax in DC Area

[Anonymous]

After reading some of this hread, I've come to realize that OP is a younger women(but not too young either) who spends way too much money monthly and has mortgage for a townhome, in Fairfax?, right?, that is more than my two story single family mortgage in MoCo in a good school district, because I had a huge down payment. Spends too much on nonsense and vacations, and must be the one of the last unmarried people in her social circle, hence resentful that her former friends with kids aren't having enough money to spend on frivolous vacations to keep her company and even if they have they tell her they don't because they would rather not spend it going out with her. She is also not that bright either, first her vacation fund is $250 monthly, then she spends $1250 monthly on vacations also, then $600 monthly on vacation and other fun expenses. And with all that fun fund can't even fund her ski trip. Can't even keep her own story straight from one post to the other. I suppose she is what one OP wrote about, young people who just have to have that fancy expensive "knife set" because they saw in on Food network and buy anything shown on HGTV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're a family of four doing very well on a little under $90k.

We live close to downtown, go on European vacations every other year, travel frequently and eat out often. We are also frugal in all other areas and have plenty of money.

It blows my mind that people complain that $300k is poor. It's about the choices you make. You dont have to send your kids to the $2k a month downtown day care, or to $500 a week camps, or live in a macmansion.

OP here. Thank you. You're making the very point I've been trying to make. The people complaining that they can barely make ends meet on $200k make disparaging, snobby remarks about those of us who choose to live in Fairfax.

I'm betting that 90K family of 4 bought their house 15+ years ago, with kids out of daycare.

As for disparaging remarks about Fairfax - OP betrays her own lack of self esteem re: living in Fairfax. People aren't disparaging Fairfax but are rightly noting that it's much cheaper to live there than DC or closer in suburbs.

Sure they disparaging Fairfax. One snob even said it's a punishment having to live there.

Isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent and our net is less than OPs.... Should I start a thread?

Definitely, so we can admire the person who actually knows how to manage money!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After reading some of this hread, I've come to realize that OP is a younger women(but not too young either) who spends way too much money monthly and has mortgage for a townhome, in Fairfax?, right?, that is more than my two story single family mortgage in MoCo in a good school district, because I had a huge down payment. Spends too much on nonsense and vacations, and must be the one of the last unmarried people in her social circle, hence resentful that her former friends with kids aren't having enough money to spend on frivolous vacations to keep her company and even if they have they tell her they don't because they would rather not spend it going out with her. She is also not that bright either, first her vacation fund is $250 monthly, then she spends $1250 monthly on vacations also, then $600 monthly on vacation and other fun expenses. And with all that fun fund can't even fund her ski trip. Can't even keep her own story straight from one post to the other. I suppose she is what one OP wrote about, young people who just have to have that fancy expensive "knife set" because they saw in on Food network and buy anything shown on HGTV.

I'm not so sure. Lots of assumptions in here. I think she's doing well, putting 20% of her salary toward retirement and building equity in a townhouse or condo. I know a lot of young people who save nothing for retirement, lease a new sports car every other year, spend every last dime on designer clothing and that fancy knife set, and whatnot. She actually seems fairly responsible.

She also didn't say she spends $1250 a month on vacations. I believe it was $250 a month, so $3,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After reading some of this hread, I've come to realize that OP is a younger women(but not too young either) who spends way too much money monthly and has mortgage for a townhome, in Fairfax?, right?, that is more than my two story single family mortgage in MoCo in a good school district, because I had a huge down payment. Spends too much on nonsense and vacations, and must be the one of the last unmarried people in her social circle, hence resentful that her former friends with kids aren't having enough money to spend on frivolous vacations to keep her company and even if they have they tell her they don't because they would rather not spend it going out with her. She is also not that bright either, first her vacation fund is $250 monthly, then she spends $1250 monthly on vacations also, then $600 monthly on vacation and other fun expenses. And with all that fun fund can't even fund her ski trip. Can't even keep her own story straight from one post to the other. I suppose she is what one OP wrote about, young people who just have to have that fancy expensive "knife set" because they saw in on Food network and buy anything shown on HGTV.

I'm not so sure. Lots of assumptions in here. I think she's doing well, putting 20% of her salary toward retirement and building equity in a townhouse or condo. I know a lot of young people who save nothing for retirement, lease a new sports car every other year, spend every last dime on designer clothing and that fancy knife set, and whatnot. She actually seems fairly responsible.

She also didn't say she spends $1250 a month on vacations. I believe it was $250 a month, so $3,000.

She wrote in her original post that her discretionary expenses are $1250. Later on she clarified that it is $600 per month for fun and vacation, another post said $250 per month saving for vacation. I am having a hard time taking her word for granted. While she might not be in heavy debt like so many other younger people and compared to many is doing well, I am having a hard time understanding why does a single person need $1250 per month for discretionary expenses. I don't even know what these discretionary expenses are, food, drinks, movies, going out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After reading some of this hread, I've come to realize that OP is a younger women(but not too young either) who spends way too much money monthly and has mortgage for a townhome, in Fairfax?, right?, that is more than my two story single family mortgage in MoCo in a good school district, because I had a huge down payment. Spends too much on nonsense and vacations, and must be the one of the last unmarried people in her social circle, hence resentful that her former friends with kids aren't having enough money to spend on frivolous vacations to keep her company and even if they have they tell her they don't because they would rather not spend it going out with her. She is also not that bright either, first her vacation fund is $250 monthly, then she spends $1250 monthly on vacations also, then $600 monthly on vacation and other fun expenses. And with all that fun fund can't even fund her ski trip. Can't even keep her own story straight from one post to the other. I suppose she is what one OP wrote about, young people who just have to have that fancy expensive "knife set" because they saw in on Food network and buy anything shown on HGTV.

I'm not so sure. Lots of assumptions in here. I think she's doing well, putting 20% of her salary toward retirement and building equity in a townhouse or condo. I know a lot of young people who save nothing for retirement, lease a new sports car every other year, spend every last dime on designer clothing and that fancy knife set, and whatnot. She actually seems fairly responsible.

She also didn't say she spends $1250 a month on vacations. I believe it was $250 a month, so $3,000.

She wrote in her original post that her discretionary expenses are $1250. Later on she clarified that it is $600 per month for fun and vacation, another post said $250 per month saving for vacation. I am having a hard time taking her word for granted. While she might not be in heavy debt like so many other younger people and compared to many is doing well, I am having a hard time understanding why does a single person need $1250 per month for discretionary expenses. I don't even know what these discretionary expenses are, food, drinks, movies, going out?

OP here. People are misconstruing what I originally wrote.

First, I've read everything from someone saying how sad it is that I spend only $250 a year (a year!) on vacations, and another person saying how ridiculous it is for me to spend $1250 a month (a month!) on vacations. My original post was a monthly budget, so the $250 a month is $3,000 on vacations a year. (Some years it's only $2,000; it varies, of course.)

Second, people are somehow interpreting my "discretionary expenses" of $1250 as what I spend on going out and entertainment. Not true. That amount includes the sub-categories of vacations, new clothes, charitable donations, gifts to friends, etc. (I consider "discretionary" the amount I could drop if I lost my job.) The $600 I listed for going out/entertainment is contained within the $1250 overall discretionary.

Third, what exactly is included in the $600 month that you say is so high? In there, I have daily work lunches - like the cheap buffets they have downtown - which adds up to about $50 a week, or $200 a month. Subtract that, and I'm actually spending $400 - or 100 bucks a week - on fun stuff. Doesn't seem extravagant to me at all, especially considering I am saving $8400 a month toward retirement.

If all people were like me - spending a modest amount on "fun" stuff, paying a mortgage every month (never late once), not going into debt to buy stuff like many of my friends, and starting a retirement fund at the age of 22 (when I graduated from college), we would all be in better shape. (And whoever guessed upthread that I am the only single one of my group and resent my married friends for not going island-hopping with me, you are so wrong. About half my friends are single, half married.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After reading some of this hread, I've come to realize that OP is a younger women(but not too young either) who spends way too much money monthly and has mortgage for a townhome, in Fairfax?, right?, that is more than my two story single family mortgage in MoCo in a good school district, because I had a huge down payment. Spends too much on nonsense and vacations, and must be the one of the last unmarried people in her social circle, hence resentful that her former friends with kids aren't having enough money to spend on frivolous vacations to keep her company and even if they have they tell her they don't because they would rather not spend it going out with her. She is also not that bright either, first her vacation fund is $250 monthly, then she spends $1250 monthly on vacations also, then $600 monthly on vacation and other fun expenses. And with all that fun fund can't even fund her ski trip. Can't even keep her own story straight from one post to the other. I suppose she is what one OP wrote about, young people who just have to have that fancy expensive "knife set" because they saw in on Food network and buy anything shown on HGTV.

I'm not so sure. Lots of assumptions in here. I think she's doing well, putting 20% of her salary toward retirement and building equity in a townhouse or condo. I know a lot of young people who save nothing for retirement, lease a new sports car every other year, spend every last dime on designer clothing and that fancy knife set, and whatnot. She actually seems fairly responsible.

She also didn't say she spends $1250 a month on vacations. I believe it was $250 a month, so $3,000.

She wrote in her original post that her discretionary expenses are $1250. Later on she clarified that it is $600 per month for fun and vacation, another post said $250 per month saving for vacation. I am having a hard time taking her word for granted. While she might not be in heavy debt like so many other younger people and compared to many is doing well, I am having a hard time understanding why does a single person need $1250 per month for discretionary expenses. I don't even know what these discretionary expenses are, food, drinks, movies, going out?

OP here. People are misconstruing what I originally wrote.

First, I've read everything from someone saying how sad it is that I spend only $250 a year (a year!) on vacations, and another person saying how ridiculous it is for me to spend $1250 a month (a month!) on vacations. My original post was a monthly budget, so the $250 a month is $3,000 on vacations a year. (Some years it's only $2,000; it varies, of course.)

Second, people are somehow interpreting my "discretionary expenses" of $1250 as what I spend on going out and entertainment. Not true. That amount includes the sub-categories of vacations, new clothes, charitable donations, gifts to friends, etc. (I consider "discretionary" the amount I could drop if I lost my job.) The $600 I listed for going out/entertainment is contained within the $1250 overall discretionary.

Third, what exactly is included in the $600 month that you say is so high? In there, I have daily work lunches - like the cheap buffets they have downtown - which adds up to about $50 a week, or $200 a month. Subtract that, and I'm actually spending $400 - or 100 bucks a week - on fun stuff. Doesn't seem extravagant to me at all, especially considering I am saving $8400 a month toward retirement.

If all people were like me - spending a modest amount on "fun" stuff, paying a mortgage every month (never late once), not going into debt to buy stuff like many of my friends, and starting a retirement fund at the age of 22 (when I graduated from college), we would all be in better shape. (And whoever guessed upthread that I am the only single one of my group and resent my married friends for not going island-hopping with me, you are so wrong. About half my friends are single, half married.)

....oops. Meant saving $8400 a year for retirement, obviously. That's matched by the employer, so it's almost $17,000 a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're a family of four doing very well on a little under $90k.

We live close to downtown, go on European vacations every other year, travel frequently and eat out often. We are also frugal in all other areas and have plenty of money.

It blows my mind that people complain that $300k is poor. It's about the choices you make. You dont have to send your kids to the $2k a month downtown day care, or to $500 a week camps, or live in a macmansion.

OP here. Thank you. You're making the very point I've been trying to make. The people complaining that they can barely make ends meet on $200k make disparaging, snobby remarks about those of us who choose to live in Fairfax.

I'm betting that 90K family of 4 bought their house 15+ years ago, with kids out of daycare.

As for disparaging remarks about Fairfax - OP betrays her own lack of self esteem re: living in Fairfax. People aren't disparaging Fairfax but are rightly noting that it's much cheaper to live there than DC or closer in suburbs.

I'm not in Fairfax, but DC and I bought my house 12 years ago. Kids are not currently in daycare - youngest about to start K, but remember in DC you have free PK. Still we did pay for daycare on the same salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After taxes DH and I live on twice what you earn, hence 140K, with two teen kids, both eating a ton, doing several sports, having a nice house we bought with a huge down payment. One kid just finished private school, no not the 40K per year one, but still a private, the other wanted public. With vacations to Europe every year, paid off condo in CO, unrented, fully furnished for our pleasure. And DS who traveled around the US for a sport competitions and even around the world. I assume you are younger, hence we saved more over time for these other things. Quite frankly, I have no idea what are you so smug about. We seem to be doing way better with comparably way less money per person per year. Three cars too, and car insurance for a teen. The question is not how are you managing well enough on your salary, the question is why aren't you doing better?

I'm not bing smug. You aren't getting the point. (And it isn't necessary to put me down.)

Wow, PP, OP is exactly right. You aren't getting the point. OP is providing a reality check (just like you are) to the many people who think that it's impossible to get by here without HHI in the six figures and beyond.

[Anonymous]

Exactly PP. But they're too busy trying to take digs that they've completely missed the point. Smh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly PP. But they're too busy trying to take digs that they've completely missed the point. Smh.

OP here. Thanks to you and the PP just above. Here I am, living comfortably while I save for retirement (and donate to charity), and so many people keep taking cracks at me. I'm glad at least some of you got my point. It does not take six figures to live well in this area!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly PP. But they're too busy trying to take digs that they've completely missed the point. Smh.

OP here. Thanks to you and the PP just above. Here I am, living comfortably while I save for retirement (and donate to charity), and so many people keep taking cracks at me. I'm glad at least some of you got my point. It does not take six figures to live well in this area!

I think *you* aren't getting the point. You start a post that can best be summarized as "Hey, I make a lot of money and don't have kids or student loans and I don't feel poor so anyone who feels differently is wrong." How did you think people would respond?

I don't even disagree with you in principle but you are just asking people to criticize you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly PP. But they're too busy trying to take digs that they've completely missed the point. Smh.

OP here. Thanks to you and the PP just above. Here I am, living comfortably while I save for retirement (and donate to charity), and so many people keep taking cracks at me. I'm glad at least some of you got my point. It does not take six figures to live well in this area!

I think *you* aren't getting the point. You start a post that can best be summarized as "Hey, I make a lot of money and don't have kids or student loans and I don't feel poor so anyone who feels differently is wrong." How did you think people would respond?

I don't even disagree with you in principle but you are just asking people to criticize you.

Again, you're not getting the point. According to DCUM standards, she is not making a lot of money. How many times have we read that it takes $250,000 for a family to stay in the middle class, and that people making under six-figures practically qualify for welfare? (There was another thread where people were saying a woman earning $100,000 was poor and who had failed in her career!)

That is the point. She's showing that a salary around $90,000 is very good. (Or certainly not poor.) Double that for a couple - $180k - and that income is just fine, even with kids. Many live on much less without problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all have children. Because we are on a site called DC Urbanmoms.

Plenty of people here with grown children, my dear.

Yes, because college is super cheap...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all have children. Because we are on a site called DC Urbanmoms.

Plenty of people here with grown children, my dear.

Yes, because college is super cheap...

One thing is that paying for college isn't a requirement when your kid turns 18. That's a choice many parents make but it's not a law.