Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to alarm everyone! My kids go through shoes in about 6-8 weeks. So, no need to worry, though it sounds like we're an anomaly. They also have snow boots, and in the summer they alternate with flip flops or go barefoot.

Wasn't there another thread recently that said that wealthy people get shoe fittings. Not here.

Your kids go through 8 sizes per year? Do they have clown feet?

Or maybe she is replacing the shoes when they are/look worn. Outgrowing shoes is not the only reason to replace them.

Every 6-8 weeks? That is crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's see, if you spent $2000 per year on lawn care, $3000 per year on house cleaning, $50K per year on a nanny (why would you need additional childcare if you have a nanny?!?) that's still only about $55K. You're saying that taking those expenses out from $300K plus taxes of say $75K, that you cannot otherwise live on $175K per year net. There are many, many families with HHI under $100K where one or both parents are working 60-80 hours per week just to make ends meet because they have very low salaries. Those workers have many of the same problems you have, they just have to make more economical choices. I'm sorry, but if you choose a high end lifestyle and spend all of your money, that doesn't make you more sympathetic. There are many people who make significantly less than you that have all of the same demands on their time, many of whom have to pick soime of the support that you have and still make ends meet. We make $200K, both work full-time, still provide for our two children, still get housecleaners, still live in a large house and we can still save for retirement, college, yada yada yada. And we find ourselves not onloy very comfortable but very lucky instead of overentitled like you.

Icky humble brag. Go you! And don't even think of comparing yourselves with those "workers" with the "very low salaries"

The point was that we feel rich, comfortable and very lucky at $200K and there are those at $300K or the OP at $500K who are whining about being middle class and barely making ends meet.

And those "workers" with the "very low salaries" are part of the reason that we feel rich, comfortable and lucky.

Do you live in NW DC in a house and go to private schools?

Living in NW D.C., in a house, and going to private schools are all choices people who feel circumscribed by those choices made willingly, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It's a mindset and this area breeds it. I never thought at this level of income I'd want more, but as your income rises the expectations grow exponentially as well.

This is total BS OP. We make the same in NWDC and feel fabulously wealthy. Our kids did NOT want to go to Disney, they have one pair of shoes, and before anyone says we're too frugal, DH drives an expensive car and our house is decked out. I drive a sexy ugly car. And, we could buy four laptops this month and not feel any crunch. We have tons of friends in the neighborhood and don't feel any pressure to one up them. We make purchasing decisions based on our spending plan and personal interests. If someone is doing tutoring, I think their kid needs it or they like the subject. It's not about me or my choices. Frankly, I think I'm too selfish, too focused on my own family, to try to guess at everyone's motivations. Every once in awhile someone will make a comment or bring up money, but I'm just not interested so cut them off. The rat race is in your head. We NEVER talk about money or gossip in front of the kids, we just don't. Just stop. What a miserable existence.

There, there, dear. We know you are a superior human being. Now take your bottle and go to bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's see, if you spent $2000 per year on lawn care, $3000 per year on house cleaning, $50K per year on a nanny (why would you need additional childcare if you have a nanny?!?) that's still only about $55K. You're saying that taking those expenses out from $300K plus taxes of say $75K, that you cannot otherwise live on $175K per year net. There are many, many families with HHI under $100K where one or both parents are working 60-80 hours per week just to make ends meet because they have very low salaries. Those workers have many of the same problems you have, they just have to make more economical choices. I'm sorry, but if you choose a high end lifestyle and spend all of your money, that doesn't make you more sympathetic. There are many people who make significantly less than you that have all of the same demands on their time, many of whom have to pick soime of the support that you have and still make ends meet. We make $200K, both work full-time, still provide for our two children, still get housecleaners, still live in a large house and we can still save for retirement, college, yada yada yada. And we find ourselves not onloy very comfortable but very lucky instead of overentitled like you.

Icky humble brag. Go you! And don't even think of comparing yourselves with those "workers" with the "very low salaries"

The point was that we feel rich, comfortable and very lucky at $200K and there are those at $300K or the OP at $500K who are whining about being middle class and barely making ends meet.

And those "workers" with the "very low salaries" are part of the reason that we feel rich, comfortable and lucky.

Do you live in NW DC in a house and go to private schools?

Living in NW D.C., in a house, and going to private schools are all choices people who feel circumscribed by those choices made willingly, though.

Did you buy your first home after 2012?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can only conclude that "feeling wealthy" means "not ever having to think about money ever." So if you ever even have to check the balance on your accounts or can't afford the too of the market, you don't "feel wealthy." There seems to be no way to "feel wealthy" unless you are as rich as the richest person around.

I completely agree with this. Real wealth is not having to work for your money. People that have to save for retirement, college, expenses, etc., even if their incomes place them in the top 1%, are not truly wealthy.

[Anonymous]

KEEP MAKING THAT BREAD - BUTTER THAT BREAD - SHARE THAT BREAD WITH THE WORLD - HOW CAN YOU NOT FEEL RICH, THEN?

[Anonymous]

Simple: you're not wealthy. 500k in DC is like 150k in flyover. Well off, but hardly wealthy. LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Simple: you're not wealthy. 500k in DC is like 150k in flyover. Well off, but hardly wealthy. LOL

Man. I'd take 150k here. Maybe that wouldn't make me wealthy in your eyes. But life sure would be easier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can only conclude that "feeling wealthy" means "not ever having to think about money ever." So if you ever even have to check the balance on your accounts or can't afford the too of the market, you don't "feel wealthy." There seems to be no way to "feel wealthy" unless you are as rich as the richest person around.

I completely agree with this. Real wealth is not having to work for your money. People that have to save for retirement, college, expenses, etc., even if their incomes place them in the top 1%, are not truly wealthy.

Nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's see, if you spent $2000 per year on lawn care, $3000 per year on house cleaning, $50K per year on a nanny (why would you need additional childcare if you have a nanny?!?) that's still only about $55K. You're saying that taking those expenses out from $300K plus taxes of say $75K, that you cannot otherwise live on $175K per year net. There are many, many families with HHI under $100K where one or both parents are working 60-80 hours per week just to make ends meet because they have very low salaries. Those workers have many of the same problems you have, they just have to make more economical choices. I'm sorry, but if you choose a high end lifestyle and spend all of your money, that doesn't make you more sympathetic. There are many people who make significantly less than you that have all of the same demands on their time, many of whom have to pick soime of the support that you have and still make ends meet. We make $200K, both work full-time, still provide for our two children, still get housecleaners, still live in a large house and we can still save for retirement, college, yada yada yada. And we find ourselves not onloy very comfortable but very lucky instead of overentitled like you.

Icky humble brag. Go you! And don't even think of comparing yourselves with those "workers" with the "very low salaries"

The point was that we feel rich, comfortable and very lucky at $200K and there are those at $300K or the OP at $500K who are whining about being middle class and barely making ends meet.

And those "workers" with the "very low salaries" are part of the reason that we feel rich, comfortable and lucky.

Do you live in NW DC in a house and go to private schools?

Living in NW D.C., in a house, and going to private schools are all choices people who feel circumscribed by those choices made willingly, though.

Did you buy your first home after 2012?

No, in 2005, though I'm not sure how that's relevant to the idea that buying a house in NW D.C. and paying private school tuition are entirely optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Simple: you're not wealthy. 500k in DC is like 150k in flyover. Well off, but hardly wealthy. LOL

Sure, except the median household income in the District is a little more than $64,000, and a $500,000 income -- i.e., nearly eight times the median -- plainly makes someone wealthy in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple: you're not wealthy. 500k in DC is like 150k in flyover. Well off, but hardly wealthy. LOL

Sure, except the median household income in the District is a little more than $64,000, and a $500,000 income -- i.e., nearly eight times the median -- plainly makes someone wealthy in comparison.

thank you!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple: you're not wealthy. 500k in DC is like 150k in flyover. Well off, but hardly wealthy. LOL

Sure, except the median household income in the District is a little more than $64,000, and a $500,000 income -- i.e., nearly eight times the median -- plainly makes someone wealthy in comparison.

Why don't you compare the median income for each area of the district. Trying to make the median between the least affluent of SE and the most rich in NW doesn't make sense.

Do it by neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple: you're not wealthy. 500k in DC is like 150k in flyover. Well off, but hardly wealthy. LOL

Sure, except the median household income in the District is a little more than $64,000, and a $500,000 income -- i.e., nearly eight times the median -- plainly makes someone wealthy in comparison.

Why don't you compare the median income for each area of the district. Trying to make the median between the least affluent of SE and the most rich in NW doesn't make sense.

Do it by neighborhood.

why. it makes sense to me. I'm not PP - but seriously if you don't think you are well off making 500k - you need serious help. do you realize how some people live? oh right. you don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Simple: you're not wealthy. 500k in DC is like 150k in flyover. Well off, but hardly wealthy. LOL

Sure, except the median household income in the District is a little more than $64,000, and a $500,000 income -- i.e., nearly eight times the median -- plainly makes someone wealthy in comparison.

Why don't you compare the median income for each area of the district. Trying to make the median between the least affluent of SE and the most rich in NW doesn't make sense.

Do it by neighborhood.

Well, gee, maybe it would be more meaningful to calculate the median income by block, or by house.

The whole point of "median income" is to take into account the fact that there are poor people and rich people in the city -- which, both geographically and population-wise, is hardly so big as to support the claim that it's too sprawling to be one unit for comparison purposes. It's not like Ward 3 and Ward 7 have totally distinct economies that aren't connected to each other at all. People who make $500,000 a year are wealthy, even if they have neighbors who make $5 million. If they don't FEEL wealthy making eight times the median household income in the city where they live, that's maybe a different question, but in that case, the problem is still pretty much entirely in their own heads.