Budget Questions for single parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends where you are (I can only speak to rent; I’m a single parent renting but not a teacher). Downtown DC, 2BR will be $3000/month but you won’t have to pay for a car. Further out it’ll get down to $2000/month (maybe lower?) but you’ll probably not want to rely on transit/walking/biking — MD and VA are not great without a car. I know single people who manage but I would not want to do it with kids. If you’re in a building with Fios internet can be pretty cheap — $40/month for the lowest level but still very good. If you’re in DC proper some places also have DC Access with is free or very cheap. Smartphones are more expensive; not sure what it would be for one person since I gave my parents on my plan too, but it’s over $100/month for three adults and the smallest available data package. Ignore the PP who says not to save for college. I’m not saving now (kids are in daycare) but I hope to start when they’re in elementary. I think there’s some online calculates that can help you to determine how much. In your position, I would only try to save for in state public; privates are insane and you need to eat.

thanks so much

what do you spend on groceries?

I budget $500/month for all food (groceries and takeout) and consider it one of the big indulgences of my budget — I buy expensive meat at the farmer’s market, organic grass fed dairy, etc. I have two kids under 3 though — no idea how much it costs to feed an elementary schooler.

To the poster who says a car is necessary in DC. I haven’t found it so, but I’ve never owned a car since I moved to an urban area for college so maybe I’m just used to walking/biking/busing everywhere? Of course it depends on where you live and work I guess. But I don’t have any plans to buy my own car until I move well outside the city limits. For my rare car needs, I pay for a Zipcar account ($7/month for OP’s benefit). I take a car out probably once every 2-3 months for trips to the beach or IKEA and it costs maybe $100 for the trip.

[Anonymous]

Yep - talk to a lawyer who practices where you want to live. You can’t just move wherever you want. Is your child a US citizen? Move back to the US and then separate. You do not want to be dealing with this overseas.

[Anonymous]

Assuming you are European, stay in Europe. Do not come to the US and separate here. It would be much harder/impossible to be allowed to move your child back to Europe.
In general, quality of life with kids is better in most (but not all) European countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming you are European, stay in Europe. Do not come to the US and separate here. It would be much harder/impossible to be allowed to move your child back to Europe.
In general, quality of life with kids is better in most (but not all) European countries.

Both parents are US citizens and it sounds like the kid is also a US citizen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assuming you are European, stay in Europe. Do not come to the US and separate here. It would be much harder/impossible to be allowed to move your child back to Europe.
In general, quality of life with kids is better in most (but not all) European countries.

Both parents are US citizens and it sounds like the kid is also a US citizen.

Op here. No. I'm a us citizen and so is the child however the father is an eu national. I will also hold an eu passport soon.

[Anonymous]

Are you allowed to just move your son to the US?

You can probably get an apt for $2000. A townhouse would cost more. I think it would be very tight to be a single mom in NoVA but it is possible. I have a good friend who is married to another teacher. They live a very frugal and modest kids on two teacher salaries and money is tight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends where you are (I can only speak to rent; I’m a single parent renting but not a teacher). Downtown DC, 2BR will be $3000/month but you won’t have to pay for a car. Further out it’ll get down to $2000/month (maybe lower?) but you’ll probably not want to rely on transit/walking/biking — MD and VA are not great without a car. I know single people who manage but I would not want to do it with kids. If you’re in a building with Fios internet can be pretty cheap — $40/month for the lowest level but still very good. If you’re in DC proper some places also have DC Access with is free or very cheap. Smartphones are more expensive; not sure what it would be for one person since I gave my parents on my plan too, but it’s over $100/month for three adults and the smallest available data package. Ignore the PP who says not to save for college. I’m not saving now (kids are in daycare) but I hope to start when they’re in elementary. I think there’s some online calculates that can help you to determine how much. In your position, I would only try to save for in state public; privates are insane and you need to eat.

thanks so much

what do you spend on groceries?

I budget $500/month for all food (groceries and takeout) and consider it one of the big indulgences of my budget — I buy expensive meat at the farmer’s market, organic grass fed dairy, etc. I have two kids under 3 though — no idea how much it costs to feed an elementary schooler.

To the poster who says a car is necessary in DC. I haven’t found it so, but I’ve never owned a car since I moved to an urban area for college so maybe I’m just used to walking/biking/busing everywhere? Of course it depends on where you live and work I guess. But I don’t have any plans to buy my own car until I move well outside the city limits. For my rare car needs, I pay for a Zipcar account ($7/month for OP’s benefit). I take a car out probably once every 2-3 months for trips to the beach or IKEA and it costs maybe $100 for the trip.

I’m from nyc where you really don’t need a car. Dc is not a transit friendly city. I feel the only people who don’t have a car are poor people who can’t afford a car. Parking is pretty easy in dc and surrounding areas. Can’t imagine not having a car with a kid.

[Anonymous]

You will be on a very tight budget here in northern va as a single mom teaching with no child support. (Especially if child is in daycare.) But it is doable.

You need to decide where you want to live long term. Once you file somewhere, you will have a hard time moving.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who makes this work in Ellicott city as a library specialist but it’s Baltimore county schools which some people are uncomfortable with especially at the middle/high school level. (I think she makes slightly more than average teacher there.). I would definitely look at an exurb like Bowie, Crofton or Laurel for better elementary options. Lots of nice townhouses walkable to great elementaries in Bowie for $2000 and Crofton for $2500. Teaching Salary is $50-80k depending on experience/area.

[Anonymous]

I'm a single parent and a teacher living in Alexandria. I rent in these condos and pay $1500/month. It's a nice area near the water and the GW trail. Grocery store, etc across the street. Quiet, safe area.

https://www.apartments.com/6614-10th-st-alexandria-va-unit-j/25p6e89/


Money was tight when my child was younger and in daycare so I didn't start saving for my retirement until he started ES. It's a great area because there are so many free things to do- parks, playgrounds, museums, etc.