Not PP but I've made $100-140 over the past 5 years. Single parent (by choice). Daycare for childcare. Rent in downtown DC. I just barely break even right now with two in daycare; should be able to start saving for more than retirement again when my older starts pk3 in the fall. Planning to buy a house in a different area (or the far out suburbs depending on job stuff). I feel like I'm doing fine. I think I'd be very comfortable around $150K so maybe $200K for a two-adult household? |
We all make choices. |
| We're a $350K couple with three kids. We're have the 4BR/3BR suburban yard, inside the Beltway commute at GS 10 public schools, local vacations, modest cars and fully funded 401ks, etc. We paid $25K per year per kid for daycare/preschool and only have one left to go. I've calculated we've spent close to $500K in after tax funds for preschool/summer camps for our three kids to date and that's excluding 529s for college. Could we have saved more and had more disposable income without kids? Of course! Do I regret the decision? Not at all. It's a personal choice. However, kids are expensive in this area - both in time and money. You have to be much more deliberate about how you are spending your money after kids. |
| Yes, you are more than fine. As your children get older, your HHI will increase and you will increase what you are putting in 529s |
| Love is all you need. |
Not everyone’s HHI increases PP. |
Well, I will educate my kids properly and offer them enrichment opportunities. So, we don’t spend on eating out, Jimmy Choos, or fancy international jaunts. I was deeply disappointed by the lauded schools around here. They are resting on their 1990s2000s status but parents have finally woken up. |
| 75-100k per child if you live in a good school district |
$75k HHI? |
| This thread is gross. The majority of households even in the area do not make 200 to 300k. Do you think they should not have children? |
| Life is so uncertain that you can't count on any certain income. Things change all the time. |
Yes! We go to a good local school and some people (many) make under 100k. This is real life people! |
Is one parent a SAHP? A man would have difficulty finding a willing spouse if he makes <$80k. |
This. Imagine every immigrant with multiple children would ask questions like that. People in this area are somewhat insane thinking that they cannot afford a child with this kind of income. |
Exactly. Our combined HHI is "only" $150K. We have 1 child. We doing perfectly fine. |