Can I live on 100K alone in this area?

[Anonymous]

Op it is impossible to answer your question without knowing where you would like to live and where you work.

A two bedroom apartment rental in dc will run you between 2900 and 3600. A house will be at least 3200.

[Anonymous]

Oh course you can. What a silly question.

[Anonymous]

OP here, so to answer some of the questions that have been asked:

1) My child is 2 years old, so will require daycare for the next 3 years
2) I work in S.E. D.C.
3) I would like to live in Alexandria/Arlington. Schools are a consideration once my child starts public school, but would be willing to live in a lower rent area to save up to be able to afford a small house in a good school district down the road.
4) I drive a modest car
5) I don't have to have the "best of everything", I grew up with very little money, but also in a place that was cheap to live.

I am certainly not trying to be out of touch, I just know from living here the last 7 years that it is expensive and I am currently doing it on two decent salaries, so just wanting some confirmation from others that might have gone from a two income house hold down to one.

I appreciate all of the responses. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Yes. I might start with an apt first though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op it is impossible to answer your question without knowing where you would like to live and where you work.

A two bedroom apartment rental in dc will run you between 2900 and 3600. A house will be at least 3200.

There are 2 bed apartments in Chevy Chase for half that. Please stop with the poor advice.

Op, I suggest moving two DC for two years and doing DCPS or charters for Prek3 and 4. If you still want Arlington schools thereafter, you can move back. My ex lived in a decent (though small) 2 bed zoned for Maury elementary (on The Hill) and we would've went that route if the charter lotteries were fruitless. My ex makes well under 100k so I know his rent was under 2k for sure, probably $1500. That will save you daycare costs for two years and put you closer to work.

[Anonymous]

Excuse the typos! -PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op it is impossible to answer your question without knowing where you would like to live and where you work.

A two bedroom apartment rental in dc will run you between 2900 and 3600. A house will be at least 3200.

There are 2 bed apartments in Chevy Chase for half that. Please stop with the poor advice.

Op, I suggest moving two DC for two years and doing DCPS or charters for Prek3 and 4. If you still want Arlington schools thereafter, you can move back. My ex lived in a decent (though small) 2 bed zoned for Maury elementary (on The Hill) and we would've went that route if the charter lotteries were fruitless. My ex makes well under 100k so I know his rent was under 2k for sure, probably $1500. That will save you daycare costs for two years and put you closer to work.

This is very good advice. You can certainly live on 100k and raise your child in Arlington or Alexandria, but the big benefit of living in DC for the near future would be the free public preschool- that is a serious savings over two years. Rent an apartment on Cap Hill, your commute to SE will be easy and you can always move when your kid hits kindergarten (or stay, if you start looking you will find great options around the Hill).

[Anonymous]

Yes, don't let the twits on this board tell you otherwise.

[Anonymous]

OP, the approach you might consider in figuring out how much money you will need is this:

We are two people who live on about $2K monthly which excludes child care, auto payments and rent/mtge payments, RE taxes and homeowners insurance.

It includes, groceries, eating out, clothes, vacations two times a year, gas, utilities, cable and internet, cell phones, cleaning services two times a month, yard work three times a month, medical expenses incl our portion of the health insurance premium.

We are careful with money but we do spend .......

So, if you add the relevant portion of the exclusions identified above that you will incur given your personal circumstances, it will give you a sense of how much you need to manage.

[Anonymous]

I do it - income right around $100K, my mortgage is around $2,500/month and I have one child. I do get child support. I don't get to travel as much as my friends do, and we're not rolling in it, but we're just fine.

[Anonymous]

I live in a small townhome near the Vienna metro with two kids. Earnings are 85,000 per year before taxes. My mortgage with taxes and insurance is $2100 a month. I am doing fine.
But, my kids are school age so I don't pay for daycare.
I get $800 a month in child support.
I don't actively budget my money, but I do not do anything fancy ever. We live modestly

[Anonymous]

OP here, again, thank you for all the replies and advice! Really appreciate it

[Anonymous]

Sure. You'll be in good shape with $100k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op it is impossible to answer your question without knowing where you would like to live and where you work.

A two bedroom apartment rental in dc will run you between 2900 and 3600. A house will be at least 3200.

There are 2 bed apartments in Chevy Chase for half that. Please stop with the poor advice.

Op, I suggest moving two DC for two years and doing DCPS or charters for Prek3 and 4. If you still want Arlington schools thereafter, you can move back. My ex lived in a decent (though small) 2 bed zoned for Maury elementary (on The Hill) and we would've went that route if the charter lotteries were fruitless. My ex makes well under 100k so I know his rent was under 2k for sure, probably $1500. That will save you daycare costs for two years and put you closer to work.

Please tell the bil,ding in. He cya chase where you can currently rent a two bedroom for 1600. That is pure fiction.

[Anonymous]

Barclay and Fairfax Court

The Fields of Bethesda have low income housing units for $1300 (2 bed) on Bradley Blvd

Not listing the one I'm actually applying for.