what is a good income to be a SAHM in NOVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what field is your husband's PhD? Is he looking to move to academia? If so, you should know that finding an Asst. Prof. gig is like the draft--you go where they want you--and its more likely to be 35k in Arkansas than 100k in Reston.

Starting Asst. Profs I know at GMU are around 65k, I'm a little further south at 75k (and it took me 2 years post-PhD to get this job). I had offers in other places for around 40k.

You should go read the job search boards on the Chronicle of Higher Education forums before you get your heart set on NOVA.

FWIW, I don't live in NOVA anymore, but 2 years ago was struggling as a single professional at 95k in Alexandria. Like old car, small rental condo, cheap shampoo, no savings struggling (not real struggle, but not luxury).

How is that possible? Three years ago I was earning $60k, living in a studio downtown, old car, cheap shampoo, and had money for 401k, savings, and a reasonable amount of going out.

[Anonymous]

We have 1 kid ( a baby) and I'm a sahm. We live in a very nice upscale apt in fairfax. My husbands income is 72k. Yes we'd love to buy instead of rent but other than that we live a very comfortable life: travel often to visit family, max out our iras each year, and bought a brand new car last year, we have no debt except the car we are paying off. It can be done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what field is your husband's PhD? Is he looking to move to academia? If so, you should know that finding an Asst. Prof. gig is like the draft--you go where they want you--and its more likely to be 35k in Arkansas than 100k in Reston.

Starting Asst. Profs I know at GMU are around 65k, I'm a little further south at 75k (and it took me 2 years post-PhD to get this job). I had offers in other places for around 40k.

You should go read the job search boards on the Chronicle of Higher Education forums before you get your heart set on NOVA.

FWIW, I don't live in NOVA anymore, but 2 years ago was struggling as a single professional at 95k in Alexandria. Like old car, small rental condo, cheap shampoo, no savings struggling (not real struggle, but not luxury).

How is that possible? Three years ago I was earning $60k, living in a studio downtown, old car, cheap shampoo, and had money for 401k, savings, and a reasonable amount of going out.

Not the PP, but I'm going to go ahead and guess: debt. Probably student debt, given the advice re: academia, but possibly consumer debt too. If you've got 200k in student debt and made a mistake or two with your credit cards when you were young and stupid, 95k income can evaporate pretty quickly.

It doesn't sound like that's relevant to OP, though! With no outstanding debt and reasonable planning, a family of 3 can live fairly comfortable on 100k. (And I'm guessing with the stats phD, academia is probably not the goal. DC area is probably pretty good for that particular expertise!) Careful with the living far out, though. It saves a lot of money on real estate, but you are likely to find yourself needing 2 cars (and the associated costs of upkeep). With the commute taking longer, you tend to need more childcare hours (if/when you want childcare, of course, even if its only sporadic).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what field is your husband's PhD? Is he looking to move to academia? If so, you should know that finding an Asst. Prof. gig is like the draft--you go where they want you--and its more likely to be 35k in Arkansas than 100k in Reston.

Starting Asst. Profs I know at GMU are around 65k, I'm a little further south at 75k (and it took me 2 years post-PhD to get this job). I had offers in other places for around 40k.

You should go read the job search boards on the Chronicle of Higher Education forums before you get your heart set on NOVA.

FWIW, I don't live in NOVA anymore, but 2 years ago was struggling as a single professional at 95k in Alexandria. Like old car, small rental condo, cheap shampoo, no savings struggling (not real struggle, but not luxury).

How is that possible? Three years ago I was earning $60k, living in a studio downtown, old car, cheap shampoo, and had money for 401k, savings, and a reasonable amount of going out.

Not the PP, but I'm going to go ahead and guess: debt. Probably student debt, given the advice re: academia, but possibly consumer debt too. If you've got 200k in student debt and made a mistake or two with your credit cards when you were young and stupid, 95k income can evaporate pretty quickly.

It doesn't sound like that's relevant to OP, though! With no outstanding debt and reasonable planning, a family of 3 can live fairly comfortable on 100k. (And I'm guessing with the stats phD, academia is probably not the goal. DC area is probably pretty good for that particular expertise!) Careful with the living far out, though. It saves a lot of money on real estate, but you are likely to find yourself needing 2 cars (and the associated costs of upkeep). With the commute taking longer, you tend to need more childcare hours (if/when you want childcare, of course, even if its only sporadic).

Yes, no debt at all. Not even credit cards. We also have one car paid off. And academia is not the goal for dh.

[Anonymous]

Do you or your husband have student loans? That makes all the difference in the world, IMO. Needless to say, we do, make almost $300K combined with equivalent loans, and struggle (not put-food-on-the-table struggle obviously, but my commute is 1.5 hrs for a very long-hours job because we can't afford to live closer, I don't buy clothes/shoes basically ever, shop consignment for my 20 mo, etc).

[Anonymous]

It's tight for us on close to $250k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your husband have student loans? That makes all the difference in the world, IMO. Needless to say, we do, make almost $300K combined with equivalent loans, and struggle (not put-food-on-the-table struggle obviously, but my commute is 1.5 hrs for a very long-hours job because we can't afford to live closer, I don't buy clothes/shoes basically ever, shop consignment for my 20 mo, etc).

omg NO I said this like a million times ^^^ we have zero debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your husband have student loans? That makes all the difference in the world, IMO. Needless to say, we do, make almost $300K combined with equivalent loans, and struggle (not put-food-on-the-table struggle obviously, but my commute is 1.5 hrs for a very long-hours job because we can't afford to live closer, I don't buy clothes/shoes basically ever, shop consignment for my 20 mo, etc).

Is this real? What kind of debt are we talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your husband have student loans? That makes all the difference in the world, IMO. Needless to say, we do, make almost $300K combined with equivalent loans, and struggle (not put-food-on-the-table struggle obviously, but my commute is 1.5 hrs for a very long-hours job because we can't afford to live closer, I don't buy clothes/shoes basically ever, shop consignment for my 20 mo, etc).

omg NO I said this like a million times ^^^ we have zero debt.

Identify yourself as the OP when answering questions then.

[Anonymous]

We live in N Arlington and make $150K. I stay home with our 2 kids currently. We have plenty of money including for modest travel and savings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A townhouse in North Arlington will cost you at least $600K. Do your own math.

op doesn't want to live in Arlington. Not relevant.

Someone previously suggested a townhouse in Arlington. OP said that sounded great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what field is your husband's PhD? Is he looking to move to academia? If so, you should know that finding an Asst. Prof. gig is like the draft--you go where they want you--and its more likely to be 35k in Arkansas than 100k in Reston.

Starting Asst. Profs I know at GMU are around 65k, I'm a little further south at 75k (and it took me 2 years post-PhD to get this job). I had offers in other places for around 40k.

You should go read the job search boards on the Chronicle of Higher Education forums before you get your heart set on NOVA.

FWIW, I don't live in NOVA anymore, but 2 years ago was struggling as a single professional at 95k in Alexandria. Like old car, small rental condo, cheap shampoo, no savings struggling (not real struggle, but not luxury).

You were struggling ALONE making $95k?! I survived on my own in Arlington in my 20s on $38k. You were doing something wrong.

Are you stupid? Do you not understand the difference between being older and having children/mortgage/other responsibilities and being 20? If not, I AM surprised you made it because you are clearly a complete idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in N Arlington and make $150K. I stay home with our 2 kids currently. We have plenty of money including for modest travel and savings.

When did you buy your house? That makes ALL the difference. No one making $150K who didn't have significant savings for a downpayment on a $600K + house could make it on $150 and own a nice house.

[Anonymous]

We lived here with one kid and $100k in Ashburn and that shit was tight, Ashburn isn't some other state. A decent townhouse is still $2300 a month. At $185k with two it's comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many thanks to all of you. I'm feeling a little bit better now, knowing that it's do-able at around 100k, provided we rent far out.

sahm to 2 and 4 yr old in fairfax. We live in a TH, been staying home since 1st baby.
We are fine with Dh making 85k.

But we saved a lot pre kids, bought in 2002, drive "old" cars, and live within our means.

I'm in Fairfax, too, SAH with two kids, and make 100K, but we bought in 2010, share a car and live reasonably. We still have student loans, but it is tight. Doable, but tight.