Middle class people how do you raise a family here?

[Anonymous]

We only manage because we got lucky buying an older house years ago and do pretty much all of our own home maintenance.

[Anonymous]

We comfortably live on $150K. Small house, did 20% down, DIY most things and pick a project a year for bigger stuff, two paid off cars - save to pay cash for the next car, shop discount stores, clearance and sales, and still have plenty for retirement, activities, and college. (we did pay for child care at one point too).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bought a house, live on a budget.

We have the same income and are in our 50s. You learn to live on it, and realize you can't keep up with others who live here.

[Anonymous]

HHI of $130k and one kid here. We don't max out 401ks and we rent a cheap older apartment. The main sacrifice is that we are spacing out our kids a lot, trying for #2 now and there will be at least a 5 year gap. I also am a new fed so I'm hoarding all my leave for maternity and don't vacation.

We are looking to buy a home and thinking we'll end up in either a condo in MoCo or a house in PG county with an hour+ metro commute. (i currently bike to work in a different district with not so good schools, but i can't even afford a condo in my current neighborhood).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HHI of $130k and one kid here. We don't max out 401ks and we rent a cheap older apartment. The main sacrifice is that we are spacing out our kids a lot, trying for #2 now and there will be at least a 5 year gap. I also am a new fed so I'm hoarding all my leave for maternity and don't vacation.

We are looking to buy a home and thinking we'll end up in either a condo in MoCo or a house in PG county with an hour+ metro commute. (i currently bike to work in a different district with not so good schools, but i can't even afford a condo in my current neighborhood).

I will add that the $130k is new, HHI was under $100k until a couple months ago. That's why we waited for #2.

[Anonymous]

Move to Bowie. Affordable homes, wonderful community, good commute. We paid off our Bowie home last year and are happy here. The Bowie public schools are good, and if your child tests into the science/math magnet (mine did), he gets free busing to Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt. My ERHS student was accepted at Berkeley and given full rides to other schools. You’ll be fine on $150,000.

[Anonymous]

You are not middle class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not middle class.

Yeah...top 10% at 150k. That is Upper Class.

[Anonymous]

We're doing ok with HHI of 105k with one kid. Older townhouse further out. Bought a newer used vehicle. We travel quite a bit in a frugal way. Kid does lots of activities. Schools are decent

[Anonymous]

Same hhi. We moved further out for affordable housing with with good schools. Bought for < 500k. Feel pretty comfortable actually, but my dh has been a great saver. Love our neighborhood. Just don’t take on a crazy mortgage (like 6-700k.) that’s the kool aid in this area that screws up everyone. Better off renting.

[Anonymous]

Where do PPs in this thread live? I'm so curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make $130,000 and have one DD. I dont understand why you cant manage?
We have a small SFH that cost 360,000 we pay a mortage on, My 2007 Honda is paid off but DW's newer Ford is not. We can't afford private school and DD attends the local ES which happens to be a Focus school that so far we are happy with.
But we travel twice a year, DD gets to do swimming, gymnastics etc and goes to nice summer camps for a few weeks each summer. We like to go to shows so we do that when a show comes along we want to see.
We don't eat out a lot mainly due to us both doing shift work but we do when we want to and have the time. We get together with friends at each others houses or go for hikes with other families.
I don't compare my life to those making $500,000, it would drive me crazy. We have a nice life and i am happy with it.

( We live in eastern Moco)

when did you buy it?

Right? Dear lord, I purchased a rambler built in 1955 with no updates in Sterling Virginia back in 2004 for 359k.to get the same thing now, you'd have to go to West Virginia. Not even exaggerating.

[Anonymous]

I make $156,000 with two kids and no debt and live well.

[Anonymous]

I am struggling. Lots of credit card debt. I have no money for sudden expenses. I just needed root canal and a crown. My kid got a retainer. Eventually descided on a 401k loan to pay off a big credit card balance.
We already have a long commute
I do not see it getting any better

[Anonymous]

Wow! This is eye opening.

We live in the Midwest on about $100,000. 5 bedroom home on a lake. Solid schools, really beautiful and safe area, plenty to do with the surrounding museums, parks, sports teams.

Do you have to stay in the DC area, OP?