Low Earning SAHP and Middle Class Households

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ok. DH makes 90k. We saved a lot before kids and bought a 1.8M house in a good school district. Mortgage is under $300. We rent out a room and that brings in 15K - that's my play money. Kid's colleges are almost funded, but we're also saving for grad school.

I really wanted to quit but didn't think DH would be okay with it. Turns out, he really wanted me to stay home as well. I worked the first year after our first child was born and our other children, so I spent more time with, are much smarter and less socially awkward. I regret working when the first was a baby!

My kids can do so much with me that other kids miss out on. So many nature activities, trips, and even just snuggles make a difference. Playdates and preschool give them social interaction.

You managed to save enough to buy 1.8M house and your mortgage is under $300(k?) on $90k/year. Please share your secret. How long did it take to save 1.5mill?

We made over 200k before having kids and saved like crazy. DH had paid off his first house by 40 and I had equity as well.

No student loans, inheritance from in-laws, having kids later all helped

Many things people couldn’t live without, we feel we don’t need (new cars, cable, exotic vacations, expensive clothes, restaurants)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ok. DH makes 90k. We saved a lot before kids and bought a 1.8M house in a good school district. Mortgage is under $300. We rent out a room and that brings in 15K - that's my play money. Kid's colleges are almost funded, but we're also saving for grad school.

I really wanted to quit but didn't think DH would be okay with it. Turns out, he really wanted me to stay home as well. I worked the first year after our first child was born and our other children, so I spent more time with, are much smarter and less socially awkward. I regret working when the first was a baby!

My kids can do so much with me that other kids miss out on. So many nature activities, trips, and even just snuggles make a difference. Playdates and preschool give them social interaction.

You managed to save enough to buy 1.8M house and your mortgage is under $300(k?) on $90k/year. Please share your secret. How long did it take to save 1.5mill?

We made over 200k before having kids and saved like crazy. DH had paid off his first house by 40 and I had equity as well.

No student loans, inheritance from in-laws, having kids later all helped

Many things people couldn’t live without, we feel we don’t need (new cars, cable, exotic vacations, expensive clothes, restaurants)

L O L "I mean you too can live in a 2 million dollar house if your parents pay for it and all of your schooling! Easy peasy!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ok. DH makes 90k. We saved a lot before kids and bought a 1.8M house in a good school district. Mortgage is under $300. We rent out a room and that brings in 15K - that's my play money. Kid's colleges are almost funded, but we're also saving for grad school.

I really wanted to quit but didn't think DH would be okay with it. Turns out, he really wanted me to stay home as well. I worked the first year after our first child was born and our other children, so I spent more time with, are much smarter and less socially awkward. I regret working when the first was a baby!

My kids can do so much with me that other kids miss out on. So many nature activities, trips, and even just snuggles make a difference. Playdates and preschool give them social interaction.

You managed to save enough to buy 1.8M house and your mortgage is under $300(k?) on $90k/year. Please share your secret. How long did it take to save 1.5mill?

We made over 200k before having kids and saved like crazy. DH had paid off his first house by 40 and I had equity as well.

No student loans, inheritance from in-laws, having kids later all helped

Many things people couldn’t live without, we feel we don’t need (new cars, cable, exotic vacations, expensive clothes, restaurants)

L O L "I mean you too can live in a 2 million dollar house if your parents pay for it and all of your schooling! Easy peasy!"

Ahh yes the fine print of every success story plus not having cable.!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ok. DH makes 90k. We saved a lot before kids and bought a 1.8M house in a good school district. Mortgage is under $300. We rent out a room and that brings in 15K - that's my play money. Kid's colleges are almost funded, but we're also saving for grad school.

I really wanted to quit but didn't think DH would be okay with it. Turns out, he really wanted me to stay home as well. I worked the first year after our first child was born and our other children, so I spent more time with, are much smarter and less socially awkward. I regret working when the first was a baby!

My kids can do so much with me that other kids miss out on. So many nature activities, trips, and even just snuggles make a difference. Playdates and preschool give them social interaction.

You managed to save enough to buy 1.8M house and your mortgage is under $300(k?) on $90k/year. Please share your secret. How long did it take to save 1.5mill?

We made over 200k before having kids and saved like crazy. DH had paid off his first house by 40 and I had equity as well.

No student loans, inheritance from in-laws, having kids later all helped

Many things people couldn’t live without, we feel we don’t need (new cars, cable, exotic vacations, expensive clothes, restaurants)

L O L "I mean you too can live in a 2 million dollar house if your parents pay for it and all of your schooling! Easy peasy!"

Ahh yes the fine print of every success story plus not having cable.!

Just stop going to Starbucks and also make sure your father was a partner somewhere!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ok. DH makes 90k. We saved a lot before kids and bought a 1.8M house in a good school district. Mortgage is under $300. We rent out a room and that brings in 15K - that's my play money. Kid's colleges are almost funded, but we're also saving for grad school.

I really wanted to quit but didn't think DH would be okay with it. Turns out, he really wanted me to stay home as well. I worked the first year after our first child was born and our other children, so I spent more time with, are much smarter and less socially awkward. I regret working when the first was a baby!

My kids can do so much with me that other kids miss out on. So many nature activities, trips, and even just snuggles make a difference. Playdates and preschool give them social interaction.

You managed to save enough to buy 1.8M house and your mortgage is under $300(k?) on $90k/year. Please share your secret. How long did it take to save 1.5mill?

We made over 200k before having kids and saved like crazy. DH had paid off his first house by 40 and I had equity as well.

No student loans, inheritance from in-laws, having kids later all helped

Many things people couldn’t live without, we feel we don’t need (new cars, cable, exotic vacations, expensive clothes, restaurants)

L O L "I mean you too can live in a 2 million dollar house if your parents pay for it and all of your schooling! Easy peasy!"

Ahh yes the fine print of every success story plus not having cable.!

We don't have cable, we don't have many things you think we should and there is no way we can afford a 2 million dollar house on that kind of income. We haven't had a vacation in years, no expensive clothing, one new car but paid cash and we keep our cars 15+ years or until they are not safe to drive). Bottom line is the in-laws gave you a huge chunk of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ok. DH makes 90k. We saved a lot before kids and bought a 1.8M house in a good school district. Mortgage is under $300. We rent out a room and that brings in 15K - that's my play money. Kid's colleges are almost funded, but we're also saving for grad school.

I really wanted to quit but didn't think DH would be okay with it. Turns out, he really wanted me to stay home as well. I worked the first year after our first child was born and our other children, so I spent more time with, are much smarter and less socially awkward. I regret working when the first was a baby!

My kids can do so much with me that other kids miss out on. So many nature activities, trips, and even just snuggles make a difference. Playdates and preschool give them social interaction.

You managed to save enough to buy 1.8M house and your mortgage is under $300(k?) on $90k/year. Please share your secret. How long did it take to save 1.5mill?

We made over 200k before having kids and saved like crazy. DH had paid off his first house by 40 and I had equity as well.

No student loans, inheritance from in-laws, having kids later all helped

Many things people couldn’t live without, we feel we don’t need (new cars, cable, exotic vacations, expensive clothes, restaurants)

L O L "I mean you too can live in a 2 million dollar house if your parents pay for it and all of your schooling! Easy peasy!"

Ahh yes the fine print of every success story plus not having cable.!

Just stop going to Starbucks and also make sure your father was a partner somewhere!

I don't go to starbucks but maybe I should go a few times to say I cut it out.

[Anonymous]

There are a decent number of these families in the DC area, actually, especially in the enlisted military community. I know it isn't exactly the same b/c military families get assistance with housing but there are many of them with a SAHP and one enlisted salary in areas like Lorton, Woodbridge etc.

[Anonymous]

Lol I told you guys it was because they didn’t buy the house with their money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:can DH get a PT job to supplement income? I work a PT job in addition to my FT job and make an extra $12K.

My cousin is a SAHP with 4 kids (1,4,6,8) and watches 1 or 2 other kids and has to be pulling in a couple K per month.

Maybe you could work one weekend day somewhere chill to get out of the house, like a bookstore or yoga studio.

No. He’s a first year assistant professor and so is constantly busy with a lot of unpaid labor but that’s just kind of how it works. If he’s not working, he should be type situation. Publish or Perish.

Okay, what is he a professor of? His income potential and what he does long-term depends a lot on the field. His backup non-academia options also depend highly on the field (for example, if it's certain science fields he has much, much better backup options than humanities).

[Anonymous]

"I’m in a very low wage field that’s very taxing, demanding and unpredictable so it made sense for me to stay home to cut the childcare costs."

You answered the question with this statement. When it costs more to work (not just financially, but also in terms of time and stress for your family). I SAHMed for a decade in NOVA, and we weren't rich. We just lived lean. I am glad I had that time with my kids. The school systems there (FCPS, etc.) can be very, very stressful for K-12 kids. My kids got to come home after school on the bus. Seeing their relieved "I'm almost home" faces coming home from the bus made it worth it to me. No regrets. I would do it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a SAHM in CLEVELAND and my husband makes almost $150K. I can't imagine living in DC on $68k.

I have several friends who stay home but watch one or two kids. That could be an option for you? I'm sure lots of people in DC are looking for childcare.

Not really an option for OP, as she already has twins that are under one year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I’m in a very low wage field that’s very taxing, demanding and unpredictable so it made sense for me to stay home to cut the childcare costs."

You answered the question with this statement. When it costs more to work (not just financially, but also in terms of time and stress for your family). I SAHMed for a decade in NOVA, and we weren't rich. We just lived lean. I am glad I had that time with my kids. The school systems there (FCPS, etc.) can be very, very stressful for K-12 kids. My kids got to come home after school on the bus. Seeing their relieved "I'm almost home" faces coming home from the bus made it worth it to me. No regrets. I would do it again.

I do not SAHM technically but I WAH in a flexible job where I am done by the time they get home for this reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol I told you guys it was because they didn’t buy the house with their money.

Yep.

[Anonymous]

OP you should repost. Sorry the thread got derailed by the crazy poster who inherited money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Ok. DH makes 90k. We saved a lot before kids and bought a 1.8M house in a good school district. Mortgage is under $300. We rent out a room and that brings in 15K - that's my play money. Kid's colleges are almost funded, but we're also saving for grad school.

I really wanted to quit but didn't think DH would be okay with it. Turns out, he really wanted me to stay home as well. I worked the first year after our first child was born and our other children, so I spent more time with, are much smarter and less socially awkward. I regret working when the first was a baby!

My kids can do so much with me that other kids miss out on. So many nature activities, trips, and even just snuggles make a difference. Playdates and preschool give them social interaction.

I can’t wrap my head around these numbers, unless you had kids at 45

That whole post is so bonkers that I think it is someone mocking SAHMs.

Yep. Don't feed the troll.