What’s a reasonable HHI to have children here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:75-100k per child if you live in a good school district

$75k HHI?

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.

Sometimes I think DCUM can no longer surprise me with the level of out-of-touch. But somehow, I'm still surprised.

[Anonymous]

What could a banana cost? Ten dollars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:75-100k per child if you live in a good school district

$75k HHI?

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.

Sometimes I think DCUM can no longer surprise me with the level of out-of-touch. But somehow, I'm still surprised.

Women refuse to date guys who make less than them. Make of that what you will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:75-100k per child if you live in a good school district

$75k HHI?

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.

Sometimes I think DCUM can no longer surprise me with the level of out-of-touch. But somehow, I'm still surprised.

Women refuse to date guys who make less than them. Make of that what you will.

Even if this was true (it's not), I promise you everyone woman does not automatically start making $80K on her 18th birthday. Would be amazing if we did though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:75-100k per child if you live in a good school district

$75k HHI?

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.

Sometimes I think DCUM can no longer surprise me with the level of out-of-touch. But somehow, I'm still surprised.

Women refuse to date guys who make less than them. Make of that what you will.

DP
I'm a guy and I teach in an ES. You'd be surprised.

[Anonymous]

I make $80k and we have a good quality of life. We did even when I made $20k less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make $80k and we have a good quality of life. We did even when I made $20k less.

How many kids do you have?

[Anonymous]

We spent hours going over our budget tonight. In Bethesda with 3 kids in public school we need at least $18k/month after taxes to live fairly comfortably. This includes childcare, food, two car payments, mortgage (5-br house), all utilities, landscaping, bi-weekly house cleaning, retirement/college savings, sports, etc. Everything.

Houses are expensive in any desirable location. Considering what you get for your money (diverse, well-educated interesting neighbors, great public schools), I think Bethesda/Potomac are a good deal. Childcare, camps, activities are super expensive here though. We pay sitters $30/hr. Summer camp for 3 kids is over $1600/week. Before/after care at the elementary school is thousands. Preschools that accommodate working hours are $20k+. Birthday parties are $500-$1000 at any local play space. I just paid $800 for spring tennis lessons. It just really really adds up fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We spent hours going over our budget tonight. In Bethesda with 3 kids in public school we need at least $18k/month after taxes to live fairly comfortably. This includes childcare, food, two car payments, mortgage (5-br house), all utilities, landscaping, bi-weekly house cleaning, retirement/college savings, sports, etc. Everything.

Houses are expensive in any desirable location. Considering what you get for your money (diverse, well-educated interesting neighbors, great public schools), I think Bethesda/Potomac are a good deal. Childcare, camps, activities are super expensive here though. We pay sitters $30/hr. Summer camp for 3 kids is over $1600/week. Before/after care at the elementary school is thousands. Preschools that accommodate working hours are $20k+. Birthday parties are $500-$1000 at any local play space. I just paid $800 for spring tennis lessons. It just really really adds up fast.

Yes, OP - remember you can’t have kids without a five-bedroom Bethesda house and $1,000 birthday parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I make $80k and we have a good quality of life. We did even when I made $20k less.

How many kids do you have?

One teenager

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:75-100k per child if you live in a good school district

$75k HHI?

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.

Sometimes I think DCUM can no longer surprise me with the level of out-of-touch. But somehow, I'm still surprised.

Women refuse to date guys who make less than them. Make of that what you will.

When we were dating I made roughly 2x my active duty, now husband. These days I make 3x hus income. But he's earning a pension and healtcare for life. And he's amazing I wouldn't trade him for a higher earning spouse.

[Anonymous]

[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:We spent hours going over our budget tonight. In Bethesda with 3 kids in public school we need at least $18k/month after taxes to live fairly comfortably. This includes childcare, food, two car payments, mortgage (5-br house), all utilities, landscaping, bi-weekly house cleaning, retirement/college savings, sports, etc. Everything.

Houses are expensive in any desirable location. Considering what you get for your money (diverse, well-educated interesting neighbors, great public schools), I think Bethesda/Potomac are a good deal. Childcare, camps, activities are super expensive here though. We pay sitters $30/hr. Summer camp for 3 kids is over $1600/week. Before/after care at the elementary school is thousands. Preschools that accommodate working hours are $20k+. Birthday parties are $500-$1000 at any local play space. I just paid $800 for spring tennis lessons. It just really really adds up fast.

There are such things as condos and townhouses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We spent hours going over our budget tonight. In Bethesda with 3 kids in public school we need at least $18k/month after taxes to live fairly comfortably. This includes childcare, food, two car payments, mortgage (5-br house), all utilities, landscaping, bi-weekly house cleaning, retirement/college savings, sports, etc. Everything.

Houses are expensive in any desirable location. Considering what you get for your money (diverse, well-educated interesting neighbors, great public schools), I think Bethesda/Potomac are a good deal. Childcare, camps, activities are super expensive here though. We pay sitters $30/hr. Summer camp for 3 kids is over $1600/week. Before/after care at the elementary school is thousands. Preschools that accommodate working hours are $20k+. Birthday parties are $500-$1000 at any local play space. I just paid $800 for spring tennis lessons. It just really really adds up fast.

I am from a family of 5 and we had 3BR. No issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We spent hours going over our budget tonight. In Bethesda with 3 kids in public school we need at least $18k/month after taxes to live fairly comfortably. This includes childcare, food, two car payments, mortgage (5-br house), all utilities, landscaping, bi-weekly house cleaning, retirement/college savings, sports, etc. Everything.

Houses are expensive in any desirable location. Considering what you get for your money (diverse, well-educated interesting neighbors, great public schools), I think Bethesda/Potomac are a good deal. Childcare, camps, activities are super expensive here though. We pay sitters $30/hr. Summer camp for 3 kids is over $1600/week. Before/after care at the elementary school is thousands. Preschools that accommodate working hours are $20k+. Birthday parties are $500-$1000 at any local play space. I just paid $800 for spring tennis lessons. It just really really adds up fast.

You chose to live an expensive lifestyle. We have a great life with 3 kids and spend 3x less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I make anywhere from 200k to 300k. Is this enough for a good quality life with a child?

Do you think that families with children who make less here have a bad quality of life?

DP

Yes. There are so many costs involved in having kids here. Sports and activities are marked up like crazy. Don’t get my started on the supplemental education needed because public sucks and there are few strong privates sub50K/annual

Kids don’t need all of this crap. What they need is love and love is free.
Family of 4 living happily in DC on $150k