How much should I make to live in McLean, VA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Phone/Internet will be more than $50. I have just Internet and its $50 and the cheapest I could find. Do you have a cell phone bill? Are you planning to get cable? You don't mention a car payment. Even if you own your car, you need to start saving for a new one and/or repairs on your current one. Are you putting anything towards college? What about birthday/holiday gifts for your kids and other family. Do you receive child support?

I did stop by one of the apt this spring with assigned Sherman ES. 2 bedrooms was little than 2k before utility. The same apt is now for 2.5k
My kids are only 3 yrs. I do not need ES for 2 more yrs. I knew daycare in McLean is not cheap. There are not many apts with Sherman ES.
Rent goes up every yr but income does not. I don't want to tell my kids one day that they have to move to new ES because mom can't keep up with the rent. I have flex works that I can pick up the kids from school bus stop. Therefore, no child care cost before and after school ( I do pay for daycare at this time and the cost is not the problem ). My kids wear hand down clothes. I only buy 4 pairs of shoes per child (2 tennis style landsend brand, 1 open toes summer shoes landsend brand, 1 close toes water shoes kmart for $10 each. I stocked up all the way to size 3. I hope they will like the shoes ), new under pants, new socks. Wash clothes every other day. I have Comcast Internet for $39.95. Cox should has the same price ? I use pay per minute cell phone. My kids are 3 yrs => I don't use phone except for schedule yearly checkup. No car payment. I alway pay for new car because I don't know how to buy used car. Each car last for 10 yrs. I do have some money but I don't want to spend it. $100 per child for birthday. Friend's should be $20. But so far my kids got only 2 parties. Other family members, just cards and no money. Thank you everyone. I will think very hard before I move

All this sacrifice for your kids and when they go to school the run of the mill McLean kid will make fun of them for not having a McMansion, a BMW and designer shoes / clothes. True story.

I don't buy this, since the parents of the kids who fit that profile in the Sherman ES district usually send them to private schools such as "Little" Langley, Potomac, etc. [We come close, but we send our kids to public school and don't spring for any designer shit, so our kids are probably mockees rather than mockers.] There may not be a lot of apartments in the Sherman district, but there are plenty of townhouses.

But if it worries you so much, why not look at an apartment off Magarity zoned for Westgate. It's even closer to Tysons/McLean, the school is good, and the demographics skew less affluent. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here I am as a single Mom and wants to move to McLean in the next 2 years. I thought my budget should be OK.
HHI is about $110K. Take home after tax and max out 41K is $6K.
Rent and utility $2.5k
Food for 3 people $600
Health Ins $0. Employer paid for us
Life Ins $75
Car Ins $60
Phone & Internet $50
Gas $200
Roth IRA $500
Total is $4k for all spending. $2K per month for saving ?
2 Kids in puplic school. No after school care cost.

Phone/Internet will be more than $50. I have just Internet and its $50 and the cheapest I could find. Do you have a cell phone bill? Are you planning to get cable? You don't mention a car payment. Even if you own your car, you need to start saving for a new one and/or repairs on your current one. Are you putting anything towards college? What about birthday/holiday gifts for your kids and other family. Do you receive child support?

I did stop by one of the apt this spring with assigned Sherman ES. 2 bedrooms was little than 2k before utility. The same apt is now for 2.5k
My kids are only 3 yrs. I do not need ES for 2 more yrs. I knew daycare in McLean is not cheap. There are not many apts with Sherman ES.
Rent goes up every yr but income does not. I don't want to tell my kids one day that they have to move to new ES because mom can't keep up with the rent. I have flex works that I can pick up the kids from school bus stop. Therefore, no child care cost before and after school ( I do pay for daycare at this time and the cost is not the problem ). My kids wear hand down clothes. I only buy 4 pairs of shoes per child (2 tennis style landsend brand, 1 open toes summer shoes landsend brand, 1 close toes water shoes kmart for $10 each. I stocked up all the way to size 3. I hope they will like the shoes ), new under pants, new socks. Wash clothes every other day. I have Comcast Internet for $39.95. Cox should has the same price ? I use pay per minute cell phone. My kids are 3 yrs => I don't use phone except for schedule yearly checkup. No car payment. I alway pay for new car because I don't know how to buy used car. Each car last for 10 yrs. I do have some money but I don't want to spend it. $100 per child for birthday. Friend's should be $20. But so far my kids got only 2 parties. Other family members, just cards and no money. Thank you everyone. I will think very hard before I move

All this sacrifice for your kids and when they go to school the run of the mill McLean kid will make fun of them for not having a McMansion, a BMW and designer shoes / clothes. True story.

I agree. YOuou should look at more affordable areas thta have a shortish commute.

[Anonymous]

isn't that fairfax county- aren't the crips active there?

[Anonymous]

One of the most expensive places to live in the us. There are middle class people living there, but mostly they are the kind of middle class that most would call rich...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here I am as a single Mom and wants to move to McLean in the next 2 years. I thought my budget should be OK.
HHI is about $110K. Take home after tax and max out 41K is $6K.
Rent and utility $2.5k
Food for 3 people $600
Health Ins $0. Employer paid for us
Life Ins $75
Car Ins $60
Phone & Internet $50
Gas $200
Roth IRA $500
Total is $4k for all spending. $2K per month for saving ?
2 Kids in puplic school. No after school care cost.

Phone/Internet will be more than $50. I have just Internet and its $50 and the cheapest I could find. Do you have a cell phone bill? Are you planning to get cable? You don't mention a car payment. Even if you own your car, you need to start saving for a new one and/or repairs on your current one. Are you putting anything towards college? What about birthday/holiday gifts for your kids and other family. Do you receive child support?

I did stop by one of the apt this spring with assigned Sherman ES. 2 bedrooms was little than 2k before utility. The same apt is now for 2.5k
My kids are only 3 yrs. I do not need ES for 2 more yrs. I knew daycare in McLean is not cheap. There are not many apts with Sherman ES.
Rent goes up every yr but income does not. I don't want to tell my kids one day that they have to move to new ES because mom can't keep up with the rent. I have flex works that I can pick up the kids from school bus stop. Therefore, no child care cost before and after school ( I do pay for daycare at this time and the cost is not the problem ). My kids wear hand down clothes. I only buy 4 pairs of shoes per child (2 tennis style landsend brand, 1 open toes summer shoes landsend brand, 1 close toes water shoes kmart for $10 each. I stocked up all the way to size 3. I hope they will like the shoes ), new under pants, new socks. Wash clothes every other day. I have Comcast Internet for $39.95. Cox should has the same price ? I use pay per minute cell phone. My kids are 3 yrs => I don't use phone except for schedule yearly checkup. No car payment. I alway pay for new car because I don't know how to buy used car. Each car last for 10 yrs. I do have some money but I don't want to spend it. $100 per child for birthday. Friend's should be $20. But so far my kids got only 2 parties. Other family members, just cards and no money. Thank you everyone. I will think very hard before I move

All this sacrifice for your kids and when they go to school the run of the mill McLean kid will make fun of them for not having a McMansion, a BMW and designer shoes / clothes. True story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here I am as a single Mom and wants to move to McLean in the next 2 years. I thought my budget should be OK.
HHI is about $110K. Take home after tax and max out 41K is $6K.
Rent and utility $2.5k
Food for 3 people $600
Health Ins $0. Employer paid for us
Life Ins $75
Car Ins $60
Phone & Internet $50
Gas $200
Roth IRA $500
Total is $4k for all spending. $2K per month for saving ?
2 Kids in puplic school. No after school care cost.

Phone/Internet will be more than $50. I have just Internet and its $50 and the cheapest I could find. Do you have a cell phone bill? Are you planning to get cable? You don't mention a car payment. Even if you own your car, you need to start saving for a new one and/or repairs on your current one. Are you putting anything towards college? What about birthday/holiday gifts for your kids and other family. Do you receive child support?

I did stop by one of the apt this spring with assigned Sherman ES. 2 bedrooms was little than 2k before utility. The same apt is now for 2.5k
My kids are only 3 yrs. I do not need ES for 2 more yrs. I knew daycare in McLean is not cheap. There are not many apts with Sherman ES.
Rent goes up every yr but income does not. I don't want to tell my kids one day that they have to move to new ES because mom can't keep up with the rent. I have flex works that I can pick up the kids from school bus stop. Therefore, no child care cost before and after school ( I do pay for daycare at this time and the cost is not the problem ). My kids wear hand down clothes. I only buy 4 pairs of shoes per child (2 tennis style landsend brand, 1 open toes summer shoes landsend brand, 1 close toes water shoes kmart for $10 each. I stocked up all the way to size 3. I hope they will like the shoes ), new under pants, new socks. Wash clothes every other day. I have Comcast Internet for $39.95. Cox should has the same price ? I use pay per minute cell phone. My kids are 3 yrs => I don't use phone except for schedule yearly checkup. No car payment. I alway pay for new car because I don't know how to buy used car. Each car last for 10 yrs. I do have some money but I don't want to spend it. $100 per child for birthday. Friend's should be $20. But so far my kids got only 2 parties. Other family members, just cards and no money. Thank you everyone. I will think very hard before I move

All this sacrifice for your kids and when they go to school the run of the mill McLean kid will make fun of them for not having a McMansion, a BMW and designer shoes / clothes. True story.

I agree. YOuou should look at more affordable areas thta have a shortish commute.

Commute is better for me in McLean.
I always want what is best for my kids. Between sherman, kent gardens, chesterbook. Sherman is the only one has program for special needs at the school. The child does not need to take bus from base school to Sherman. One of my kid needs help with speech a little bit right now. Townhouse for rent in sherman ES is at least $2.7K.
I do know a few families with children are in sherman. Nobody says any bad about this school. I had lived in McLean for 10 years but it was a long time ago. I did not go to schools in Mclean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here I am as a single Mom and wants to move to McLean in the next 2 years. I thought my budget should be OK.
HHI is about $110K. Take home after tax and max out 41K is $6K.
Rent and utility $2.5k
Food for 3 people $600
Health Ins $0. Employer paid for us
Life Ins $75
Car Ins $60
Phone & Internet $50
Gas $200
Roth IRA $500
Total is $4k for all spending. $2K per month for saving ?
2 Kids in puplic school. No after school care cost.

Phone/Internet will be more than $50. I have just Internet and its $50 and the cheapest I could find. Do you have a cell phone bill? Are you planning to get cable? You don't mention a car payment. Even if you own your car, you need to start saving for a new one and/or repairs on your current one. Are you putting anything towards college? What about birthday/holiday gifts for your kids and other family. Do you receive child support?

I did stop by one of the apt this spring with assigned Sherman ES. 2 bedrooms was little than 2k before utility. The same apt is now for 2.5k
My kids are only 3 yrs. I do not need ES for 2 more yrs. I knew daycare in McLean is not cheap. There are not many apts with Sherman ES.
Rent goes up every yr but income does not. I don't want to tell my kids one day that they have to move to new ES because mom can't keep up with the rent. I have flex works that I can pick up the kids from school bus stop. Therefore, no child care cost before and after school ( I do pay for daycare at this time and the cost is not the problem ). My kids wear hand down clothes. I only buy 4 pairs of shoes per child (2 tennis style landsend brand, 1 open toes summer shoes landsend brand, 1 close toes water shoes kmart for $10 each. I stocked up all the way to size 3. I hope they will like the shoes ), new under pants, new socks. Wash clothes every other day. I have Comcast Internet for $39.95. Cox should has the same price ? I use pay per minute cell phone. My kids are 3 yrs => I don't use phone except for schedule yearly checkup. No car payment. I alway pay for new car because I don't know how to buy used car. Each car last for 10 yrs. I do have some money but I don't want to spend it. $100 per child for birthday. Friend's should be $20. But so far my kids got only 2 parties. Other family members, just cards and no money. Thank you everyone. I will think very hard before I move

All this sacrifice for your kids and when they go to school the run of the mill McLean kid will make fun of them for not having a McMansion, a BMW and designer shoes / clothes. True story.

I agree. YOuou should look at more affordable areas thta have a shortish commute.

Commute is better for me in McLean.
I always want what is best for my kids. Between sherman, kent gardens, chesterbook. Sherman is the only one has program for special needs at the school. The child does not need to take bus from base school to Sherman. One of my kid needs help with speech a little bit right now. Townhouse for rent in sherman ES is at least $2.7K.
I do know a few families with children are in sherman. Nobody says any bad about this school. I had lived in McLean for 10 years but it was a long time ago. I did not go to schools in Mclean.

That is just for special needs preschool. All three schools have special needs students beyond preschool. Speech therapists come to each school.

[Anonymous]

If I had your profile, OP, I would not choose to live in McLean. Just my view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So would 80K be enough if I had to pay for preschool?

We lived off 80 in Arlington and it was TIGHT. This was with one child in basic pre-school, eating out very rarely, one car payment for a used car, no vacations, etc. Wherever you live in NOVA, on 80 you are going to find it's expensive. This isn't to say you can't do it, but be prepared. I would look at other areas to see if you can still find great schools. We have friends in Falls Church and the one living in the 900,000 house just got rezoned with the friend living in the 350,000 townhouse who was in a less desirable school until now.

[Anonymous]

Pimmit for about $2k a month. But that is kind of faux McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pimmit for about $2k a month. But that is kind of faux McLean.

Tres faux. C'est Falls Church, pas McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pimmit for about $2k a month. But that is kind of faux McLean.

Tres faux. C'est Falls Church, pas McLean.

Merci. La bourgeoise ont besoin d'être eduques.

[Anonymous]

All this sacrifice for your kids and when they go to school the run of the mill McLean kid will make fun of them for not having a McMansion, a BMW and designer shoes / clothes. True story.

don't listen to this poster. grew up in mclean. many parts of mclean are very normal middle-class homes - split levels, ramblers, etc. also there were plenty of people who lived in apartments- mclean commons and the rotunda feed into mclean hs (or at least they did then). i never saw anyone being made fun of for anything money-related like cars, clothes. maybe things have changed since then, but i doubt it.

[Anonymous]

http://www.commonsofmclean.com/the-commons-of-mclean/Index.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pimmit for about $2k a month. But that is kind of faux McLean.

Tres faux. C'est Falls Church, pas McLean.

Merci. La bourgeoise ont besoin d'être eduques.

La petite bourgeoisie, je pense, dans ce cas.