You need to make $90,000 to be happy in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed half way done with grad school and I am pretty proud of my 72k. I read this blog all the time and try to understand either why that isnt a lot of money or what people must be buying in order to make that not a lot of money. I mean I am about to go on a two week safari in Africa--like I actually do expensive things sometimes and STILL feel comfortable. No kids yet, so of course I am coming from one perspective but still...even after reading peoples comments for years on this blog I don't get why I feel ok on that salary and other people dont. And for what it's worth I have no CC debt and I save--I do have student loan debt which sucks I guess.

Seriously. You have no clue. Get married, have some kids, and then come back and let us know how it's going.

[Anonymous]

This is an unwinable conversation. Congrats if you don't need money to make you happy. Congrats if you've figured out how to happily live in a 2 bedroom apartment with your family. But I'm really happy for me,
Because I left DC and have a great house, in a great neighborhood, with great schools, with super smart neighbors, and my husband has a job that pays more than his dc job AND with 9-5 hours. I am not telling any of you where I live because I don't want any if you to move here. And, it's NOT in a trailer park. The only people who claim to be happy poor were raised rich. People who were raised poor know it kind of sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed half way done with grad school and I am pretty proud of my 72k. I read this blog all the time and try to understand either why that isnt a lot of money or what people must be buying in order to make that not a lot of money. I mean I am about to go on a two week safari in Africa--like I actually do expensive things sometimes and STILL feel comfortable. No kids yet, so of course I am coming from one perspective but still...even after reading peoples comments for years on this blog I don't get why I feel ok on that salary and other people dont. And for what it's worth I have no CC debt and I save--I do have student loan debt which sucks I guess.

I'm not being snarky, but have kids and try affording decent childcare and finding a home (rent or buy, your choice) in a decent school district. Then you will understand. Its tough.

Your safari cost what, $10k? That's 4 months of daycare for my kids.

(FWIW, my finances are great. I have nothing to complain about personally.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed half way done with grad school and I am pretty proud of my 72k. I read this blog all the time and try to understand either why that isnt a lot of money or what people must be buying in order to make that not a lot of money. I mean I am about to go on a two week safari in Africa--like I actually do expensive things sometimes and STILL feel comfortable. No kids yet, so of course I am coming from one perspective but still...even after reading peoples comments for years on this blog I don't get why I feel ok on that salary and other people dont. And for what it's worth I have no CC debt and I save--I do have student loan debt which sucks I guess.

I'm not being snarky, but have kids and try affording decent childcare and finding a home (rent or buy, your choice) in a decent school district. Then you will understand. Its tough.

Your safari cost what, $10k? That's 4 months of daycare for my kids.

(FWIW, my finances are great. I have nothing to complain about personally.)

+1. I also felt really proud/well-off with a $70k salary before kids. It changes everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Move to a mobile home. There are at least 4 communities within 1 hr of DC. Super cheap living.
Put the crap in storage or give it away.
How in the world do you think poor people live on 1/2 -1/4 of what you make?

By being poor and having the poor of everything. Hardly a role model worth emulating.

you cannot just move to a mobile home. When one becomes available, then you can. The people living on 1/4 or 1/2 get government assistance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Move to a mobile home. There are at least 4 communities within 1 hr of DC. Super cheap living.
Put the crap in storage or give it away.
How in the world do you think poor people live on 1/2 -1/4 of what you make?

By being poor and having the poor of everything. Hardly a role model worth emulating.

you cannot just move to a mobile home. When one becomes available, then you can. The people living on 1/4 or 1/2 get government assistance

A single person making $45k does not get government assistance.
Point is there are options. They may not be what you want but they do exist. If you want the "perfect" lifestyle you have to pay for it.
If you want to leave this area, then leave!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Move to a mobile home. There are at least 4 communities within 1 hr of DC. Super cheap living.
Put the crap in storage or give it away.
How in the world do you think poor people live on 1/2 -1/4 of what you make?

By being poor and having the poor of everything. Hardly a role model worth emulating.

you cannot just move to a mobile home. When one becomes available, then you can. The people living on 1/4 or 1/2 get government assistance

A single person making $45k does not get government assistance.
Point is there are options. They may not be what you want but they do exist. If you want the "perfect" lifestyle you have to pay for it.
If you want to leave this area, then leave!

Oh, do shut up already.

[Anonymous]

Money =/= Happiness

If you don't know, you're doing it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Move to a mobile home. There are at least 4 communities within 1 hr of DC. Super cheap living.
Put the crap in storage or give it away.
How in the world do you think poor people live on 1/2 -1/4 of what you make?

By being poor and having the poor of everything. Hardly a role model worth emulating.

you cannot just move to a mobile home. When one becomes available, then you can. The people living on 1/4 or 1/2 get government assistance

A single person making $45k does not get government assistance.
Point is there are options. They may not be what you want but they do exist. If you want the "perfect" lifestyle you have to pay for it.
If you want to leave this area, then leave!

Oh, do shut up already.

Call Suzy Orman. Sounds like you need some financial budgeting assistance. Or a shrink for your anger issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed half way done with grad school and I am pretty proud of my 72k. I read this blog all the time and try to understand either why that isnt a lot of money or what people must be buying in order to make that not a lot of money. I mean I am about to go on a two week safari in Africa--like I actually do expensive things sometimes and STILL feel comfortable. No kids yet, so of course I am coming from one perspective but still...even after reading peoples comments for years on this blog I don't get why I feel ok on that salary and other people dont. And for what it's worth I have no CC debt and I save--I do have student loan debt which sucks I guess.

I'm not being snarky, but have kids and try affording decent childcare and finding a home (rent or buy, your choice) in a decent school district. Then you will understand. Its tough.

Your safari cost what, $10k? That's 4 months of daycare for my kids.

(FWIW, my finances are great. I have nothing to complain about personally.)

+1. I also felt really proud/well-off with a $70k salary before kids. It changes everything.

It changes EVERYTHING.

Signed,
A former $75k singleton who lived in a nice apartment in Dupont and also went on a safari.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Move to a mobile home. There are at least 4 communities within 1 hr of DC. Super cheap living.
Put the crap in storage or give it away.
How in the world do you think poor people live on 1/2 -1/4 of what you make?

By being poor and having the poor of everything. Hardly a role model worth emulating.

you cannot just move to a mobile home. When one becomes available, then you can. The people living on 1/4 or 1/2 get government assistance

A single person making $45k does not get government assistance.
Point is there are options. They may not be what you want but they do exist. If you want the "perfect" lifestyle you have to pay for it.
If you want to leave this area, then leave!

so at first it was a family getting by on $90k, now one single person on $45k a year.
Is this gross or after tax income? For 1 person or a family?

[Anonymous]

Let me get this straight, people are saying sure you can live happily on $75k a year in DC if your single or married without kids. But if you have kids you'll need to make $350k+ a year to be happy?

I call BS on that. Kids themselves do not cost $250k+ a year extra to raise. Let me be perfectly clear here, it's not the kids that are costing you that much more, it's YOUR choices. You are choosing to spend/waste that much money on your kids. When all they really need from you is your love, time, and basic needs met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me get this straight, people are saying sure you can live happily on $75k a year in DC if your single or married without kids. But if you have kids you'll need to make $350k+ a year to be happy?

I call BS on that. Kids themselves do not cost $250k+ a year extra to raise. Let me be perfectly clear here, it's not the kids that are costing you that much more, it's YOUR choices. You are choosing to spend/waste that much money on your kids. When all they really need from you is your love, time, and basic needs met.

you are living in a dream world. Babies need vaccinations, well baby visits w pediatrician, health insurance, day care, parents, good food, clothes, toys, babysitters

There is no way that by choices you can keep a baby with $200 per month, mabe per day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Move to a mobile home. There are at least 4 communities within 1 hr of DC. Super cheap living.
Put the crap in storage or give it away.
How in the world do you think poor people live on 1/2 -1/4 of what you make?

By being poor and having the poor of everything. Hardly a role model worth emulating.

you cannot just move to a mobile home. When one becomes available, then you can. The people living on 1/4 or 1/2 get government assistance

A single person making $45k does not get government assistance.
Point is there are options. They may not be what you want but they do exist. If you want the "perfect" lifestyle you have to pay for it.
If you want to leave this area, then leave!

Oh, do shut up already.

Call Suzy Orman. Sounds like you need some financial budgeting assistance. Or a shrink for your anger issues.

And you need a ladder to help you off your high horse.

[Anonymous]

Nobody has mentioned medical expenses. This is something that adds a lot to our budget. We have medical expenses not covered much by insurance (such as physical therapy and psychologist + psych for a child with those needs). It's a significant amount of money each month.