If you are a SAHM or SAHD, how much money does your spouse make?

[Anonymous]

110K, renting in Bethesda.
While it might not be much by Bethesda standards, we feel very fortunate...perhaps since it's so much more than our 50k during grad school and the 45k postdoc!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that there are a lot of SAHM/D who can do so because their spouses pull in 250k plus. I find it more interesting to read about the families doing it under 150K, because it makes me realize that it can be done. Our HHI is 150k, with 2 kids, and I feel we don't save much at all nor do we have an extravagant life. maybe I need to re-examine things.

I posted earlier today that my DH makes about $130,000 and we live in the Falls Church/McLean area. We own a nice house (older, but large and a nice yard), and we have one child and another on the way. We live comfortably (to our standards at least, modest cars, modest vacations, rare dinners out, etc. but we also don't really clip coupons or shop at goodwill, etc.) and should have plenty to send our kids to preschool when the time comes while still saving for college and retirement. But, there are a few factors. I was well paid as a law firm attorney for about four years and was able to save a lot for a home down payment. And, my husband bought a condo right out of college in 2000 before housing got so expensive around here, and he built some equity. We also don't have much student debt between us (about $20,000). But, all that being said, we still could do what we do without the savings from my past job and without the equity from his condo sale if we lived in a small house or townhome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i stay at home, and my husband makes $55,000.

i think it's interesting that people are wondering where all the "loaded" DCUMers are. when i read about salaries of even $100,000 i think you are loaded. it's kind of hard for me to hear about people complaining about how they don't have any money when they have so much more than us. likewise i'm sure people who make $20,000 a year or live in impoverished nations would feel the same way about me.

it's all relative i guess.

Where do you live? $55,000 in PG county (where I live) goes a lot further than if you lived in Arlington or Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

$300k in North Potomac.

[Anonymous]

kensington.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i stay at home, and my husband makes $55,000.

i think it's interesting that people are wondering where all the "loaded" DCUMers are. when i read about salaries of even $100,000 i think you are loaded. it's kind of hard for me to hear about people complaining about how they don't have any money when they have so much more than us. likewise i'm sure people who make $20,000 a year or live in impoverished nations would feel the same way about me.

it's all relative i guess.

Where do you live? $55,000 in PG county (where I live) goes a lot further than if you lived in Arlington or Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

i'm the one who posted that my husband makes $55,000. i live in kensington. we have two kids also. we manage to get by somehow and to be happy in the process. sometimes it's frustrating (and ill admit i am jealous of all of you who have more money to work with) but we've made it work somehow.

Anonymous wrote:I know that there are a lot of SAHM/D who can do so because their spouses pull in 250k plus. I find it more interesting to read about the families doing it under 150K, because it makes me realize that it can be done. Our HHI is 150k, with 2 kids, and I feel we don't save much at all nor do we have an extravagant life. maybe I need to re-examine things.

[Anonymous]

I live in the area the OP is looking at and my husband makes $350.

[Anonymous]

$150K. We have 2 kids, one in public school, the other in preschool. Have an expensive mortgage and student loans. Eat out once a week. Take one vaca a year at my parent's house. We don't save a dime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$150K. We have 2 kids, one in public school, the other in preschool. Have an expensive mortgage and student loans. Eat out once a week. Take one vaca a year at my parent's house. We don't save a dime.

If I may ask -- and without any offense! -- do you plan to return to work when both kids are in school full-time? That's the only way I think we could work SAHM, so I am interested to see what others plan to do.

[Anonymous]

We live in PG county, moved here from N Arlington when I knew that I would SAH. There are nice pockets here, you have to know where to look, and money goes so much further! DH makes 65K and we are comfortable and happy. I will go back to work enough hours to cover private school tuition when our child is older.

[Anonymous]

We don't live lavishly, and I watch the pennies, but no freakin' way could I live like some of you. You all must be really young. I went to college and grad school, worked hard, but would like to enjoy the fruits of my education and life with my children while they are still young. That includes good food, trips, a nice home, and education. I couldn't sleep at night if I weren't saving for college and retirement. I hope you all find that it is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in PG county, moved here from N Arlington when I knew that I would SAH. There are nice pockets here, you have to know where to look, and money goes so much further! DH makes 65K and we are comfortable and happy. I will go back to work enough hours to cover private school tuition when our child is older.

Another parent who moved from DC to PG so we could afford for me to SAH and have a nice house. My DH makes about 60K and we're okay. We have 2 cars, a nice house, enough to pay the bills, etc. If we had stayed in DC we'd still be renting a house with no yard and both of us would have to work. The schools are good for the lower grades here and we plan to move when the kids are in the 3rd or 4th grade.

[Anonymous]

According to the US Census, the median household income in Montgomery County in 2008 was about $94,000. PG County is about $72,000. And Arlington County's median household income is around $98,000.

And these are some of the most affluent counties in the country with all but PG in the list of the top 10 in the country.

I'm really enjoying reading the posts and seeing how folks live! Thanks for everyone who has chimed in.

I am pregnant with a second child. Husband makes around $62,000 and works in a federal job. I work 32 hours a week and make $56,000. Our 2 year old is in daycare 3 days a week and we pay around $600/month for that. Own a 2,000 sqft house in PG county. Mortgage is around $2100/mo. We share our house with another couple, who rent from us, and that covers about half the mortgage. No debt other than the mortgage.

We could swing it on just one income, and are considering it, but it does feel like a real pinch compared with our current cushy finances.

We readily spend money on some things - like higher quality food (the milk we buy is $10/gal and we try to stick with grass-fed meat). Then scrimp like hell on others - our kid has almost no new clothes or new toys. Having used things is a better match for our ideas of environmental sustainability. And also, its how my mom raised her family!

Oh, and we're happy

[Anonymous]

I've been a SAHM since May 2007. I was making $75k at the time and was able to put away roughly two years worth of pay before #1 was born. DH makes $500k We live in Kentlands.

My SIL lives close by, she is currently in bankruptcy. Her DH makes $450k yet they are not able to live within their means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't live lavishly, and I watch the pennies, but no freakin' way could I live like some of you. You all must be really young. I went to college and grad school, worked hard, but would like to enjoy the fruits of my education and life with my children while they are still young. That includes good food, trips, a nice home, and education. I couldn't sleep at night if I weren't saving for college and retirement. I hope you all find that it is worth it.

I agree with all of this - so we are moving out of the area