Does anyone have a HHI less than 100k?

[Anonymous]

DH & I were at about 100k in our first year of marriage. Then he was un/underemployed for a year and we made 80k that year - also when our first was born. We're now well above but yes, I've been there with a child. I think if you're both working, then a licensed in-home, taking public transit, living in a small one or two bedroom in the burbs, and eating bean & cheese burritos for dinner a couple times a week is the way to go.

It can be done but just be very watchful of shopping habits. I think it's less of an issue if you both work and are busy but having an unemployed spouse at home all day, bored and seeing all the potential projects for the house can easily get out of hand with purchases you don't actually need and can't really afford.

[Anonymous]

Divorced mom looking at a ~$90K HHI for 2014 (includes child support, alimony, my own meager earnings).

The ONLY way this is doable is that I'm living in a NWDC house purchased in 2000. Driving by it, you'd think my HHI was about $600,000 more than it really is. You wouldn't know I keep the heat near freezing, conserve water and lights and run water through the coffee grounds twice to get 2 pots of coffee.

[Anonymous]

Family of 5 making 90-110K/year. You get used to the daily grind. Hard part is the surprises (medical bills, car repairs).

[Anonymous]

For those families with HHI 100k or less, could you please share your budget? Our combined income is about 86k, one child in day-care. My husband is considering a job that he really likes, but he will have to take a pay-cut of about 20k, which will bring our HHI to $65k.

I would appreciate any examples of budgets with simmilar HHI, so that I can ge an idea.

Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

96K Here
I rely on my credit card a lot.
I still do not know how I will pay for summer camp. Somehow still managing to survive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you people survive, DH and I make almost 200k, and I feel like it's not enough, and we don't have kids.

I don't have a car, don't have a house, don't get manicures, don't have a gym membership, don't eat out much, don't go on fancy vacations, don't buy lots of clothes or expensive clothes, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Just finished our taxes. Our AGI was about $60k for 2013 and our taxable income was less than $20k.

That said we are thrifty and I feel as if we are very comfortable. We max out retirement savings and also save for college. We are lucky to have low housing costs, no student loans and no childcare costs.

How on earth are you both maxing out retirement savings on that income? The 2014 limit is 17,500, I thought it was per person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:95K here - SAHM and live in McLean - we definitely penny-pinch compared to our neighbors, but it can be done!

Where do you live in McLean on this HHI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:95K here - SAHM and live in McLean - we definitely penny-pinch compared to our neighbors, but it can be done!

Wow I'm impressed!! Where do you live in McLean? Houses are so expensive there!

[Anonymous]

Yes, family of 4 here with HHI about 85,000. Unlike all the rich and delusional people on this board, we are actually very comfortable at this income. We rent in NW DC, one kid in DCPS and a little one at home. We eat out, don't penny pinch, but control large expenses to build up on savings and buy a house in the future. No college savings, a little bit in retirement and zero debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, family of 4 here with HHI about 85,000. Unlike all the rich and delusional people on this board, we are actually very comfortable at this income. We rent in NW DC, one kid in DCPS and a little one at home. We eat out, don't penny pinch, but control large expenses to build up on savings and buy a house in the future. No college savings, a little bit in retirement and zero debt.

Could you share your budget? I am in a similar situation, but we only have one child that goes to day-care and wish to have a second one, but it will be hard to afford child-care for two children.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Move out of that urban hellhole and get your priorities in order. You all are some highfalutin wannabes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, family of 4 here with HHI about 85,000. Unlike all the rich and delusional people on this board, we are actually very comfortable at this income. We rent in NW DC, one kid in DCPS and a little one at home. We eat out, don't penny pinch, but control large expenses to build up on savings and buy a house in the future. No college savings, a little bit in retirement and zero debt.

Could you share your budget? I am in a similar situation, but we only have one child that goes to day-care and wish to have a second one, but it will be hard to afford child-care for two children.

Thanks!

Not poster, but we make around 70k, live in NW DC in 1-bedroom. Approximate monthly budget below. No debt or loans. Above average savings for age/income.

1300 Rent (Lucky enough to have same rent for past 4 years)
400 Groceries
300 Dining/Date Nights/Visiting Friends
125 Work Lunch for both (Try to bring leftovers and keep below 100)
225 Gas/Insurance/Public Transportation
70 Cell Phone (2x Unlimited prepaid w/Virgin. Just switched from Verizon, the service is just as good and over 1k year savings.)
50 Internet (No cable, watch everything online)
250 Vacation Fund
1200 Emergency/Retirement Savings

Around $4k monthly budget.

I have started working on post-baby budget and expect a $300-400 bump not including childcare. Daycare is obscene and I am ignoring it since we may not even need it if we move next summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, family of 4 here with HHI about 85,000. Unlike all the rich and delusional people on this board, we are actually very comfortable at this income. We rent in NW DC, one kid in DCPS and a little one at home. We eat out, don't penny pinch, but control large expenses to build up on savings and buy a house in the future. No college savings, a little bit in retirement and zero debt.

Could you share your budget? I am in a similar situation, but we only have one child that goes to day-care and wish to have a second one, but it will be hard to afford child-care for two children.

Thanks!

Not poster, but we make around 70k, live in NW DC in 1-bedroom. Approximate monthly budget below. No debt or loans. Above average savings for age/income.

1300 Rent (Lucky enough to have same rent for past 4 years)
400 Groceries
300 Dining/Date Nights/Visiting Friends
125 Work Lunch for both (Try to bring leftovers and keep below 100)
225 Gas/Insurance/Public Transportation
70 Cell Phone (2x Unlimited prepaid w/Virgin. Just switched from Verizon, the service is just as good and over 1k year savings.)
50 Internet (No cable, watch everything online)
250 Vacation Fund
1200 Emergency/Retirement Savings

Around $4k monthly budget.

I have started working on post-baby budget and expect a $300-400 bump not including childcare. Daycare is obscene and I am ignoring it since we may not even need it if we move next summer.

Oh no daycare right now. That's a big difference. Will take your emergency savings and maybe that vacation fund too. That doesn't count diapers, clothing, and other child-related stuff.
I mean sure I could do that too... but I have a kid in full-time daycare. When we first had him we were at 100k HHI. Luckily that's increased over the last three years to be 50% more (bust my rear at work and changed jobs)... and we are *almost* done with daycare.

[Anonymous]

I am the post who asked about sharing budget, but not the pp.

However, I second pp about child-care leaving a room for savings and vacation. If you have to pay for day-care it could cost between $1200-2000. Anyways, thanks for sharing, I will look into Virgin for cell-phone service as I currently pay twice as much.