How the shit do normal people afford to live here?

[Anonymous]

2. Take advantage of the numerous welfare programs offered in Maryland and DC. Energy assistance, childcare assistance, food stamps, Section 8 rent, etc.

You forgot to mention the biggest welfare opportunity in America - Northern Virginia's nasty lips rapped around the federal government's tit. NOVA is worse than any public housing project I have ever seen, in terms of "milking" the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How to live on $50K here?

1. Be an illegal alien and get paid under the table. That will save you a bunch of money, since you won't have to pay any income tax.

2. Take advantage of the numerous welfare programs offered in Maryland and DC. Energy assistance, childcare assistance, food stamps, Section 8 rent, etc.

3. Live with one or two other families in a townhouse and split the rent.

4. Figure out a way to earn more. Get a job with Montgomery County government where you'll earn $80,000 to do mundane work while getting a medical and dental plan that covers everything for very little copay.

You are completely out of touch. People live on this just fine and many are educated. Welfare? Virtually nobody can qualify on a salary of 50K without having 8 kids. I make more than 50K now but made less than that 4 years ago when I purchased my place in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:White folks live out in Front Royal, Winchester, Hagerstown. Plus, aside from a few of the ES in downtown Hagerstown, there's no worries about public schools.

The upgrades are maybe Leesburg, Frederick, Woodbridge if they are better off (say >100k HHI).

Some of the more adventurous White folks do buy in Prince George's and the safer parts of NE/SE DC, but they are over-represented here on DCUM, as many of the neighborhoods mentioned are still <80% Black.

Exactly, and to live close in you need 600k min to get with a higher class of people, really over 1M to be close in and be in a good class location.

50k wouldn't get you piss around here.

[Anonymous]

I have seen affordable rentals in Ashburn. Buying is crazy expensive though.

[Anonymous]

I am single and I make 45k a year.

I live in a very nice (studio) apartment for about $1400 a month all inclusive. This is more than I would like to be spending on rent, but I really value my space so it is worth it to me to "splurge" in this area.

My apartment is in a very nice neighborhood in upper NW and about 5 minutes from the metro. I think it is undervalued, and I shopped around a lot before I found it.

I work for a non profit, so even though I don't make much, I do have other good benefits. They contribute 15% of my income to a retirement account w/o matching. I do not save for retirement yet. I also have excellent health insurance for which I pay no portion of the premium.

I have a couple of chronic illnesses, so my medical expenses with co-pays and drugs come to about $50 a month.

I have a car but it is on my parent's insurance and I do not pay any costs other than maintenance and gas. I am lucky in that respect. I could get by w/o the car, although having it is a nice luxury.

I have a bit over 20k in student loans, and I pay more than the minimum amount each month. Even if it's an extra $20, I still pay more. I hope to have those paid off in a few years. They are federal loans but the interest rates are relatively high. This is part of the reason that I do not contribute to my retirement account.

I have get to travel a bit and eat good, healthy food from WF, although I sometimes supplement from TJs.

Sometimes I buy new clothes. I buy everything on sale and I am a very good shopper. I try to stretch my dollars.

I do not have cable or a home phone. I have internet and a smart phone, but with VM, I pay only $25 for service with data. Internet is $30 a month.

I have a small emergency fund and I am working on spending less and saving more.

I do not anticipate ever being able to own in the DC area and hope to move elsewhere when and if i have kids or purchase property.

I am job searching and hope to transition into the private sector and start earning more.

[Anonymous]

My thoughts exactly. The biggest cost is housing, so people with 50k incomes just live far away.
I know people that have commutes comming in from Baltimore, Prince William county, PG county, and even one person from WV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

2. Take advantage of the numerous welfare programs offered in Maryland and DC. Energy assistance, childcare assistance, food stamps, Section 8 rent, etc.

You forgot to mention the biggest welfare opportunity in America - Northern Virginia's nasty lips rapped around the federal government's tit. NOVA is worse than any public housing project I have ever seen, in terms of "milking" the system.

Amen sister, especially all the double dipping, people who have sued or threatened to sue their way into not working but getting paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

2. Take advantage of the numerous welfare programs offered in Maryland and DC. Energy assistance, childcare assistance, food stamps, Section 8 rent, etc.

You forgot to mention the biggest welfare opportunity in America - Northern Virginia's nasty lips rapped around the federal government's tit. NOVA is worse than any public housing project I have ever seen, in terms of "milking" the system.

You want to see a recession? If we actually do go over the fiscal cliff in March, you'll see the biggest economic recession since the Great Depression in Virginia. Virginia single-handedly takes more government dollars per capita than any other state, in many cases, more than two states. And those government defense contracts are in the prime path of the wrecking ball that is sequestration. There is a good chance that thousands of DoD contract employees in NoVa are going to be looking for work if sequestration hits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I made around $40,000/yr a few years ago. I am a single mother and live in a 2 bedroom apt. in Alexandria. I pay all of my bills every month. I don't go out much but I have enough for cable TV, internet, Netflix and occasional take-out or eating out. I don't have the money to go on vacation and I don't buy jewelry, nice clothes for myself. But we aren't struggling and I feel very fortunate.

You sound well adjusted! Just normal. Relief to know people like you are out there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

2. Take advantage of the numerous welfare programs offered in Maryland and DC. Energy assistance, childcare assistance, food stamps, Section 8 rent, etc.

You forgot to mention the biggest welfare opportunity in America - Northern Virginia's nasty lips rapped around the federal government's tit. NOVA is worse than any public housing project I have ever seen, in terms of "milking" the system.

You want to see a recession? If we actually do go over the fiscal cliff in March, you'll see the biggest economic recession since the Great Depression in Virginia. Virginia single-handedly takes more government dollars per capita than any other state, in many cases, more than two states. And those government defense contracts are in the prime path of the wrecking ball that is sequestration. There is a good chance that thousands of DoD contract employees in NoVa are going to be looking for work if sequestration hits.

I can't decide if that's a bad thing. We spend an absurd amount in defense spending. I have a friend who clears nearly $350,000 a year as a mid level IT contractor. Why so much? Hazard pay, because he works "in the field". He admits its absurd since the closest he ever gets to a conflict is hundreds of miles away in a fortified American base, complete with gym, dining rooms, wifi, satellite tv, etc. I can only imagine how many like him exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

2. Take advantage of the numerous welfare programs offered in Maryland and DC. Energy assistance, childcare assistance, food stamps, Section 8 rent, etc.

You forgot to mention the biggest welfare opportunity in America - Northern Virginia's nasty lips rapped around the federal government's tit. NOVA is worse than any public housing project I have ever seen, in terms of "milking" the system.

You want to see a recession? If we actually do go over the fiscal cliff in March, you'll see the biggest economic recession since the Great Depression in Virginia. Virginia single-handedly takes more government dollars per capita than any other state, in many cases, more than two states. And those government defense contracts are in the prime path of the wrecking ball that is sequestration. There is a good chance that thousands of DoD contract employees in NoVa are going to be looking for work if sequestration hits.

Good. It is weaning time because my tits are tired.

[Anonymous]

so let's say right now in the Philly suburbs DH is making 85,000. His company is sending him to DC. What do you think they'll up his pay to??? that's before taxes too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so let's say right now in the Philly suburbs DH is making 85,000. His company is sending him to DC. What do you think they'll up his pay to??? that's before taxes too.

Whatever it is, it won't compensate for the change in cost of living.

[Anonymous]

Does this hypothetical person have kids in day care

[Anonymous]

08:05: 2 kids, no daycare expense