Reply to Support a family of 4 on $55k/year

Forum Index » Money and Finances

Reply to "Support a family of 4 on $55k/year"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]you are all nuts who think you can do this in Metro DC for $55k.  We do $225k as a couple and have 2 kids and I think it's not enough for where we are (childcare is a mortgage in itself)!  The problem here is HOUSING.  You are so screwed with the money you shell out on housing here.  Have you seen prices in Arlington?  Anything that is metro accessible is going to cost you.  That is the biggest problem.  And the metro is crazy expensive and 1/2 the time tracks are closed on the weekends - WTF!  I'm from Chicago and do business in NYC - public transportation should not work that way esp. for how expensive metro is!

On $55k at about $3500/month net - you are looking at min 1/2 of that on a place to live.  My husband has a rental property in Reston we rent at $1800/month - for the sake of keeping the same tennants month/month - we have not raised rent in like 2 years and won't - we barely break even on the investment but at least don't worry about it.  Let me tell you I will not let us live there.  It's a 3BR with a finished basement - actually very nice house but terrible neighborhood with in Reston as we all know, there is no metro.  But it's pretty safe and centrally located.

So we're down to $1800/mo.  I don't know I suppose you can say $600/mo in groceries for a family of 4 (assuming you aren't eating all starch/fast food every meal and sneaking some nutrition in).  Probably at least $200 on utilities and $200 on bus transportation when possible or say you have to have a car/gas - that hikes it up to at least $400/month.  Some money for clothing, insurance, etc.  You know in life you have to bank a little for emergencies - so um, isn't that all your money?  It's the housing here that does you in I'm convinced of it.  Anywhere else in the US you can afford something ok for not as much - but not here!

[/quote]

You sound sheltered. And awful. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics