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[quote=Anonymous]I don't know, OP. I think you're doing something wrong -- probably paying too much for mortgage? We have a $195K HHI and two kids (3 and 1). We had our first at 30 (when we were only making $165K), bought our small house in N Arlington that same year with the $140K downpayment we'd saved up over the 6 years we'd been married at that point (saved despite us taking turns at grad school and paying each others' way through so no loans). We also maxed out retirement every year except the year we bought our house. Our care is a great in-home daycare a couple blocks from our house. Cars were bought with cash so no payment.

Sounds like your mortgage is either too high (ours is $2200/month and we bought 3 years ago!) or you need to wait several years and save more money for child-related expenses or something. Not everyone can afford kids right away as soon as they get married (which is why there are so many moms in their upper 30s around here). You don't have kids now, so now is when you should be saving a HUGE chunk of cash. Unlike what some PP posted, they are hella expensive -- childcare, clothing, toys, etc, even if used/craigslisted -- not to mention all the convenience stuff you'll probably spring for as a PP brought up; logistics to save time or sanity like pizzas and a cleaning service (very hard to clean your house with an infant!) and extra carseats so you have one for each car... Cutting cable and wedding travel isn't going to make up a gap if the gap is too substantial.

In addition to having a similar HHI to you, we have no family money (sounds like you're ahead there since your parents need a planner). So yeah, you can make it work. But I don't know if that will be now or after you save for a bit.
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