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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Depends where you are (I can only speak to rent; I’m a single parent renting but not a teacher).  Downtown DC, 2BR will be $3000/month but you won’t have to pay for a car.  Further out it’ll get down to $2000/month (maybe lower?) but you’ll probably not want to rely on transit/walking/biking — MD and VA are not great without a car.  I know single people who manage but I would not want to do it with kids.  If you’re in a building with Fios internet can be pretty cheap — $40/month for the lowest level but still very good.  If you’re in DC proper some places also have DC Access with is free or very cheap.  Smartphones are more expensive; not sure what it would be for one person since I gave my parents on my plan too, but it’s over $100/month for three adults and the smallest available data package.  Ignore the PP who says not to save for college.  I’m not saving now (kids are in daycare) but I hope to start when they’re in elementary.  I think there’s some online calculates that can help you to determine how much.  In your position, I would only try to save for in state public; privates are insane and you need to eat.[/quote]

thanks so much

what do you spend on groceries?[/quote]

I budget $500/month for all food (groceries and takeout) and consider it one of the big indulgences of my budget — I buy expensive meat at the farmer’s market, organic grass fed dairy, etc.  I have two kids under 3 though — no idea how much it costs to feed an elementary schooler.

To the poster who says a car is necessary in DC.  I haven’t found it so, but I’ve never owned a car since I moved to an urban area for college so maybe I’m just used to walking/biking/busing everywhere?  Of course it depends on where you live and work I guess.  But I don’t have any plans to buy my own car until I move well outside the city limits.  For my rare car needs, I pay for a Zipcar account ($7/month for OP’s benefit).  I take a car out probably once every 2-3 months for trips to the beach or IKEA and it costs maybe $100 for the trip.[/quote]

I’m from nyc where you really don’t need a car. Dc is not a transit friendly city. I feel the only people who don’t have a car are poor people who can’t afford a car. Parking is pretty easy in dc and surrounding areas. Can’t imagine not having a car with a kid.[/quote]

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