Anonymous
12/09/2025 11:41
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
You are doing great. This was me from 2013 to 2021. My partner made about the same amount as your husband.
I worked evenings and weekend bringing in ca $20k a year. I learned to stretch every dollar and I still do, because I like it. I invested most of the money I earned from my part time job.
My partner bought a condo when baby was 4 months old. Looking back, I wish they hadn't. We would have been better off renting the whole time. Renting now and rent just went down.
For you, 401k up to the match, not the max, then both Roths, and then regular investment account. The long term capital gains in regular investment account could be $0 in the future. That's not the case with 401k.
Don't worry about the 529 too much. Put some money in there to make you feel better, but it does not beat Roth IRA or even RIA.
Biggest mistakes have been buying several properties over the years even though they were for living and nothing really went wrong. Second mistake was not maxing out Roth early and not managing my own money.
Do the math on real estate. I did, and after 30 years, I could buy the condo we rent, the one next door, and have money left over. Same result with houses I looked at. Buy when math and needs change.
Live below your means, learn to invest, learn all about taxes and retirement, pass the knowledge down to your DD (and your Roth IRA), and stay healthy.
I worked evenings and weekend bringing in ca $20k a year. I learned to stretch every dollar and I still do, because I like it. I invested most of the money I earned from my part time job.
My partner bought a condo when baby was 4 months old. Looking back, I wish they hadn't. We would have been better off renting the whole time. Renting now and rent just went down.
For you, 401k up to the match, not the max, then both Roths, and then regular investment account. The long term capital gains in regular investment account could be $0 in the future. That's not the case with 401k.
Don't worry about the 529 too much. Put some money in there to make you feel better, but it does not beat Roth IRA or even RIA.
Biggest mistakes have been buying several properties over the years even though they were for living and nothing really went wrong. Second mistake was not maxing out Roth early and not managing my own money.
Do the math on real estate. I did, and after 30 years, I could buy the condo we rent, the one next door, and have money left over. Same result with houses I looked at. Buy when math and needs change.
Live below your means, learn to invest, learn all about taxes and retirement, pass the knowledge down to your DD (and your Roth IRA), and stay healthy.
Anonymous
12/09/2025 10:44
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
Congrats on maxing out the 401(k), OP! And the other savings, too. That's really impressive and much better than I was doing at your income level. Finances may not be easy right now, but you're definitely on the right track!
Anonymous
12/09/2025 10:14
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
You're doing very well, and daycare costs are not forever. At this point I'd focus on home ownership. Not sure how easily your dh can move states, but if he can, I'd consider the midwest and buying a nice home for an affordable price there as it seems you want to live modestly.
Anonymous
12/09/2025 06:59
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is this post real? $3K is extremely expensive for daycare even for DC. Not sure why you’re talking about your daughter going to college or buying a house after it’s “your time to go”? Do you expect to die by 65 already or something? It’s very… melodramatic? Theater kid esque?
$3k for a newborn was the going rate in dc in 2021. i'm assuming it's worse now. if that was around what OP was taking home in pay it completely makes sense that she would choose to be a stay at home mom for some time.
$3k for daycare for 1 child is absolutely not the norm in DC. Stop lying.Time to come back to reality.
This is from a year ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/s/wN6KwQZLen
Anonymous
12/09/2025 02:23
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is this post real? $3K is extremely expensive for daycare even for DC. Not sure why you’re talking about your daughter going to college or buying a house after it’s “your time to go”? Do you expect to die by 65 already or something? It’s very… melodramatic? Theater kid esque?
$3k for a newborn was the going rate in dc in 2021. i'm assuming it's worse now. if that was around what OP was taking home in pay it completely makes sense that she would choose to be a stay at home mom for some time.
$3k for daycare for 1 child is absolutely not the norm in DC. Stop lying.Time to come back to reality.
Anonymous
12/09/2025 00:51
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
Anonymous wrote:Is this post real? $3K is extremely expensive for daycare even for DC. Not sure why you’re talking about your daughter going to college or buying a house after it’s “your time to go”? Do you expect to die by 65 already or something? It’s very… melodramatic? Theater kid esque?
$3k for a newborn was the going rate in dc in 2021. i'm assuming it's worse now. if that was around what OP was taking home in pay it completely makes sense that she would choose to be a stay at home mom for some time.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 21:47
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
Is this post real? $3K is extremely expensive for daycare even for DC. Not sure why you’re talking about your daughter going to college or buying a house after it’s “your time to go”? Do you expect to die by 65 already or something? It’s very… melodramatic? Theater kid esque?
Anonymous
12/08/2025 21:40
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
He needs to job jump for more money.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 21:38
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
Buy property
Anonymous
12/08/2025 17:31
Subject: Ways we can improve ( lower income scale)
Hi! Wondering ways we can better ourselves financially right now. I stopped working full-time after my baby. It was a brutal pregnancy/delivery and recovery. Plus 3000+ for a daycare spot it made sense for me to be home. I'm hoping I can pick up 1-2 shifts to help get things moving even quicker.
My DH brings in 107k with a 3-5% raise yearly and hopefully bigger adjustment when he gets a title bump. He works in non profit healthcare.
We max out his 401k because work matches a good amount. And fully funding 1 Roth IRA and have a little money in baby's 529. We also have money in the market. Estimated around 500k over the various accounts.
We are in our late 30s. And don't own. I think this will be our only child for financial reasons and said pregnancy trauma.
We really just want to be in a good place to live simply but nice to us and not burden our daughter with our retirement and hopefully leave her a good chunk and give her a leg up for school or home ownership when it's out time to go.
My DH brings in 107k with a 3-5% raise yearly and hopefully bigger adjustment when he gets a title bump. He works in non profit healthcare.
We max out his 401k because work matches a good amount. And fully funding 1 Roth IRA and have a little money in baby's 529. We also have money in the market. Estimated around 500k over the various accounts.
We are in our late 30s. And don't own. I think this will be our only child for financial reasons and said pregnancy trauma.
We really just want to be in a good place to live simply but nice to us and not burden our daughter with our retirement and hopefully leave her a good chunk and give her a leg up for school or home ownership when it's out time to go.