Anonymous
05/08/2013 13:13
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Sounds like the charter is just for Pre-school. Where do you want to go to elementary+ ? Move to where you will be in-bounds for that. I don't think it makes sense to move now and in 2 years move again.
Anonymous
05/08/2013 12:05
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Where are you getting $60 for home phone & Internet?
Verizon
Verizon
Anonymous
05/08/2013 12:04
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Move closer to the charter school. Really go through your budget to cut expenses and pay down debt. There is no reason to live paycheck to paycheck based on your income and fixed expenses. Depending on where your charter school is, you might be able to rent a house nearby for a little over $2000 (Ft. Totten/Riggs Park/North Michigan Park/Michigan Park--the residential streets have a quiet, friendly feel) rather than an apartment.
For what it's worth, we spend a total of $70 for two cell phones and $60 for internet (includes home phone) and no cable or other TV-type expenses. We try to stick to books and DVDs from the library. Kid classes and entertainment aren't necessary, neither is eating out.
Don't buy a house in DC with a school-aged kid. Long-term, moving near your husband's job might be a good idea, assuming it's a stable job in an area with good schools.
Where are you getting $60 for home phone & Internet?
Not the poster you are quoting, but we pay Verizon $65 a month (including taxes) for phone and internet. It was higher, but I called them to see if they would bring it down. (This is not for FIOS and it is not for cable.)
Anonymous
05/08/2013 12:00
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Anonymous wrote:Move closer to the charter school. Really go through your budget to cut expenses and pay down debt. There is no reason to live paycheck to paycheck based on your income and fixed expenses. Depending on where your charter school is, you might be able to rent a house nearby for a little over $2000 (Ft. Totten/Riggs Park/North Michigan Park/Michigan Park--the residential streets have a quiet, friendly feel) rather than an apartment.
For what it's worth, we spend a total of $70 for two cell phones and $60 for internet (includes home phone) and no cable or other TV-type expenses. We try to stick to books and DVDs from the library. Kid classes and entertainment aren't necessary, neither is eating out.
Don't buy a house in DC with a school-aged kid. Long-term, moving near your husband's job might be a good idea, assuming it's a stable job in an area with good schools.
Where are you getting $60 for home phone & Internet?
Anonymous
05/08/2013 10:07
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
unless you are positive the charter school will work for your family, I would not move closer to it, at least not until after a few months of a trial period. Can you use zipcar for the first few months to help with drop off/pickup?
Anonymous
05/08/2013 09:51
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
which charter are you considering?
Anonymous
05/08/2013 09:42
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
9:37 here again--if you move closer to the charter school, will you want a second car to commute to work regardless of what the walk is like? If your main concern is that walking around the charter school is iffy, then definitely try walking around there before you buy a second car.
Anonymous
05/08/2013 09:37
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Move closer to the charter school. Really go through your budget to cut expenses and pay down debt. There is no reason to live paycheck to paycheck based on your income and fixed expenses. Depending on where your charter school is, you might be able to rent a house nearby for a little over $2000 (Ft. Totten/Riggs Park/North Michigan Park/Michigan Park--the residential streets have a quiet, friendly feel) rather than an apartment.
For what it's worth, we spend a total of $70 for two cell phones and $60 for internet (includes home phone) and no cable or other TV-type expenses. We try to stick to books and DVDs from the library. Kid classes and entertainment aren't necessary, neither is eating out.
Don't buy a house in DC with a school-aged kid. Long-term, moving near your husband's job might be a good idea, assuming it's a stable job in an area with good schools.
For what it's worth, we spend a total of $70 for two cell phones and $60 for internet (includes home phone) and no cable or other TV-type expenses. We try to stick to books and DVDs from the library. Kid classes and entertainment aren't necessary, neither is eating out.
Don't buy a house in DC with a school-aged kid. Long-term, moving near your husband's job might be a good idea, assuming it's a stable job in an area with good schools.
Anonymous
05/08/2013 09:36
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't send my kid to a school where the walk to school was iffy personally. I think a lot of what I'd do would depend on how much student loan and credit card debt I had. Maybe you can move closer to your husband's work? Then you'd have a longer commute but housing an child care would be cheaper. Honestly it doesn't even look like you can afford to move at all since you have zero room for savings as things are. You're on a tight budget but you're still eating out.
I'm not sure how committed you are to living in the city, but this is what I would strongly consider OP. Don't get me wrong, I live in the city too, but your options sound awful.
Anonymous
05/08/2013 09:32
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Anonymous wrote:Some people may think this belongs in a school or real estate forum, but I'd love to get purely financial input.
We have a HHI of $148K, take home $8000 but live paycheck to paycheck and in a 1 BR NW Apt with our toddler. We are really feeling cramped, but can't really swing a 2 BR apartment if we stay in this part of the DC.
We have been offered a slot in a charter school in NE, but also have also been offered a slot in a private preschool in NW. The charter school commute would be about a 40 minute trip back to NW in rush hour traffic if we had a second car. On public transportation, it will be 1.5 hours (metro and bus combos). Husband works 35 miles away from DC, so he will would do drop offs and I would do pick-ups since I work in NW DC.
Our monthly finances:
Nannyshare: $2100 (until Fall)
Rent: $1551
School loans: $1100
Credit Cards:$1000 (way too much consumer debt/husband was unemployed for a good 6 months last year)
Groceries: $650
Car/insurance: $400 (one car)
Cell phones: $200
Internet/Cable: $150
Dining out:$300
Kid classes/entertainment:$200.
Shopping: $150 for
Medical: $100
Our DC is really ready for school, so our childcare costs will go down either way. If we go the preschool route, it costs $1425 a month. In NW DC, you can't really find a 2 BR that is kid friendly for less than $2200.
Obviously, charter school is free and we'll have to pay aftercare. If we get a car (even a beater, that's about $400 a month in insurance, gas and car payments.) On public transportation, it's probably $170 a month in fares, but loads of time if we stay in NW DC. I've been looking at NE apartments near the charter school, but to be honest, they are really student housing or low income housing. Buying a place seems like the best bet, but we don't have the downpayment and in this market, I doubt we will find something that is affordable. Moving would probably cost $1500.
Is it financially worthwhile to move to be closer to the charter school for only 2 years so we can have a larger place and pay off some debt? The inbound elementary school in that part of Ward 5 is not good and I worry that after PS/PK the classroom dynamics might change. I think we'll still need a second car in NE DC because the walk to the school is a bit iffy.
Thanks so much all your advice.
You can get a two bedroom apartment in The Cloisters on Michigan Ave for about $1775. The college kids that live there are not rowdy at all, most go to CU.
Anonymous
05/08/2013 09:22
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Moving is very disruptive-- I would probably not be inclined to move if I thought it was only for a couple of years.
BTW, we used to rent an apt in NW that was 1BR with a den, but I checked and now I see they are calling it a 2BR and asking almost $3k for it!
BTW, we used to rent an apt in NW that was 1BR with a den, but I checked and now I see they are calling it a 2BR and asking almost $3k for it!
Anonymous
05/08/2013 08:15
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Yes, I would move closer to the charter to pay off debt and to get a shorter commute!
Anonymous
05/08/2013 08:10
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
I wouldn't send my kid to a school where the walk to school was iffy personally. I think a lot of what I'd do would depend on how much student loan and credit card debt I had. Maybe you can move closer to your husband's work? Then you'd have a longer commute but housing an child care would be cheaper. Honestly it doesn't even look like you can afford to move at all since you have zero room for savings as things are. You're on a tight budget but you're still eating out.
Anonymous
05/08/2013 07:18
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Through what grade does the charter school go through?
Anonymous
05/07/2013 23:23
Subject: WWYD: 1 BR APT + Preschool Tuition in NW or 2BR APT or house + Charter School in NE
Some people may think this belongs in a school or real estate forum, but I'd love to get purely financial input.
We have a HHI of $148K, take home $8000 but live paycheck to paycheck and in a 1 BR NW Apt with our toddler. We are really feeling cramped, but can't really swing a 2 BR apartment if we stay in this part of the DC.
We have been offered a slot in a charter school in NE, but also have also been offered a slot in a private preschool in NW. The charter school commute would be about a 40 minute trip back to NW in rush hour traffic if we had a second car. On public transportation, it will be 1.5 hours (metro and bus combos). Husband works 35 miles away from DC, so he will would do drop offs and I would do pick-ups since I work in NW DC.
Our monthly finances:
Nannyshare: $2100 (until Fall)
Rent: $1551
School loans: $1100
Credit Cards:$1000 (way too much consumer debt/husband was unemployed for a good 6 months last year)
Groceries: $650
Car/insurance: $400 (one car)
Cell phones: $200
Internet/Cable: $150
Dining out:$300
Kid classes/entertainment:$200.
Shopping: $150 for
Medical: $100
Our DC is really ready for school, so our childcare costs will go down either way. If we go the preschool route, it costs $1425 a month. In NW DC, you can't really find a 2 BR that is kid friendly for less than $2200.
Obviously, charter school is free and we'll have to pay aftercare. If we get a car (even a beater, that's about $400 a month in insurance, gas and car payments.) On public transportation, it's probably $170 a month in fares, but loads of time if we stay in NW DC. I've been looking at NE apartments near the charter school, but to be honest, they are really student housing or low income housing. Buying a place seems like the best bet, but we don't have the downpayment and in this market, I doubt we will find something that is affordable. Moving would probably cost $1500.
Is it financially worthwhile to move to be closer to the charter school for only 2 years so we can have a larger place and pay off some debt? The inbound elementary school in that part of Ward 5 is not good and I worry that after PS/PK the classroom dynamics might change. I think we'll still need a second car in NE DC because the walk to the school is a bit iffy.
Thanks so much all your advice.
We have a HHI of $148K, take home $8000 but live paycheck to paycheck and in a 1 BR NW Apt with our toddler. We are really feeling cramped, but can't really swing a 2 BR apartment if we stay in this part of the DC.
We have been offered a slot in a charter school in NE, but also have also been offered a slot in a private preschool in NW. The charter school commute would be about a 40 minute trip back to NW in rush hour traffic if we had a second car. On public transportation, it will be 1.5 hours (metro and bus combos). Husband works 35 miles away from DC, so he will would do drop offs and I would do pick-ups since I work in NW DC.
Our monthly finances:
Nannyshare: $2100 (until Fall)
Rent: $1551
School loans: $1100
Credit Cards:$1000 (way too much consumer debt/husband was unemployed for a good 6 months last year)
Groceries: $650
Car/insurance: $400 (one car)
Cell phones: $200
Internet/Cable: $150
Dining out:$300
Kid classes/entertainment:$200.
Shopping: $150 for
Medical: $100
Our DC is really ready for school, so our childcare costs will go down either way. If we go the preschool route, it costs $1425 a month. In NW DC, you can't really find a 2 BR that is kid friendly for less than $2200.
Obviously, charter school is free and we'll have to pay aftercare. If we get a car (even a beater, that's about $400 a month in insurance, gas and car payments.) On public transportation, it's probably $170 a month in fares, but loads of time if we stay in NW DC. I've been looking at NE apartments near the charter school, but to be honest, they are really student housing or low income housing. Buying a place seems like the best bet, but we don't have the downpayment and in this market, I doubt we will find something that is affordable. Moving would probably cost $1500.
Is it financially worthwhile to move to be closer to the charter school for only 2 years so we can have a larger place and pay off some debt? The inbound elementary school in that part of Ward 5 is not good and I worry that after PS/PK the classroom dynamics might change. I think we'll still need a second car in NE DC because the walk to the school is a bit iffy.
Thanks so much all your advice.