Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 11:02     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
Why are you sending your children to private school? You can afford to live in neighborhoods with good public schools. There are very good public schools in DC and the close in burbs.

Also, spend a little money to see a financial planner.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 11:00     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
OP here. We didn't overpay for our house. Our mortgage is actually one of the more manageable expenses and we don't intend to move until kids are in college and by then (using DC price history) we should have seen a really nice appreciation. It's just that people see us and they think we're rich, marketers always contact us, ugh! And DH does dumb stuff sometimes like impulsively buying 2 new computers a laptop and a desktop (Macs) because "they were on sale".
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 11:00     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
OP, I am being serious, not snarky. Move to the suburbs (but not Bethesda/Arlington/McLean) and put your kids in public school. Spend way less on your house than you can afford.

Then you will feel rich. Truly.

It is not your income that makes you feel poor. It is your choices and your immediate circle of people.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 11:00     Subject: Re:Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW

Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:58     Subject: Re:Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
Lose the private school. $60k/year for the next 13 years will be freeing.

We got into a great public school district, make same HHI and don't feel the bite. $910k minimum it would have cost us to put 2 kids K-12 in DC private. We now have their college already funded and oldest is only in 2nd grade.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:57     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
"Feeling wealthy" does not depend on your income or money in the bank.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:57     Subject: Re:Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:55     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
I'm sorry you overpaid for your house OP.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:55     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
This thread will be loads of fun. Off to pop my popcorn now.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:54     Subject: Re:Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:54     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
Bless your heart.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:53     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
LOL. thanks for the morning laugh, OP.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:53     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
Oh gimme a break. Cry me a river.
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:53     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
If I could find that "popcorn" gif I'd use it. Anyone?
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2014 10:52     Subject: Making $500k and not feeling wealthy in NW
After taxes (Fed and District), private school for 1 and second coming from local DCPS into private, saving for college, retirement, long term care, helping out family members etc. You feel really squeezed. Our brother inlaw in Houston get to take 3 or 4 vacations a year on about $300k a year, we can only take one real one and then have to huff it to Delaware for the weekend. It kind of is a rat race and we're stuck in this income zone for the foreseeable future (thanks biglaw profit slips).