We're at $240k.

We're in Arlington and have a monthly mortgage of $3000, no car payments, about $3500 / month to retirement, $1200 to daycare, $300 to 529, and our other expenses seem to round out at $2-$3k / month

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people using credit cards instead of debit for airline miles? I just use debit for 100% of everything and don't even have a credit card. I don't trust credit card companies and don't want to pay an annual fee for rewards. Plus, I already accumulate about 100k per year through work (thanks to business class bonus miles).

You really shouldny be using a debit card anywhere. If the money is stolen, it's gone and a major PITA to get it back. Credit card is much safer. We just pay it off monthly.

Both for safety and travel rewards, we use the credit card for almost everything. DH and I don't travel for work so we don't otherwise accumulate miles. The credit card gives us a free trip to see my family in CA about once every 2 years.

Anonymous wrote:Are people using credit cards instead of debit for airline miles? I just use debit for 100% of everything and don't even have a credit card. I don't trust credit card companies and don't want to pay an annual fee for rewards. Plus, I already accumulate about 100k per year through work (thanks to business class bonus miles).

You really shouldny be using a debit card anywhere. If the money is stolen, it's gone and a major PITA to get it back. Credit card is much safer. We just pay it off monthly.

House is paid off.
Taxes and insurance are about $500 per month.
Credit card bill is about ranges from about $3500 to $4500.
Gas and electric average $200 per month combined.

The rest goes into savings.

We make slightly less ($235k).

Big expenses:
Mortgage (PITI)- $3300
Childcare (1 DC)- $1800
401k contributions- $2000 (hope to increase when DC is in school)
Car payment- $250 (very low interest)
Student loans- $400
Groceries- $800 (this is v high for three people but we eat very healthy- mostly fruits, veggies, and farm-raised meats. We also eat almost all meals at home. I've come to terms with this.)

We don't contribute monthly to the 529 but at the end of the year, from savings.

Op again. Ok I'm really blown away by how much more we spend. Are you eating out at all? We spend about 800 on groceries but we also go out maybe 5 times a month for an under $100 meal for family of 5. We pay about $500 for sitter. Life insurance, home/auto insurance add up as well.

I use United visa almost exclusively for the miles.

Mortgage is $2100. Small, old townhouse, in the burbs.

Big items are:
$1,300 for private school.
$1,300 for child support.
$3,000 a month to retirement savings
$400 a month college savings (for 1 kid, other kids are paid).
$600 a month for aftercare and summer camps


I don't even know what health and life insurance are. They are taken out of our checks.

Anonymous wrote:Are people using credit cards instead of debit for airline miles? I just use debit for 100% of everything and don't even have a credit card. I don't trust credit card companies and don't want to pay an annual fee for rewards. Plus, I already accumulate about 100k per year through work (thanks to business class bonus miles).

I never use my debit online. Our cc number was stolen three times last year alone and every cent was immediately taken off our account. I'm too afraid of having money taken out if our checking account to use debit online.

I don't pay a fee to earn miles on my credit card. It's just a benefit of having the card. Capitol one.

Are people using credit cards instead of debit for airline miles? I just use debit for 100% of everything and don't even have a credit card. I don't trust credit card companies and don't want to pay an annual fee for rewards. Plus, I already accumulate about 100k per year through work (thanks to business class bonus miles).

Mortgage is currently 4300, but about to refi to drop it to 4000. We spend about 3K a month on credit cards for household expenses - groceries, gas, medical bills, utilities, etc. Pay off the credit cards every month. Daycare of 1600 for one kid. We don't quite max out retirement but don't feel strapped.

Op here - wow! Thanks. I'm blown away at how much more our mortgage is each month. Credit card bill is high but we have some big ticket stuff like pool membership or travel to see family on west coast for 5 people, so that is what drives it to $8k some months. And we have on kid in montesorri and one more starting next year. Looks like I will need to find items to cut from our spending. Thanks for sharing.

Ps $1k for each 529 is impressive!

3400- mortgage
105-Hoa
1000-3 529
1500-2 401k
100- power
100- house gas
260- gas 2 cars
250- Verizon 2 cells, fios, phone
600- sitter 3 kids
100- car insurance. 2 cars

Anything leftovers savings or blow money
400-eat out
800-groceries

Our mortgage including tax and insurance is only $3100, and we don't charge nearly that much each month, and we put all things on our credit card. We have on child in daycare and one in aftercare. No car loans, only debt is mortgage.

Specifically, what is are your mortgage and credit card bills? Not sure why I feel like we're barely making ends meet. This seems like a very good HHI and every month, we save much less than we want to. Our mortgage is $4500 and credit card bills range anywhere from $4-$8k (those include almost every bill we can pay on credit card, such as cell phone, cable, etc).

Thanks for helping me see where we land in comparison.