Anonymous
12/21/2018 11:57
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
Currently, I'm the sole breadwinner on a 150K salary trying to support an unemployed spouse and 2 young kids. If we didn't have an enormous amount of student loans (Over $1000 a month in payments), then we would be smooth sailing. I'm glad we bought a small house in the district, as our mortgage is relatively small and manageable. Can't wait for these loans to be paid off (and for my husband to get a job.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 11:56
Subject: Re:Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
Anonymous wrote:We make $130,000 and have one DD. I dont understand why you cant manage?
We have a small SFH that cost 360,000 we pay a mortage on, My 2007 Honda is paid off but DW's newer Ford is not. We can't afford private school and DD attends the local ES which happens to be a Focus school that so far we are happy with.
But we travel twice a year, DD gets to do swimming, gymnastics etc and goes to nice summer camps for a few weeks each summer. We like to go to shows so we do that when a show comes along we want to see.
We don't eat out a lot mainly due to us both doing shift work but we do when we want to and have the time. We get together with friends at each others houses or go for hikes with other families.
I don't compare my life to those making $500,000, it would drive me crazy. We have a nice life and i am happy with it.
( We live in eastern Moco)
when did you buy it?
Anonymous
12/21/2018 11:53
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
DCUM is so discordant. On one hand, you have the posts where people wring their hands over making *only* $300K per year and say that anything under $200K in this area is poor (which is ridiculous). On the other hand, you have posts like this where people making what are truly moderate incomes for this area are reprimanded for not being able to make it on said moderate incomes.
It is great that some people were able to buy houses a long time ago for a small amount, but that is not the case for most people. We have a 60s-era rambler that cost $499K, and that was 10 years ago. It was the cheapest thing we could find in a reasonably good school district and safe, non-gang infested area. My commute is too long. Houses in our neighborhood now go for $650K, and trust me these are not extravagant. Could we buy a 2 bedroom condo farther out in VA? Yes, but then I would have a 90 minute commute.
The reality is that it is hard to make it in this area with kids. Increasingly, the metro DC area is for Biglaw partners and lobbyists.
It is great that some people were able to buy houses a long time ago for a small amount, but that is not the case for most people. We have a 60s-era rambler that cost $499K, and that was 10 years ago. It was the cheapest thing we could find in a reasonably good school district and safe, non-gang infested area. My commute is too long. Houses in our neighborhood now go for $650K, and trust me these are not extravagant. Could we buy a 2 bedroom condo farther out in VA? Yes, but then I would have a 90 minute commute.
The reality is that it is hard to make it in this area with kids. Increasingly, the metro DC area is for Biglaw partners and lobbyists.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 11:30
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
Question is -- do you have big debt OP? If so, try to pay it down w/ a second job such as babysitting. If no debt, $150K is a good amount to live on.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 11:11
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
I made $90K Dh made $80K and I have $$$ ale school loans. We moved further out and bought a townhouse with a FHA loan. We do not take fancy vacations. We eat out more than I’d like as a function of commuting 3 days a week (telework other two) but we don’t go to fancy places.
Our toddler does a $100 three day ballet camp in the summer but no sports or ballet during the year. She goes to the community center preschool three days a week for $193 month. We pay my mom to babysit the rest of the week. No $1800 primrose here.
Vacations are to Virginia Beach using free hotel nights since my husband travels frequently as an auditor. We usually stay two nights. We get the continental breakfast and eat local. We have been to Disney once when DD was two so free ticket for her. We went with my family and got a condo twenty miles outside Florida for $400 for the week. Everyone chipped in for tickets and we used cash back points to get two days of magic kingdom tickets. Hung out at the pool and went to Disney springs other days.
We were saving $25 a month in her 529 but decided to stop and focus on my law school loans first and will pick that back up in the future. We put $300-$500 a month in emergency savings each month. That was non-negoionable to me. Which, I’m glad I did because I had to leave my job at 3 months pregnant and was not FMLA eligible because small company. We used 3 months of our emergency savings but at least didn’t have to put it on a credit card. I go back to work in the new year at a new job.
We honestly try not to spend a lot on big ticket items. Keep our cars forever and well maintained. My 2001 Honda finally died and we bought Dh a 2018 Volkswagen Passat the deals were so ridiculously good. They also threw in five years of VW care so oil changes and service are covered. I’d say the biggest thing we are “missing out on” are nice vacations, luxury dinners (we use points for anniversary dinner at someplace nice in the city), and I shop everything on sale. Like I shop at macys for work clothes but buy things on sale. I may get my nails done once a month or so.
Our toddler does a $100 three day ballet camp in the summer but no sports or ballet during the year. She goes to the community center preschool three days a week for $193 month. We pay my mom to babysit the rest of the week. No $1800 primrose here.
Vacations are to Virginia Beach using free hotel nights since my husband travels frequently as an auditor. We usually stay two nights. We get the continental breakfast and eat local. We have been to Disney once when DD was two so free ticket for her. We went with my family and got a condo twenty miles outside Florida for $400 for the week. Everyone chipped in for tickets and we used cash back points to get two days of magic kingdom tickets. Hung out at the pool and went to Disney springs other days.
We were saving $25 a month in her 529 but decided to stop and focus on my law school loans first and will pick that back up in the future. We put $300-$500 a month in emergency savings each month. That was non-negoionable to me. Which, I’m glad I did because I had to leave my job at 3 months pregnant and was not FMLA eligible because small company. We used 3 months of our emergency savings but at least didn’t have to put it on a credit card. I go back to work in the new year at a new job.
We honestly try not to spend a lot on big ticket items. Keep our cars forever and well maintained. My 2001 Honda finally died and we bought Dh a 2018 Volkswagen Passat the deals were so ridiculously good. They also threw in five years of VW care so oil changes and service are covered. I’d say the biggest thing we are “missing out on” are nice vacations, luxury dinners (we use points for anniversary dinner at someplace nice in the city), and I shop everything on sale. Like I shop at macys for work clothes but buy things on sale. I may get my nails done once a month or so.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 11:09
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
You just have to figure out what works with what you owe, and what you prioritize. The family of 4 making $150k that never had student loan payments is going to be on easy street compared to the same family that either still has them or had them for a long time.
If your income vs. debt is giving you trouble, moving somewhere smaller or moving farther out is the most straightforward fix: 2BR apartment instead of a townhouse, Burke near the VRE instead of Arlington near the metro.
If your income vs. debt is giving you trouble, moving somewhere smaller or moving farther out is the most straightforward fix: 2BR apartment instead of a townhouse, Burke near the VRE instead of Arlington near the metro.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 11:04
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $165K, and I hear you. It's tight every month, and we are not extravagant (e.g., dinner out is rare, I haven't bough new clothes for myself in a long time). This is a very HCOL area, and anything kid-related is expensive. We live out in the VA burbs in Fairfax City. It is still a relatively affordable area with fairly good schools, all things considered. That said, we bough an older house because it is what we could afford, and it has been somewhat of a money pit. Something is always breaking.
Same. We are okay, we can afford our mortgage payments and student loan payments. We can afford some kid stuff, no adult stuff, no 529. We do eat a lot of PBJ.
Our kids go to good schools in Fairfax, so the stress of living paycheck to paycheck is worth it. I think.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 10:57
Subject: Re:Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
We make $130,000 and have one DD. I dont understand why you cant manage?
We have a small SFH that cost 360,000 we pay a mortage on, My 2007 Honda is paid off but DW's newer Ford is not. We can't afford private school and DD attends the local ES which happens to be a Focus school that so far we are happy with.
But we travel twice a year, DD gets to do swimming, gymnastics etc and goes to nice summer camps for a few weeks each summer. We like to go to shows so we do that when a show comes along we want to see.
We don't eat out a lot mainly due to us both doing shift work but we do when we want to and have the time. We get together with friends at each others houses or go for hikes with other families.
I don't compare my life to those making $500,000, it would drive me crazy. We have a nice life and i am happy with it.
( We live in eastern Moco)
We have a small SFH that cost 360,000 we pay a mortage on, My 2007 Honda is paid off but DW's newer Ford is not. We can't afford private school and DD attends the local ES which happens to be a Focus school that so far we are happy with.
But we travel twice a year, DD gets to do swimming, gymnastics etc and goes to nice summer camps for a few weeks each summer. We like to go to shows so we do that when a show comes along we want to see.
We don't eat out a lot mainly due to us both doing shift work but we do when we want to and have the time. We get together with friends at each others houses or go for hikes with other families.
I don't compare my life to those making $500,000, it would drive me crazy. We have a nice life and i am happy with it.
( We live in eastern Moco)
Anonymous
12/21/2018 10:49
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
What are your obligations? I’m older than you and only recently did we get to $150k. We have been living well in Arlington. So if you are drowning in college debt and have multiple kids in daycare, yeah, it’s tight. But it can be done.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 10:46
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
*bought. No idea why my "t" is not working.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 10:46
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
Our HHI is $165K, and I hear you. It's tight every month, and we are not extravagant (e.g., dinner out is rare, I haven't bough new clothes for myself in a long time). This is a very HCOL area, and anything kid-related is expensive. We live out in the VA burbs in Fairfax City. It is still a relatively affordable area with fairly good schools, all things considered. That said, we bough an older house because it is what we could afford, and it has been somewhat of a money pit. Something is always breaking.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 10:30
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
How many kids do you have? $150k is still a pretty good HHI - if you don't have kids yet I'd try to get a small rowhouse or 2-3 bedroom condo in a "transitional" area and hope to leverage the growth in a couple of years to a SFH somewhere with decent schools. If you already have kids I'd try for Silver Spring or Rockville or somewhere deep in Virginia on the VRE.
People are making it work on a lot less than you, but if you only compare yourself to people making a lot more you'll always feel defeated. This is true in all income brackets.
People are making it work on a lot less than you, but if you only compare yourself to people making a lot more you'll always feel defeated. This is true in all income brackets.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 10:30
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
We're on 100K, family of 4, and not complaining.
What's you problem, OP? You wanted everything on a silver platter and not have to sweat for what you have?
Anonymous
12/21/2018 10:29
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
Bought a house, live on a budget.
Anonymous
12/21/2018 10:27
Subject: Middle class people how do you raise a family here?
My DH makes 100k and I make 50k. We feel so poor and like we can't afford a life here.We're in our early thirties.
What do other people do?
What do other people do?