Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people in my parents area are like this. They have a stay at home spouse or she also makes $50k (or less). They live in cheap housing, maybe a double wide, use public school and Maine’s state health care. They supplement with income from plowing drive ways or summer tourist related jobs or hunting their own meat. They don’t worry about dental care.

Love the idea that anyone making less than six figures has to live in a trailer, hunt, and doesn't visit the dentist. This thread is so out of touch it's amazing.

Seriously. The vast majority of us, even in DC, do not make 6 figures. Maybe we live in an apartment/condo/townhouse and can't afford private schools, overseas vacations, or much in the way of college/retirement savings, but we get by just fine. And we have great teeth. Not everyone is a shallow social striver. Some of us just marry the people we love.

That’s why I find this thread fascinating. It’s as if a few posters here haven’t had the opportunity to see real life. You don’t need massive salaries to live comfortably. Just live within your means. A family with two 5-figure earners can save for retirement, for children’s college educations, for vacations, etc. Perhaps the vacation is to the beach and not Bora Bora, but that’s okay. Perhaps the college is an in-state school, but that’s also okay.

A lot of dual working families have multiple problems making that work. And they are struggling. It also completely matters if the person is 25 or 55. None of this is being discussed.

I’m sure some do. Many don’t. It’s about living within your means. When we searched for a home, we looked for neighborhoods we could comfortably afford. We make sound financial choices and don’t waste money on frivolous things we don’t need. We aren’t struggling. We have two high school-aged students. We’ve saved enough (without help) that they should be able to attend a state school with no loans. We save for retirement. Sure, we won’t be retiring to Banff, but we won’t suffer. If you live within your means and avoid the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, it can be done.

This is the “don’t eat avocado toast” of financial advice. Two people in the DC metro area making five figures each will certainly struggle with things like what to do when a family member needs expensive medical care, or a child needs supplemental education, or if they prioritize 6-12 months at home for a newborn, early retirement or any other very normal expense which does not in any way constitute “frivolous”.

People need to marry people who share their values. Someone who wants to work to 75, send their kids to care at 6 weeks, live in a far out suburb and vacation for one week a year at the beach needs a different partner than someone who values a year with a newborn, retirement at 60, a short commute and longer vacations. Before you deem the second lair “frivolous” remember they’re for the most part rights in European countries, even for poor people.

No, we won’t “certainly” struggle. We will never make more than $200K combined and we are very comfortable. Medical emergency? We can cover it. Kids in parochial school? Affordable and budgeted. Kid needs therapy not covered by insurance? We pay it weekly. It is absolutely doable and we do NOT struggle. I’m not sure why that’s hard for some posters to understand. The DC region does not require an extremely high salary to get by. How do you think two teacher households, for example, live? We do it just like you. I’m not sure why some posters need to feel that 5-figure salaries are horrible. I suspect many of us who have them selected our jobs because we found value in the work, not in the paycheck. We made our choices and we live happily. Get off DCUM and take a drive around the region. We’re all over the place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people in my parents area are like this. They have a stay at home spouse or she also makes $50k (or less). They live in cheap housing, maybe a double wide, use public school and Maine’s state health care. They supplement with income from plowing drive ways or summer tourist related jobs or hunting their own meat. They don’t worry about dental care.

Love the idea that anyone making less than six figures has to live in a trailer, hunt, and doesn't visit the dentist. This thread is so out of touch it's amazing.

Seriously. The vast majority of us, even in DC, do not make 6 figures. Maybe we live in an apartment/condo/townhouse and can't afford private schools, overseas vacations, or much in the way of college/retirement savings, but we get by just fine. And we have great teeth. Not everyone is a shallow social striver. Some of us just marry the people we love.

That’s why I find this thread fascinating. It’s as if a few posters here haven’t had the opportunity to see real life. You don’t need massive salaries to live comfortably. Just live within your means. A family with two 5-figure earners can save for retirement, for children’s college educations, for vacations, etc. Perhaps the vacation is to the beach and not Bora Bora, but that’s okay. Perhaps the college is an in-state school, but that’s also okay.

A lot of dual working families have multiple problems making that work. And they are struggling. It also completely matters if the person is 25 or 55. None of this is being discussed.

I’m sure some do. Many don’t. It’s about living within your means. When we searched for a home, we looked for neighborhoods we could comfortably afford. We make sound financial choices and don’t waste money on frivolous things we don’t need. We aren’t struggling. We have two high school-aged students. We’ve saved enough (without help) that they should be able to attend a state school with no loans. We save for retirement. Sure, we won’t be retiring to Banff, but we won’t suffer. If you live within your means and avoid the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, it can be done.

This is the “don’t eat avocado toast” of financial advice. Two people in the DC metro area making five figures each will certainly struggle with things like what to do when a family member needs expensive medical care, or a child needs supplemental education, or if they prioritize 6-12 months at home for a newborn, early retirement or any other very normal expense which does not in any way constitute “frivolous”.

People need to marry people who share their values. Someone who wants to work to 75, send their kids to care at 6 weeks, live in a far out suburb and vacation for one week a year at the beach needs a different partner than someone who values a year with a newborn, retirement at 60, a short commute and longer vacations. Before you deem the second lair “frivolous” remember they’re for the most part rights in European countries, even for poor people.

Anonymous wrote:$50k is starting salary in my industry. I don't understand this post. What age are we talking about and who are they trying to attract?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Median income in the US is 35k, not 50k.

Someone making 50k lives very comfortable in many parts of the country. But since it’s only 35k, that feels like poverty level because quality of life in the US is only good for the top 20% of us.

Median household income is $68,000, according to the federal reserve.

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEHOINUSA672N

Are you referring to some other measurement?

Anonymous wrote:Median income in the US is 35k, not 50k.

Someone making 50k lives very comfortable in many parts of the country. But since it’s only 35k, that feels like poverty level because quality of life in the US is only good for the top 20% of us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people in my parents area are like this. They have a stay at home spouse or she also makes $50k (or less). They live in cheap housing, maybe a double wide, use public school and Maine’s state health care. They supplement with income from plowing drive ways or summer tourist related jobs or hunting their own meat. They don’t worry about dental care.

Love the idea that anyone making less than six figures has to live in a trailer, hunt, and doesn't visit the dentist. This thread is so out of touch it's amazing.

Seriously. The vast majority of us, even in DC, do not make 6 figures. Maybe we live in an apartment/condo/townhouse and can't afford private schools, overseas vacations, or much in the way of college/retirement savings, but we get by just fine. And we have great teeth. Not everyone is a shallow social striver. Some of us just marry the people we love.

That’s why I find this thread fascinating. It’s as if a few posters here haven’t had the opportunity to see real life. You don’t need massive salaries to live comfortably. Just live within your means. A family with two 5-figure earners can save for retirement, for children’s college educations, for vacations, etc. Perhaps the vacation is to the beach and not Bora Bora, but that’s okay. Perhaps the college is an in-state school, but that’s also okay.

A lot of dual working families have multiple problems making that work. And they are struggling. It also completely matters if the person is 25 or 55. None of this is being discussed.

I’m sure some do. Many don’t. It’s about living within your means. When we searched for a home, we looked for neighborhoods we could comfortably afford. We make sound financial choices and don’t waste money on frivolous things we don’t need. We aren’t struggling. We have two high school-aged students. We’ve saved enough (without help) that they should be able to attend a state school with no loans. We save for retirement. Sure, we won’t be retiring to Banff, but we won’t suffer. If you live within your means and avoid the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, it can be done.

This is the “don’t eat avocado toast” of financial advice. Two people in the DC metro area making five figures each will certainly struggle with things like what to do when a family member needs expensive medical care, or a child needs supplemental education, or if they prioritize 6-12 months at home for a newborn, early retirement or any other very normal expense which does not in any way constitute “frivolous”.

People need to marry people who share their values. Someone who wants to work to 75, send their kids to care at 6 weeks, live in a far out suburb and vacation for one week a year at the beach needs a different partner than someone who values a year with a newborn, retirement at 60, a short commute and longer vacations. Before you deem the second lair “frivolous” remember they’re for the most part rights in European countries, even for poor people.

I mean, who doesn’t value the bolded for themselves or a partner? It’s not that simple. That isn’t an option for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people in my parents area are like this. They have a stay at home spouse or she also makes $50k (or less). They live in cheap housing, maybe a double wide, use public school and Maine’s state health care. They supplement with income from plowing drive ways or summer tourist related jobs or hunting their own meat. They don’t worry about dental care.

Love the idea that anyone making less than six figures has to live in a trailer, hunt, and doesn't visit the dentist. This thread is so out of touch it's amazing.

Seriously. The vast majority of us, even in DC, do not make 6 figures. Maybe we live in an apartment/condo/townhouse and can't afford private schools, overseas vacations, or much in the way of college/retirement savings, but we get by just fine. And we have great teeth. Not everyone is a shallow social striver. Some of us just marry the people we love.

That’s why I find this thread fascinating. It’s as if a few posters here haven’t had the opportunity to see real life. You don’t need massive salaries to live comfortably. Just live within your means. A family with two 5-figure earners can save for retirement, for children’s college educations, for vacations, etc. Perhaps the vacation is to the beach and not Bora Bora, but that’s okay. Perhaps the college is an in-state school, but that’s also okay.

A lot of dual working families have multiple problems making that work. And they are struggling. It also completely matters if the person is 25 or 55. None of this is being discussed.

I’m sure some do. Many don’t. It’s about living within your means. When we searched for a home, we looked for neighborhoods we could comfortably afford. We make sound financial choices and don’t waste money on frivolous things we don’t need. We aren’t struggling. We have two high school-aged students. We’ve saved enough (without help) that they should be able to attend a state school with no loans. We save for retirement. Sure, we won’t be retiring to Banff, but we won’t suffer. If you live within your means and avoid the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, it can be done.

This is the “don’t eat avocado toast” of financial advice. Two people in the DC metro area making five figures each will certainly struggle with things like what to do when a family member needs expensive medical care, or a child needs supplemental education, or if they prioritize 6-12 months at home for a newborn, early retirement or any other very normal expense which does not in any way constitute “frivolous”.

People need to marry people who share their values. Someone who wants to work to 75, send their kids to care at 6 weeks, live in a far out suburb and vacation for one week a year at the beach needs a different partner than someone who values a year with a newborn, retirement at 60, a short commute and longer vacations. Before you deem the second lair “frivolous” remember they’re for the most part rights in European countries, even for poor people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people in my parents area are like this. They have a stay at home spouse or she also makes $50k (or less). They live in cheap housing, maybe a double wide, use public school and Maine’s state health care. They supplement with income from plowing drive ways or summer tourist related jobs or hunting their own meat. They don’t worry about dental care.

Love the idea that anyone making less than six figures has to live in a trailer, hunt, and doesn't visit the dentist. This thread is so out of touch it's amazing.

Seriously. The vast majority of us, even in DC, do not make 6 figures. Maybe we live in an apartment/condo/townhouse and can't afford private schools, overseas vacations, or much in the way of college/retirement savings, but we get by just fine. And we have great teeth. Not everyone is a shallow social striver. Some of us just marry the people we love.

That’s why I find this thread fascinating. It’s as if a few posters here haven’t had the opportunity to see real life. You don’t need massive salaries to live comfortably. Just live within your means. A family with two 5-figure earners can save for retirement, for children’s college educations, for vacations, etc. Perhaps the vacation is to the beach and not Bora Bora, but that’s okay. Perhaps the college is an in-state school, but that’s also okay.

A lot of dual working families have multiple problems making that work. And they are struggling. It also completely matters if the person is 25 or 55. None of this is being discussed.

I’m sure some do. Many don’t. It’s about living within your means. When we searched for a home, we looked for neighborhoods we could comfortably afford. We make sound financial choices and don’t waste money on frivolous things we don’t need. We aren’t struggling. We have two high school-aged students. We’ve saved enough (without help) that they should be able to attend a state school with no loans. We save for retirement. Sure, we won’t be retiring to Banff, but we won’t suffer. If you live within your means and avoid the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, it can be done.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people in my parents area are like this. They have a stay at home spouse or she also makes $50k (or less). They live in cheap housing, maybe a double wide, use public school and Maine’s state health care. They supplement with income from plowing drive ways or summer tourist related jobs or hunting their own meat. They don’t worry about dental care.

Love the idea that anyone making less than six figures has to live in a trailer, hunt, and doesn't visit the dentist. This thread is so out of touch it's amazing.

Seriously. The vast majority of us, even in DC, do not make 6 figures. Maybe we live in an apartment/condo/townhouse and can't afford private schools, overseas vacations, or much in the way of college/retirement savings, but we get by just fine. And we have great teeth. Not everyone is a shallow social striver. Some of us just marry the people we love.

That’s why I find this thread fascinating. It’s as if a few posters here haven’t had the opportunity to see real life. You don’t need massive salaries to live comfortably. Just live within your means. A family with two 5-figure earners can save for retirement, for children’s college educations, for vacations, etc. Perhaps the vacation is to the beach and not Bora Bora, but that’s okay. Perhaps the college is an in-state school, but that’s also okay.

A lot of dual working families have multiple problems making that work. And they are struggling. It also completely matters if the person is 25 or 55. None of this is being discussed.

I’m sure some do. Many don’t. It’s about living within your means. When we searched for a home, we looked for neighborhoods we could comfortably afford. We make sound financial choices and don’t waste money on frivolous things we don’t need. We aren’t struggling. We have two high school-aged students. We’ve saved enough (without help) that they should be able to attend a state school with no loans. We save for retirement. Sure, we won’t be retiring to Banff, but we won’t suffer. If you live within your means and avoid the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, it can be done.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people in my parents area are like this. They have a stay at home spouse or she also makes $50k (or less). They live in cheap housing, maybe a double wide, use public school and Maine’s state health care. They supplement with income from plowing drive ways or summer tourist related jobs or hunting their own meat. They don’t worry about dental care.

Love the idea that anyone making less than six figures has to live in a trailer, hunt, and doesn't visit the dentist. This thread is so out of touch it's amazing.

Seriously. The vast majority of us, even in DC, do not make 6 figures. Maybe we live in an apartment/condo/townhouse and can't afford private schools, overseas vacations, or much in the way of college/retirement savings, but we get by just fine. And we have great teeth. Not everyone is a shallow social striver. Some of us just marry the people we love.

That’s why I find this thread fascinating. It’s as if a few posters here haven’t had the opportunity to see real life. You don’t need massive salaries to live comfortably. Just live within your means. A family with two 5-figure earners can save for retirement, for children’s college educations, for vacations, etc. Perhaps the vacation is to the beach and not Bora Bora, but that’s okay. Perhaps the college is an in-state school, but that’s also okay.

A lot of dual working families have multiple problems making that work. And they are struggling. It also completely matters if the person is 25 or 55. None of this is being discussed.

I’m sure some do. Many don’t. It’s about living within your means. When we searched for a home, we looked for neighborhoods we could comfortably afford. We make sound financial choices and don’t waste money on frivolous things we don’t need. We aren’t struggling. We have two high school-aged students. We’ve saved enough (without help) that they should be able to attend a state school with no loans. We save for retirement. Sure, we won’t be retiring to Banff, but we won’t suffer. If you live within your means and avoid the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, it can be done.

Anonymous wrote:Median income in the US is only 50k or so. What types of women tend to settle for these men? Obviously not the DCUM crowd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people in my parents area are like this. They have a stay at home spouse or she also makes $50k (or less). They live in cheap housing, maybe a double wide, use public school and Maine’s state health care. They supplement with income from plowing drive ways or summer tourist related jobs or hunting their own meat. They don’t worry about dental care.

Love the idea that anyone making less than six figures has to live in a trailer, hunt, and doesn't visit the dentist. This thread is so out of touch it's amazing.

Seriously. The vast majority of us, even in DC, do not make 6 figures. Maybe we live in an apartment/condo/townhouse and can't afford private schools, overseas vacations, or much in the way of college/retirement savings, but we get by just fine. And we have great teeth. Not everyone is a shallow social striver. Some of us just marry the people we love.

That’s why I find this thread fascinating. It’s as if a few posters here haven’t had the opportunity to see real life. You don’t need massive salaries to live comfortably. Just live within your means. A family with two 5-figure earners can save for retirement, for children’s college educations, for vacations, etc. Perhaps the vacation is to the beach and not Bora Bora, but that’s okay. Perhaps the college is an in-state school, but that’s also okay.

A lot of dual working families have multiple problems making that work. And they are struggling. It also completely matters if the person is 25 or 55. None of this is being discussed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people in my parents area are like this. They have a stay at home spouse or she also makes $50k (or less). They live in cheap housing, maybe a double wide, use public school and Maine’s state health care. They supplement with income from plowing drive ways or summer tourist related jobs or hunting their own meat. They don’t worry about dental care.

Love the idea that anyone making less than six figures has to live in a trailer, hunt, and doesn't visit the dentist. This thread is so out of touch it's amazing.

Seriously. The vast majority of us, even in DC, do not make 6 figures. Maybe we live in an apartment/condo/townhouse and can't afford private schools, overseas vacations, or much in the way of college/retirement savings, but we get by just fine. And we have great teeth. Not everyone is a shallow social striver. Some of us just marry the people we love.

That’s why I find this thread fascinating. It’s as if a few posters here haven’t had the opportunity to see real life. You don’t need massive salaries to live comfortably. Just live within your means. A family with two 5-figure earners can save for retirement, for children’s college educations, for vacations, etc. Perhaps the vacation is to the beach and not Bora Bora, but that’s okay. Perhaps the college is an in-state school, but that’s also okay.