Anonymous wrote:OP here---He's a GS9--his 2 year growth goal is about 75k, if he moves to private now, it would probably be 75k now already with a steeper climb hopefully. I agree we really like the hours working federal. I'm more flexible to move to private sector but that would be more time consuming (might require me to work nights and weekends, and be in a different part of the country). He has student loans that the federal govt is helping a bit. Would appreciate the feedback from the feds who have stuck it out or made the move.

Anonymous wrote:I think a two fed household can likely maintain a nice living. My parents did it and I've seen some other families do it more recently. There are ways to make college more affordable -- when you're thinking about saving for your children. I would hesitate to make a job change solely for the sake of making more money (assuming I had enough to live on). I'd want to be interested in my work or see that a particular job could improve my work-life balance.

I'm a fed and my DH is not. Since we've been together (11 yrs), my pay has exceeded his but soon his will pass mine since I'm pretty much maxed out. So, this has worked out nicely so far.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes--childcare cost is crazy and the federal day care's do not feel like they are subsidized at all...they still hit at 1700/month for an infant. We're a two fed household, one child, and have been (what feels like) forever renting. Too scared to buy

We haven't seen any Federal day care that was subsidized, you just get priority on waitlist.

Most of the two fed household I know (except for when both are GS-15 lawyers or work at SEC with higher payscales) live *really* far away to afford decent housing. We're talking Manassas, Columbia, Annapolis for folks who work near the capital. These are two counties away from the District!

I know several two-Fed couples who own houses in close-in Maryland suburbs or DC and send their kids to relatively expensive private schools. I'm sure they are dual GS-15 couples, though, so I think it's probably a function of age, experience and specialization. It seems like at least one spouse in each couple has a fair amount of work flexibility, which is definitely something to be desired.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think there are a lot of DCUMs who make a LOT of money and can't imagine living any other way. But it is possible, OP. My DH makes $125K as a federal employee. I do freelance work but pull in less than $6K/year. I've been primarily a SAHM for 11 years. We have three kids, own a smallish but nice house in a nice MoCo neighborhood, send one child to a (relatively) reasonably priced private school and the other two to publics, and have excellent college and retirement savings in place. We own both of our cars. We just don't spend a lot on things that many of our friends and neighbors, do, i.e. going out to eat a lot, babysitters, theatre tickets, gym memberships, cable TV, pricey phone plans. I buy most of my and the kids' clothes at thrift stores and we don't buy books, we use the library. But I love our lifestyle and other than traveling a little more and eating out more often, there's nothing I'd really change. DH had the opportunity to pursue a job that would have earned considerably more in a rural area in the Northeast, and we decided he wouldn't because we like living here.

I agree with this, but just want to point out, and heavily underline, that you cannot compare your situation with OP's, even though your family income is similar, because you are living on one income. OP needs childcare, you don't. Big, big difference.

also if SAH for 11 yrs, likely bought before 2003 when housing was much much cheaper.

I'm the PP you quoted. Nope, we bought in 2004, at just about the peak of the market.

But the other PP's point about childcare is a good one. It's key that we don't have that expense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think there are a lot of DCUMs who make a LOT of money and can't imagine living any other way. But it is possible, OP. My DH makes $125K as a federal employee. I do freelance work but pull in less than $6K/year. I've been primarily a SAHM for 11 years. We have three kids, own a smallish but nice house in a nice MoCo neighborhood, send one child to a (relatively) reasonably priced private school and the other two to publics, and have excellent college and retirement savings in place. We own both of our cars. We just don't spend a lot on things that many of our friends and neighbors, do, i.e. going out to eat a lot, babysitters, theatre tickets, gym memberships, cable TV, pricey phone plans. I buy most of my and the kids' clothes at thrift stores and we don't buy books, we use the library. But I love our lifestyle and other than traveling a little more and eating out more often, there's nothing I'd really change. DH had the opportunity to pursue a job that would have earned considerably more in a rural area in the Northeast, and we decided he wouldn't because we like living here.

I agree with this, but just want to point out, and heavily underline, that you cannot compare your situation with OP's, even though your family income is similar, because you are living on one income. OP needs childcare, you don't. Big, big difference.

also if SAH for 11 yrs, likely bought before 2003 when housing was much much cheaper.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes--childcare cost is crazy and the federal day care's do not feel like they are subsidized at all...they still hit at 1700/month for an infant. We're a two fed household, one child, and have been (what feels like) forever renting. Too scared to buy

We haven't seen any Federal day care that was subsidized, you just get priority on waitlist.

Most of the two fed household I know (except for when both are GS-15 lawyers or work at SEC with higher payscales) live *really* far away to afford decent housing. We're talking Manassas, Columbia, Annapolis for folks who work near the capital. These are two counties away from the District!

Anonymous wrote:Hi---I was wondering if i could ask your advice. We are first time parents, both feds. Wife makes 80k, husband makes 50k per year. We have decent savings, but presently living in a 1-BR apartment which we are renting. My question is--- should we consider having one of us leave the government, and make more--if we dream to pay for our child's college and get a small property to call our own? Would be great to hear from other couples who made it. TY

Anonymous wrote:Yes--childcare cost is crazy and the federal day care's do not feel like they are subsidized at all...they still hit at 1700/month for an infant. We're a two fed household, one child, and have been (what feels like) forever renting. Too scared to buy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think there are a lot of DCUMs who make a LOT of money and can't imagine living any other way. But it is possible, OP. My DH makes $125K as a federal employee. I do freelance work but pull in less than $6K/year. I've been primarily a SAHM for 11 years. We have three kids, own a smallish but nice house in a nice MoCo neighborhood, send one child to a (relatively) reasonably priced private school and the other two to publics, and have excellent college and retirement savings in place. We own both of our cars. We just don't spend a lot on things that many of our friends and neighbors, do, i.e. going out to eat a lot, babysitters, theatre tickets, gym memberships, cable TV, pricey phone plans. I buy most of my and the kids' clothes at thrift stores and we don't buy books, we use the library. But I love our lifestyle and other than traveling a little more and eating out more often, there's nothing I'd really change. DH had the opportunity to pursue a job that would have earned considerably more in a rural area in the Northeast, and we decided he wouldn't because we like living here.

I agree with this, but just want to point out, and heavily underline, that you cannot compare your situation with OP's, even though your family income is similar, because you are living on one income. OP needs childcare, you don't. Big, big difference.

also if SAH for 11 yrs, likely bought before 2003 when housing was much much cheaper.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeezus Beezus threads like this really make me suicidal. My job tops out at a GS-11. I came in the Feds in 6yrs ago at a GS-7.
My series is not high- paying so I am always feeling the pull to go back to the evil private sector. The only thing I would miss is the stability factor.
I'm aiming for other Federal jobs because I really need to make more money.

I'm with you, however, I came in as a GS-9 and now I'm a GS 13-7 (9,11 and then 13). The only way to move up in my series (Program Analyst) is to be my boss. I'm currently looking outside my agency for non-sup 14s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think there are a lot of DCUMs who make a LOT of money and can't imagine living any other way. But it is possible, OP. My DH makes $125K as a federal employee. I do freelance work but pull in less than $6K/year. I've been primarily a SAHM for 11 years. We have three kids, own a smallish but nice house in a nice MoCo neighborhood, send one child to a (relatively) reasonably priced private school and the other two to publics, and have excellent college and retirement savings in place. We own both of our cars. We just don't spend a lot on things that many of our friends and neighbors, do, i.e. going out to eat a lot, babysitters, theatre tickets, gym memberships, cable TV, pricey phone plans. I buy most of my and the kids' clothes at thrift stores and we don't buy books, we use the library. But I love our lifestyle and other than traveling a little more and eating out more often, there's nothing I'd really change. DH had the opportunity to pursue a job that would have earned considerably more in a rural area in the Northeast, and we decided he wouldn't because we like living here.

I agree with this, but just want to point out, and heavily underline, that you cannot compare your situation with OP's, even though your family income is similar, because you are living on one income. OP needs childcare, you don't. Big, big difference.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think there are a lot of DCUMs who make a LOT of money and can't imagine living any other way. But it is possible, OP. My DH makes $125K as a federal employee. I do freelance work but pull in less than $6K/year. I've been primarily a SAHM for 11 years. We have three kids, own a smallish but nice house in a nice MoCo neighborhood, send one child to a (relatively) reasonably priced private school and the other two to publics, and have excellent college and retirement savings in place. We own both of our cars. We just don't spend a lot on things that many of our friends and neighbors, do, i.e. going out to eat a lot, babysitters, theatre tickets, gym memberships, cable TV, pricey phone plans. I buy most of my and the kids' clothes at thrift stores and we don't buy books, we use the library. But I love our lifestyle and other than traveling a little more and eating out more often, there's nothing I'd really change. DH had the opportunity to pursue a job that would have earned considerably more in a rural area in the Northeast, and we decided he wouldn't because we like living here.