Use rewards cards if you have self-discipline. Mine pay for my airplane tickets for vacations!

I earn 73k and have one child. I feel like we have plenty of money for everything I want and need for us. I think the people who feel otherwise must come from lower COL areas like the south or Midwest and/or are trying to keep up with the joneses. My goal in life is not a north face jacket or a designer purse or a mansion or fancy car. Dd is in middle school and thriving, despite not having an iPad or new designer uggs or whatever else.

Our family of five survived for several years on $110k. If we could do that I'm sure you'll be fine.

Question is can you rent a small apartment near your work to eliminate commuting costs? Get rid of your car. Live like this for a few years to save for a downpayment. How old is your son? Meaning will he need daycare? Here are other things to do:

Take your lunch to work
Cut cable or get a cheap directv package for 2 yes
Books at the library
Don't take trips unless staying with family
Get a cheap mobile plan - ting or republic
Set aside how much cash to use each week. Don't use cards

My husband and I lived on only my salary for one year while saving for a house. This is what we did. I make around 150k without kids. We have a car but I can walk to work and we go out to nice meals and travel. We also get killed on taxes with the amt since my husband makes more than I do.

Really though you can make it work and save too. Your freedom and happiness is worth it. Just live a simple life.

P.S. Obviously the key is your housing costs. If you are renting, rents have gotten expensive. I am, thank goodness, in a rent controlled apartment in NW DC. The rent would almost double if I moved out.

Yes. $85,000. I'm single.

Of course you can. You do realize that families survive on a THIRD of that in this area?

Anonymous wrote:We are a family of 4 living on about $90k.

We do have a low mortgage payment (for the area) but we have plenty left over.

Also we live in downtown DC.

We are a family of 4 living on about $90k.

We do have a low mortgage payment (for the area) but we have plenty left over.

I don't think OP is "out of touch" in the sense of not sure how old the child is , but daycare is a huge cost, commuting, car payments, we also don't know if she has any debts. This area is not cheap--not to mention any costs of a pending divorce/lawyers etc.

Having said that OP, I think you can do it, you will just as other PPs said, need to be more aware of some of the "luxuries" you took for granted before. When we went down to a one income household around that amount, it was doable, but I became much more aware of how much my Starbucks purchases, eating out ( even cheap) and trips to target added up.

Good luck OP!

Anonymous wrote:
We're a family of 4 living on 100K in Bethesda, and we bought a house with that (but we had saved up a huge downpayment for years).

I know you're just seeking confirmation, and are at a vulnerable moment in your life, but come on... you're really out of touch!

This is pretty amazing. Good job.

We're a family of 4 living on 100K in Bethesda, and we bought a house with that (but we had saved up a huge downpayment for years).

I know you're just seeking confirmation, and are at a vulnerable moment in your life, but come on... you're really out of touch!

Yes, I do it, you def can!

My DC and I live on around $50K so yes, you'd be rich on double that.

I do it on less with one DD and live in DC. Charters and all.