Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$150K is pretty modest in D.C. Not elsewhere.

I feel for the OP - I was raised in the 70s and 80s by a SAHM who never had to think about how to pay the bills. When she worked, it was for fun, not to bolster the family's income. My husband and I have friends with family money, they recently bought a new multimillion-dollar home without needing to sell their old one first. Aware as I am that I enjoy so much good fortune, it's hard to not feel envious of people who never have to worry about money. They want something, they buy it. They need something, they're covered.

My husband is building assets but not bringing in a lot of cash. I'm not proud to admit that I feel sour about it. Our first baby is on the way and it saddens me to think that we might not be able to give it everything we hope to - like a sibling, or summer camp, or a full ride to college.

And what are you doing to improve your family finances?

I take on freelance work whenever I can. I spend very little. I drive an 18-year-old car. I consistently move bits of extra money into savings. He is also thrifty, and he works very hard. His work will start paying off in a few years, things are just tight for us now.

Get a full-time job, or stop complaining. God, the entitlement of some women...

Anonymous wrote:$150K is pretty modest in D.C. Not elsewhere.

I feel for the OP - I was raised in the 70s and 80s by a SAHM who never had to think about how to pay the bills. When she worked, it was for fun, not to bolster the family's income. My husband and I have friends with family money, they recently bought a new multimillion-dollar home without needing to sell their old one first. Aware as I am that I enjoy so much good fortune, it's hard to not feel envious of people who never have to worry about money. They want something, they buy it. They need something, they're covered.

My husband is building assets but not bringing in a lot of cash. I'm not proud to admit that I feel sour about it. Our first baby is on the way and it saddens me to think that we might not be able to give it everything we hope to - like a sibling, or summer camp, or a full ride to college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$150K is pretty modest in D.C. Not elsewhere.

I feel for the OP - I was raised in the 70s and 80s by a SAHM who never had to think about how to pay the bills. When she worked, it was for fun, not to bolster the family's income. My husband and I have friends with family money, they recently bought a new multimillion-dollar home without needing to sell their old one first. Aware as I am that I enjoy so much good fortune, it's hard to not feel envious of people who never have to worry about money. They want something, they buy it. They need something, they're covered.

My husband is building assets but not bringing in a lot of cash. I'm not proud to admit that I feel sour about it. Our first baby is on the way and it saddens me to think that we might not be able to give it everything we hope to - like a sibling, or summer camp, or a full ride to college.

And what are you doing to improve your family finances?

I take on freelance work whenever I can. I spend very little. I drive an 18-year-old car. I consistently move bits of extra money into savings. He is also thrifty, and he works very hard. His work will start paying off in a few years, things are just tight for us now.

Anonymous wrote:Ehm...we make 48k, have one car, rent our apartment and don't have money for anything ever. I'd sometimes like a bit more money to be able to go on vacation or whatever but honestly...why do you need 150k?! O_o Stop complaining and value what you have, change your perspective and way of living, stop spending unnecessarily and BAM you will feel rich compared to all the others out there who have way less than you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$150K is pretty modest in D.C. Not elsewhere.

I feel for the OP - I was raised in the 70s and 80s by a SAHM who never had to think about how to pay the bills. When she worked, it was for fun, not to bolster the family's income. My husband and I have friends with family money, they recently bought a new multimillion-dollar home without needing to sell their old one first. Aware as I am that I enjoy so much good fortune, it's hard to not feel envious of people who never have to worry about money. They want something, they buy it. They need something, they're covered.

My husband is building assets but not bringing in a lot of cash. I'm not proud to admit that I feel sour about it. Our first baby is on the way and it saddens me to think that we might not be able to give it everything we hope to - like a sibling, or summer camp, or a full ride to college.

And what are you doing to improve your family finances?

Anonymous wrote:$150K is pretty modest in D.C. Not elsewhere.

I feel for the OP - I was raised in the 70s and 80s by a SAHM who never had to think about how to pay the bills. When she worked, it was for fun, not to bolster the family's income. My husband and I have friends with family money, they recently bought a new multimillion-dollar home without needing to sell their old one first. Aware as I am that I enjoy so much good fortune, it's hard to not feel envious of people who never have to worry about money. They want something, they buy it. They need something, they're covered.

My husband is building assets but not bringing in a lot of cash. I'm not proud to admit that I feel sour about it. Our first baby is on the way and it saddens me to think that we might not be able to give it everything we hope to - like a sibling, or summer camp, or a full ride to college.

Anonymous wrote:$150K is pretty modest in D.C. Not elsewhere.

I feel for the OP - I was raised in the 70s and 80s by a SAHM who never had to think about how to pay the bills. When she worked, it was for fun, not to bolster the family's income. My husband and I have friends with family money, they recently bought a new multimillion-dollar home without needing to sell their old one first. Aware as I am that I enjoy so much good fortune, it's hard to not feel envious of people who never have to worry about money. They want something, they buy it. They need something, they're covered.

My husband is building assets but not bringing in a lot of cash. I'm not proud to admit that I feel sour about it. Our first baby is on the way and it saddens me to think that we might not be able to give it everything we hope to - like a sibling, or summer camp, or a full ride to college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop nagging him and appreciate what you have. Each other, good health, a child.

This. Stop gold digging and live your life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I understand how you feel. I'm sure I would feel the same. People can be so self-righteous with their comments. I think in order to move on you have to accept (even mourn) that the life you thought you would have (at least financially) is over. Then focus on moving forward with the life you have now. Definitely talk to a financial planner who can help restructure your savings and retirement goals given your new reality. I also think moving is not a bad idea- start over somewhere a lot less expensive without all the pressures inherent in living in DC. Has your husband reached out to his law school's career services office for help and advice? They might know of other opportunities both in and out of DC.

So many thrift store shoppers and coupon clippers and unwaxed women come out of the woodworks for posts like these. Martyr central.

^^^ I want to be friends w/ unwaxed women commenter. So freaking funny...^^^

Anonymous wrote:Try to get out of this area, which has become a competitive hellhole. It keeps people from counting their blessings and causes them only to see the ways in which they don't measure up to others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

we have a very modest income (150-200K) but friends who are very wealthy (1M-5M income) . it is tough, no matter how superficial that sounds.

For the last time, $150K-$200K is NOT VERY MODEST. Which is why people piling on the OP. Of course there are plenty of people with much bigger incomes, and of course it's hard to have your income more than halved, but $150K is not a pittance. Not even in DC.

Anonymous wrote:

we have a very modest income (150-200K) but friends who are very wealthy (1M-5M income) . it is tough, no matter how superficial that sounds.