Anonymous
Post 07/21/2013 09:54     Subject: Re:Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP: What do YOU think is a good salary here? We'll let you know if it is, and where you can hope to live on that. Also, schools suck in DC proper, but are very good in Fairfax, Arlington, and Montgomery County, which is right next to DC.

I don't mean schools literally in DC, but in the metropolitan area.

Our income now is 120k and our mortgage is 250k. Taxes and COL are very low. Our real estate tax is $500.

I expect in DC our income would be 250-300k. Is that enough?


What's your calculation on the 250-300k? Your DH makes 120k now, I wouldn't expect a huge salary bump-up for him. Maybe 30k. So you have that much earning potential?


NP here. For good public schools in No. Va, you would need to buy a house for at least 500 to 550k, and it would be 30 + years old and in the outer suburbs. Honestly, if I were you, I would stay where you are and find a telecommuting job. You could seriously end up here in No. Va with both of you working and feeling like you have a lot "less", and with long commutes.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2013 09:41     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
200k population is not small. Surely you can find something where you live.

Are you done having kids? If you are going to get a job and then expect to go back to being SAHM I wouldn't move. No need to upheave your family's life for a job you will end up quitting.

Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 22:39     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:
That's my industry too. If he's a director level he might make 175K-180K at a bigger firm. Niche knowledge could bring it up a bit. He will have to do a lot of BD work, and bust his ass at least 60 hours a week. The minute his "coverage" ends he will get 2 to 6 weeks to find a job then he's out on his ass. The govt IT industry here is cutthroat. You have very little security.


He's a Project Manager on a gov't contract. Average salary here is 65-85. It's really not cutthroat . I guess it's another perk.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 22:06     Subject: Re:Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:

Based on what?
Based on how much his colleagues make there.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 18:57     Subject: Re:Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

What's your calculation on the 250-300k? Your DH makes 120k now, I wouldn't expect a huge salary bump-up for him. Maybe 30k. So you have that much earning potential?
I think he can easily double his salary in DC.


Based on what?

Her imagination...
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 18:55     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I work for a large tech company and one of our savings "strategies" is to try to con employees in less busy LCOL areas to transfer to HCOL areas. We dangle a pay raise in front of them and they often take the bait. We still end up paying them much less than we would have to pay a local market candidate. Then they end up working much harder (b/c there is more work to do in DC) for what turns out to be lower quality of life. My boss thinks this is genius; I think its a crappy way to treat employees. Oh, and in our company it is incredibly hard to transfer from DC out into the hinterlands.

Anyway, I would be surprised if your DH could double his pay. What is his industry?
government IT

That's my industry too. If he's a director level he might make 175K-180K at a bigger firm. Niche knowledge could bring it up a bit. He will have to do a lot of BD work, and bust his ass at least 60 hours a week. The minute his "coverage" ends he will get 2 to 6 weeks to find a job then he's out on his ass. The govt IT industry here is cutthroat. You have very little security.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 16:23     Subject: Re:Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

What's your calculation on the 250-300k? Your DH makes 120k now, I wouldn't expect a huge salary bump-up for him. Maybe 30k. So you have that much earning potential?
I think he can easily double his salary in DC.


Based on what?
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 16:21     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:200K isn't small town.


Yes, it is.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 16:17     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:I work for a large tech company and one of our savings "strategies" is to try to con employees in less busy LCOL areas to transfer to HCOL areas. We dangle a pay raise in front of them and they often take the bait. We still end up paying them much less than we would have to pay a local market candidate. Then they end up working much harder (b/c there is more work to do in DC) for what turns out to be lower quality of life. My boss thinks this is genius; I think its a crappy way to treat employees. Oh, and in our company it is incredibly hard to transfer from DC out into the hinterlands.

Anyway, I would be surprised if your DH could double his pay. What is his industry?
government IT
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 16:16     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
I work for a large tech company and one of our savings "strategies" is to try to con employees in less busy LCOL areas to transfer to HCOL areas. We dangle a pay raise in front of them and they often take the bait. We still end up paying them much less than we would have to pay a local market candidate. Then they end up working much harder (b/c there is more work to do in DC) for what turns out to be lower quality of life. My boss thinks this is genius; I think its a crappy way to treat employees. Oh, and in our company it is incredibly hard to transfer from DC out into the hinterlands.

Anyway, I would be surprised if your DH could double his pay. What is his industry?
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 16:13     Subject: Re:Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:

What's your calculation on the 250-300k? Your DH makes 120k now, I wouldn't expect a huge salary bump-up for him. Maybe 30k. So you have that much earning potential?
I think he can easily double his salary in DC.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 16:12     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:Can you work remotely?

Yes, but haven't seen much interest from employers.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 16:11     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:

On what planet is 200k a small town? Small city, maybe. A small town is 10k or less. Can you work online from home? The grass is always greener........


I grew up in a 15mil city, so 200K feels like a small town.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 16:10     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for your feedback.

I do wonder how good are the public schools in DC area really? Are they best in the country? Are they competitive with European education?

I wouldn't necessary settle down in DC. I was thinking of just living there while DC goes to school, renting, and then moving back to the low cost of living.


There are a handful of schools in the whole USA that are comparable with European education. IN DC area there is one high school in Fairfax and that's about it.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2013 16:10     Subject: Stuck because of my husband
Anonymous wrote:DC schools are not very good I hope you mean DC area VA/MD schools

Yes, I mean the metropolitan area around DC.