Would not say hand to mouth by any means but we are considering having DW quit her job. We have a 3.5 YO so the idea would be to maximize time with the kid before he goes off to school

Problem is that her salary is 200K which is a lot to give up, I do however think it will add some balance to our lives and reduce stress even if it is adding some financial pressure.

Before everybody gets their fangs sharpened, I understand that we are fortunate to be facing this decision, just wondering if others have faced something similar when dropping back to one income.

Anonymous wrote:My spouse makes nothing but saves us $50k in childcare. I make $450k base, can be 2x in a good year. I'm highly educated, but I could do my job with a GED.

No, she saves you $25K in childcare and saves herself $25K in childcare.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesnt' just about everyone on this particular board make at a minimum $200K?

DH is well over this amount, and I am well under as I work PT....and FWIW, we feel very middle-class.

Like I said.....don't most people on DCUM make at LEAST $200K?

um, per person?? no.

Anonymous wrote:Yep, I do. Marketing.

He's close to that - Journalist.

WHAT????? What kind of journalism job does your husband have that pays close to $200k? Most journalists I know are lucky to make $60k.

Anonymous wrote:I'm an interior decorator. He owns bars and clubs.

Very rare to make this much as an interior decorator unless you work for celebrities.

Anonymous wrote:Yep, I do. Marketing.

He's close to that - Journalist.

This is rare in these days.

My husband is an equity analyst for a money manger. Base of ~200k plus bonuses which can be significant (500k+)

Anonymous wrote:Doesnt' just about everyone on this particular board make at a minimum $200K?

DH is well over this amount, and I am well under as I work PT....and FWIW, we feel very middle-class.

Like I said.....don't most people on DCUM make at LEAST $200K?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Self: 8 years IT with Masters from JHU only 90.
DH: 10 years Law enforcement with MD only 40.
Passive income: 50k.

We live hand to month, most month.

Hand to mouth on $180k?

what's surprising? it is high COL area after all
with our HHI ~200K and 3 kids - we're in the same boat

Yes, that's surprising. It's roughly double the average HHI of Montgomery county; it's hard to reconcile that with living "hand to mouth".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Self: 8 years IT with Masters from JHU only 90.
DH: 10 years Law enforcement with MD only 40.
Passive income: 50k.

We live hand to month, most month.

Hand to mouth on $180k?

what's surprising? it is high COL area after all
with our HHI ~200K and 3 kids - we're in the same boat

Anonymous wrote:Self: 8 years IT with Masters from JHU only 90.
DH: 10 years Law enforcement with MD only 40.
Passive income: 50k.

We live hand to month, most month.

Hand to mouth on $180k?

My spouse makes nothing but saves us $50k in childcare. I make $450k base, can be 2x in a good year. I'm highly educated, but I could do my job with a GED.

We both do; me a bit more than him. Lawyers.

Self: 8 years IT with Masters from JHU only 90.
DH: 10 years Law enforcement with MD only 40.
Passive income: 50k.

We live hand to month, most month.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband's career field is rapidly drying up and causing us some concern as his ability to earn is decreasing. We've accepted one or both of us may have to retrain and enter a new high paying field to maintain our standard of living. Any of you out there make $200K or more? If so, what do you do for a living?

I make about 260 he makes 220. Lawyers.

We are both late 40s though - older than the average DCUM poster.