Really? I was born and raised there. Are you talking about currently? Most of our High School friends stayed in the area.
Literally every single one of our close friends that we have made down here in the past 10 years have moved away (or at least further out from DC at least 30-50 miles) as soon as they decided to have kids. I can think of 10 different couples off the top of my head.
There are obviously people who stay (your family, case in point), but it's HARD raising a family here unless if you make a lot of money.
Oh yes, in general my friends are high earners and yeah our families bought their houses ages ago which are literally worth 10 times more than they paid. I don't miss the COL at all cause we are ballin here in Atlanta, LOL!!
I agree with dottyblue. We had to move. It's not comfortable with kids. At all. I posted my budget on MM and they couldn't even find stuff to cut. I was bare bones and stressed about money constantly.
Yup. We are bleeding money every month because of daycare right now. Our house DP has taken a hit. There is NOTHING to cut unless if we sell a car, and that's not realistic.
I am counting down the days until June. We would already be gone except that DH is a teacher and can't leave mid-school year.
Really? I was born and raised there. Are you talking about currently? Most of our High School friends stayed in the area.
I wish I could remember where, but I recently read something that said the COL in NoVA has risen about in proportion to the increase in lobbying spending. And that lobbying spending has increased by some insane exponential percentage between 1998 and 2011. So I think on the COL front, a lot of things have changed. But I don't know what it was like when you were growing up.
You know I'm generally all rah rah DC, but after my hour long 9-mile reverse commute last night, I am like I'M OUT!
I hear you. I live 4 miles from office; my commute is consistently 35-45 minutes. That means I average 8.75-11.25 mph.
I could see a couple living comfortably on this (although, like you said, renting, not owning) in DC, so it makes total sense to me that this is the number for an individual. It's kind of crazy to say an individual could not live comfortably in any US city on this amount. It's an awful lot like the "I am middle class" proclamations for the $250K HHI group. Still, I would be curious how comfort is defined. If I were single, no children, I could be comfortable in a one-bedroom apartment. I could even be comfortable without a vehicle. I am sure they used some sort of lifestyle barometer for this, I wonder why they did not include it.
Ha, yeah it would be interesting to see how comfort is defined. I mean we had a car (paid off), but we flew somewhere once a month and went out to really nice restaurants. We had ALL the channels for cable. We also had a one bedroom apartment. We also could put money into savings. So it was pretty cushy. If we both made 108K we be living the high life w/out kids (and student loans ha ha).
ETA: We could have afforded a 2 bedroom apartment as well (and not changed our lifestyle).
I have to say, I am kind of blown away by this. I do not live in DC, my COL is certainly lower, no kids, and there was no way in hell we could afford all the stuff you mentioned when we were at that level.
I agree with dottyblue. We had to move. It's not comfortable with kids. At all. I posted my budget on MM and they couldn't even find stuff to cut. I was bare bones and stressed about money constantly.
Yup. We are bleeding money every month because of daycare right now. Our house DP has taken a hit. There is NOTHING to cut unless if we sell a car, and that's not realistic.
I am counting down the days until June. We would already be gone except that DH is a teacher and can't leave mid-school year.
I live in Ohio now and I bought BOOTS. DH was working full time and doing school full time on the GI bill. They provide a housing allowance. The whole thing went towards daycare. We can pay for daycare just with jobs now. I tell ya, swimming in it.
We were in Loudoun County. My parents bought their house in 89 for $230k. Houses in their neighborhood are now selling for $500-$600k. It took forever but my mom finally gets why we had to move.
ETA most of my friends are still there but struggling. One still lives with her parents. Another one lives on credit. I don't know anyone that can put their kid in daycare, most have a grandparent do it for free.
I wish I could remember where, but I recently read something that said the COL in NoVA has risen about in proportion to the increase in lobbying spending. And that lobbying spending has increased by some insane exponential percentage between 1998 and 2011. So I think on the COL front, a lot of things have changed. But I don't know what it was like when you were growing up.
You know I'm generally all rah rah DC, but after my hour long 9-mile reverse commute last night, I am like I'M OUT!
I hear you. I live 4 miles from office; my commute is consistently 35-45 minutes. That means I average 8.75-11.25 mph.
I'm so done.
This is why I don't drive if I can help it!
Yesterday was an exception and I was like WHY GOD WHY? I walk and take public transit everywhere. Why are you punishing me like this?
Really? I was born and raised there. Are you talking about currently? Most of our High School friends stayed in the area.
Literally every single one of our close friends that we have made down here in the past 10 years have moved away (or at least further out from DC at least 30-50 miles) as soon as they decided to have kids. I can think of 10 different couples off the top of my head.
There are obviously people who stay (your family, case in point), but it's HARD raising a family here unless if you make a lot of money.
We are planning to stay.
What makes it work for us: I am a SAHM...childcare in the area is out of control! Public preschool and plan to put kids in public school. Renting instead of buying in a neighborhood that is walkable to DH's work and DS's school.
What we sacrifice: Space. College savings (this will change as we pay our our student loans) Equity in a home, ability to upgrade finishes. (though I argue that we are able to save more.)
Literally every single one of our close friends that we have made down here in the past 10 years have moved away (or at least further out from DC at least 30-50 miles) as soon as they decided to have kids. I can think of 10 different couples off the top of my head.
There are obviously people who stay (your family, case in point), but it's HARD raising a family here unless if you make a lot of money.
We are planning to stay.
What makes it work for us: I am a SAHM...childcare in the area is out of control! Public preschool and plan to put kids in public school. Renting instead of buying in a neighborhood that is walkable to DH's work and DS's school.
What we sacrifice: Space. College savings (this will change as we pay our our student loans) Equity in a home, ability to upgrade finishes. (though I argue that we are able to save more.)
Are you that pretty woman I walked with leaving the brunch GTG?
Literally every single one of our close friends that we have made down here in the past 10 years have moved away (or at least further out from DC at least 30-50 miles) as soon as they decided to have kids. I can think of 10 different couples off the top of my head.
There are obviously people who stay (your family, case in point), but it's HARD raising a family here unless if you make a lot of money.
We are planning to stay.
What makes it work for us: I am a SAHM...childcare in the area is out of control! Public preschool and plan to put kids in public school. Renting instead of buying in a neighborhood that is walkable to DH's work and DS's school.
What we sacrifice: Space. College savings (this will change as we pay our our student loans) Equity in a home, ability to upgrade finishes. (though I argue that we are able to save more.)
I give you serious credit. We considered DH being a SAHD (I make 3x what he does, yay teacher pay! ), but you lose future earnings/pension and he really wouldn't be happy in the long run.
Ha, yeah it would be interesting to see how comfort is defined. I mean we had a car (paid off), but we flew somewhere once a month and went out to really nice restaurants. We had ALL the channels for cable. We also had a one bedroom apartment. We also could put money into savings. So it was pretty cushy. If we both made 108K we be living the high life w/out kids (and student loans ha ha).
ETA: We could have afforded a 2 bedroom apartment as well (and not changed our lifestyle).
I have to say, I am kind of blown away by this. I do not live in DC, my COL is certainly lower, no kids, and there was no way in hell we could afford all the stuff you mentioned when we were at that level.
Hmm really? I mean we basically paid rent ($1500) and then like maybe $500 in other bills. That gave us a couple grand a month to do other stuff with. To be fair, this was 2007-2009 I just know I felt really rich back then lol.
I have to say, I am kind of blown away by this. I do not live in DC, my COL is certainly lower, no kids, and there was no way in hell we could afford all the stuff you mentioned when we were at that level.
Hmm really? I mean we basically paid rent ($1500) and then like maybe $500 in other bills. That gave us a couple grand a month to do other stuff with. To be fair, this was 2007-2009 I just know I felt really rich back then lol.
I don't know, I mean, we also felt rich then, lol. But our house payment was around $900, we had basic cable, and then a bunch of other bills for probably the same $500, our car payment was only $200. We did contribute a fair amount to retirement and saving for a DP, maybe that was it. I just know we definitely weren't eating at nice restaurants whenever we wanted, and we took one trip a year. I just thought it would be a lot more in DC.
I live just outside of DC in VA. We make a bit more than that for our little family of three and things are TIGHT. We live in 950 square feet. Daycare is killing us (we pay just as much in daycare as we do in rent) for only one kid. I have no idea how "poor" people have multiple kids here. Daycare for 2 would be more than my DH's salary. We don't eat out. We take advantage of the free museums and zoo.
And mortgage? HA! We are moving back to CT this summer because we can't afford to buy anything other here than a shithole in a sketchy neighborhood or an efficiency apartment without moving another 45 minutes away from DC. And I refuse to do that kind of commute.
DC is fun when you are young and don't have as many responsibilities. There is a reason that people start moving away when they have kids...
Really? I was born and raised there. Are you talking about currently? Most of our High School friends stayed in the area.
Yeah, my nephews and their step siblings are all born and raised in DC, and I would say 95% of my college friends (went to AU) have stayed and had kids in DC. I would move back to DC in a heartbeat with my kids.
Really? I was born and raised there. Are you talking about currently? Most of our High School friends stayed in the area.
Yeah, my nephews and their step siblings are all born and raised in DC, and I would say 95% of my college friends (went to AU) have stayed and had kids in DC. I would move back to DC in a heartbeat with my kids.
I love DC with my kid (okay Arlington, but whatever we go into DC lol).
Yeah, my nephews and their step siblings are all born and raised in DC, and I would say 95% of my college friends (went to AU) have stayed and had kids in DC. I would move back to DC in a heartbeat with my kids.
I love DC with my kid (okay Arlington, but whatever we go into DC lol).
My nephews are in Arlington most of the time but in Adams Morgan with my brother and his step kids the rest of the time. I mean, DC is an amazing place to grow up in, and I loved loved loved living there. I miss it, and we try to visit as often as we can!
I love DC with my kid (okay Arlington, but whatever we go into DC lol).
My nephews are in Arlington most of the time but in Adams Morgan with my brother and his step kids the rest of the time. I mean, DC is an amazing place to grow up in, and I loved loved loved living there. I miss it, and we try to visit as often as we can!
Yeah, honestly I can't imagine living somewhere else. I mean YES it is expensive and sometimes I think life would jsut be easier. But I don't know, we managed to buy a house and we are managing to send two to daycare (hopefully). Although two in daycare is essentially my salary
What makes it work for us: I am a SAHM...childcare in the area is out of control! Public preschool and plan to put kids in public school. Renting instead of buying in a neighborhood that is walkable to DH's work and DS's school.
What we sacrifice: Space. College savings (this will change as we pay our our student loans) Equity in a home, ability to upgrade finishes. (though I argue that we are able to save more.)
Are you that pretty woman I walked with leaving the brunch GTG?
I don't think so. I walked with y4m after. You and I were at the same brunch a couple years ago, but at opposite ends of the table. I've been pretty MIA lately.
What makes it work for us: I am a SAHM...childcare in the area is out of control! Public preschool and plan to put kids in public school. Renting instead of buying in a neighborhood that is walkable to DH's work and DS's school.
What we sacrifice: Space. College savings (this will change as we pay our our student loans) Equity in a home, ability to upgrade finishes. (though I argue that we are able to save more.)
I need to PM you. tacosforlife said I need to talk to you about DC schools. We are SERIOUSLY considering moving into the city with our kid. I have been doing a lot of research, but it would be nice to talk to someone I "know" as opposed to dcurbanmom.
Oh, DCUM.
I am learning as I go, but would be happy to talk about what I know. We've did a charter for a year and now in a dcps. Plus I have several friends in various charters.
Post by mandapanda18 on Jan 31, 2015 18:45:44 GMT -5
Well, I have lived in SF in the past, and that salary number is a joke! We make more than the amount listed on the chart, but live in the valley. There is no way we could own a home in sf for $124k a year! I shared a 2 bedroom apt in the city with 5 other chic's and we still paid almost $950 each in rent/utilities each month!
I agree with dottyblue. We had to move. It's not comfortable with kids. At all. I posted my budget on MM and they couldn't even find stuff to cut. I was bare bones and stressed about money constantly.
Yup. We are bleeding money every month because of daycare right now. Our house DP has taken a hit. There is NOTHING to cut unless if we sell a car, and that's not realistic.
I am counting down the days until June. We would already be gone except that DH is a teacher and can't leave mid-school year.
do you guys have a job/s lined up or are you just pulling up stakes and hoping for the best?
What makes it work for us: I am a SAHM...childcare in the area is out of control! Public preschool and plan to put kids in public school. Renting instead of buying in a neighborhood that is walkable to DH's work and DS's school.
What we sacrifice: Space. College savings (this will change as we pay our our student loans) Equity in a home, ability to upgrade finishes. (though I argue that we are able to save more.)
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I need to PM you. tacosforlife said I need to talk to you about DC schools. We are SERIOUSLY considering moving into the city with our kid. I have been doing a lot of research, but it would be nice to talk to someone I "know" as opposed to dcurbanmom.
What makes it work for us: I am a SAHM...childcare in the area is out of control! Public preschool and plan to put kids in public school. Renting instead of buying in a neighborhood that is walkable to DH's work and DS's school.
What we sacrifice: Space. College savings (this will change as we pay our our student loans) Equity in a home, ability to upgrade finishes. (though I argue that we are able to save more.)
I need to PM you. tacosforlife said I need to talk to you about DC schools. We are SERIOUSLY considering moving into the city with our kid. I have been doing a lot of research, but it would be nice to talk to someone I "know" as opposed to dcurbanmom.
Oyster Adams is a great school; Key Elementary, Janney, Murch, Lafayette
Oyster Adams is a great school; Key Elementary, Janney, Murch, Lafayette
Yes. And you also have to pay 700K+ to live in-bounds. I don't make that kind of money and I don't think any OOB kids got in this year. That is all DCUM talks about JKLM(M) schools and how great they are. We might go private.
I never said it was cheap to live in those areas, just that those are the best schools My step-niece and nephew are at OysterAdams and they could not be happier with it.
Oyster Adams is a great school; Key Elementary, Janney, Murch, Lafayette
Yes. And you also have to pay 700K+ to live in-bounds. I don't make that kind of money and I don't think any OOB kids got in this year. That is all DCUM talks about JKLM(M) schools and how great they are. We might go private.
And, as far as middle/high school goes, I would say Deal/Wilson but the School Without Walls has always been excellent
And, as far as middle/high school goes, I would say Deal/Wilson but the School Without Walls has always been excellent
Ha I just checked Redfin for available homes in-bound to Oyster-Adams. Yeah. The cheapest home that is not a 1bd/1ba is 850K. Everything else is between $1.8MM-$10MM. hahahhaha lol forever.
Where are you now? Arlington has fantastic schools as well.
Yup. We are bleeding money every month because of daycare right now. Our house DP has taken a hit. There is NOTHING to cut unless if we sell a car, and that's not realistic.
I am counting down the days until June. We would already be gone except that DH is a teacher and can't leave mid-school year.
do you guys have a job/s lined up or are you just pulling up stakes and hoping for the best?
I can work from home in CT for my current job thankfully. DH doesn't have anything lined up yet but is starting to send out resumes. We can live off of my salary alone in CT and things will be tight, but we won't be dipping in to savings each month. We are just hoping and praying DH's job search turns something up.
Oyster Adams is a great school; Key Elementary, Janney, Murch, Lafayette
Yes. And you also have to pay 700K+ to live in-bounds. I don't make that kind of money and I don't think any OOB kids got in this year. That is all DCUM talks about JKLM(M) schools and how great they are. We might go private.
More like a million+. It's nuts.
That said, lots of potential I think in the non-Jklmm world. I know families who are really committing to various dcps and charters. DC schools has a lot of challenges but the more families who can can afford to choose choose to stay is progress.
Nope. PG County. Terrible schools (overall) I know there are some hidden gems out there. I'm not really a VA kind of person. Sorry VA.
I have friends happy with Shepherd Park. (and I get it, I could never be a MD person)
I went to Shepherd. After that folks would get special permission to go to Jefferson or Deal. For High School it was Wilson on Banneker . My Mom lives in that area , not sure what houses in Shepherd Park go for but where my Mom lives easily a Million. DC is crazy.