https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 30 Jun 2026 02:01:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1810225 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:01:14 +0000 Mrs.Panda 1810225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now we are doing decently but to live the life we want to live I would say I'd like to make about 150. It's doable in the next few years once I'm done with school without killing myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1809886 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 14:15:26 +0000 MrsTiz 1809886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 50k - that would pay all of our bills, allow me to stay home (or put LO in daycare) and actually have a vacation every now and then. Of course, the more the merrier..but we could live our current lifestyle on 50k very, very easily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776781 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 16:17:49 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1776781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't vote for an amount, because we're living a comfortable life. I think we could easily be comfortable with less too though. And heck, I could design an awesome new house with more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776677 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:31:51 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1776677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's all relative to what type of life you want for your family and what the cost of living is. For instance, we live in a country with high social benefits, low cost of housing, but very high taxes, which equates to lower wages. If we moved to my hometown, wages would be much, much higher, but the cost of education, childcare, medical, dental care, housing is all higher, not to mention longer work days and shorter vacations, so it would somewhat even out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776671 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:30:11 +0000 PawPrints 1776671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't predict how much money we'll need once we have kids, but for now, we make more money than we need to live a comfortable lifestyle. The number I voted for is a lot less than our current annual income. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776662 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:25:49 +0000 catlady 1776662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: @PurplePumps: I'm in MA too. I agree with you guys, we would definitely need over 200k here in MA. We are paying over 27k for daycare (for an infant). And our daycare is one of the less expensive ones in our area. It kills me just thinking about it. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776639 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:19:53 +0000 cyndistar3 1776639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>$50,000 would be more than enough for us to live a comfortable lifestyle! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776613 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:14:46 +0000 looch 1776613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate to say it though, $100,000 in 10 years will likely not have the same buying power as it does today, so realistically, I don't think you can really say what you would need in 10 years. I think you can only really say what you would need today, in today's dollars. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776594 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:12:24 +0000 mrsrain 1776594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband is the only one working right now, but he makes a good salary (under 100,000 but not listed here). Of course more money would allow us to do things like pay off my student loans or buy a house sooner, but we live comfortably. I voted we are there now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776480 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:51:53 +0000 Sparkler 1776480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: MA is crazy! I work part time and we pay a nanny $30k a year to watch our 2 kids just 3 days a week! Plus over $10k for preschool. I feel very fortunate to work part time, but the absurd thing is that $40k for a nanny and preschool(5 days for my older child) was the SAME price as putting my 2 kids in daycare 3 days a week ( going rate was least 125 a day per toddler). I won't even tell my parents this because it is unbelievable to me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776473 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:49:33 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1776473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lizzywiz: @PurplePumps: well now that makes sense why geography plays such a big part. Our mortgage, taxes, and insurance is $37,000 a year; and day care will be $12,000 a month. My husband just paid off his car so we redirected $700/mo or $8,400/ yr but will likely have a crazy car note again when we become parents. Lifestyle definitely plays a part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776464 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:45:56 +0000 MrsKRB 1776464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now, we make enough. Enough to pay bills, have fun, etc. When we have a kid it will definitely be tight so I voted 150K which would be ~50K more than now and would probably make us comfortable. I think one day we might get there, but probably not anytime soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776453 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:43:40 +0000 Smurfette 1776453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: and the reason we might be one and done is day care costs. $33K a year for 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776451 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:42:23 +0000 birdofafeather 1776451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i said $100K because for the next 10 years, that would definitely be enough. but i live in a high cost of living area so realistically, that number would have to increase to at least $150K for DH and I to retire properly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776448 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:42:00 +0000 PurplePumps 1776448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: *faints* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776447 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:41:10 +0000 hellobeeboston 1776447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: (grr I just replied and mysteriously vanished)</p> <p>But yeah, that was the cheapest we found. And it's less now that my son is 21 months. Crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776441 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:39:33 +0000 Smurfette 1776441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: We pay $18K for day care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/3#post-1776415 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:32:12 +0000 fairy 1776415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said 100k. I'm a sahm and my husband (and my at-home work) make a bit under there and it is fine for us &amp; the area we live. I can imagine that in certain areas it wouldn't nearly be enough, but we live well within our means and don't spend much on extras but are comfortable and I'm able to stay home so I'm happy! I am very frugal in spending, and we have a lot of student loan debt we are paying on. If we were debt free, I can see us living even better (getting a 2nd car, having more discretionary spending etc). :) The debt is slowly whittling away, at least! Our biggest expenses are healthcare (almost $900 a month!), mortgage, and student loans. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776410 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:31:19 +0000 ShootingStar 1776410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: We pay $1325/month which works out to $15,900/year. And like I said, it's the cheaper center in the area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776381 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:25:27 +0000 PurplePumps 1776381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: 16k a year!?<br /> Along with not accounting for buying things for a child and underestimating daycare, now i feel like I'd need even more than 200k to be really comfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776365 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:21:53 +0000 PurplePumps 1776365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: We don't have a LO yet, but I just put it in there as an estimate in the ideal world. We generally spend about $400/month on food now, so I don't know how much that will change. Neither of us shop much (I go on little sprees every now and then, but not too often) and the rest is for house updates and little things, so I guess this number would be even bigger with a LO</p> <p>@lizzywiz: wow, I cannot even fathom a mortgage for 7k a year. My property taxes alone are a little over 9k. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776354 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:20:25 +0000 hellobeeboston 1776354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: yup. I'm in MA too. So expensive. Great breakdown. I just realized we are spending $16k a year on daycare. Yikes! Seems like less monthly. </p> <p>We are doing ok but to be comfortable I'd like to be at the higher end of the poll with or house/cars/savings/travel/student debt. Etc etc etc</p> <p>@ShootingStar: yep! Just saw your post. We love our new house but are 45 minutes away from Boston now!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776346 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:18:01 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1776346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: both daycare/housing for us is more than 7k/year but not by too much... but you have to take into consideration that we're making considerably less income, so while those numbers seem low to you - our housing is still 25% of our income, daycare is about 15% (for late toddler age, infant age would be 22%). When daycare and housing alone has already encompassed nearly 50% of our income - and that doesn't include other necessities like car, gas, utilities, insurance, etc... the price differences really don't add up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776344 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:17:58 +0000 ShootingStar 1776344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Yeah we go to the "cheaper" daycare in our area (but I actually really like it) and it's ~$16k for one child/year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776338 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:16:33 +0000 lizzywiz 1776338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I live in the American Southwest. Not a particularly desirable city but still lots of pluses. We have a VA loan, which helps, and refinanced when the rates went down, but housing isn't too bad to begin with: average $200,000.<br /> Daycare- yup, that is full time, preschool curriculum, plus 2 meals and a snack. I got it for a steal because it's location is out of the way, but it is licensed with the highest level of rating available in the city. I CANNOT imagine daycare costing $20,,000. But, our wages are below national average, too, so there you go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776330 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:14:53 +0000 Kemma 1776330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>$100k would be enough for us, we could pay down our mortgage faster and it would give us more of a financial cushion. We do ok as is but with a second baby in the mix it's going to get tighter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776327 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:14:23 +0000 ShootingStar 1776327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in MA and we'd need maybe...$50-100k+ more? Daycare here is among the most expensive in the country, and of course housing is a significant expense too. We live a nice lifestyle now, but not what I would consider extravagant. And we're moving to a new house that will be much more expensive. </p> <p>I love the house we're buying, but around here if you're not a millionaire you can either have a convenient location, or a nice house. We chose the nice house. But we're pretty far out of Boston. To live where either DH or I work and have a similarly nice house would be $1.5-2 million. Plus $3k/month for daycare for one kid. So I guess to move towns and have better commutes we'd need a LOT more money. </p> <p>To be a little bit more comfortable in our new house, have 2 kids, two college funds, occasional vacations and dog walker and cleaning services, I'd feel comfortable with maybe $50k more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776323 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:12:43 +0000 MrsH 1776323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't revote either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776308 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:09:12 +0000 septca 1776308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't re-vote, but brutal honesty? $500k. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-money-would-be-enough-for-your-family/page/2#post-1776307 Wed, 23 Jul 2014 14:08:48 +0000 Anagram 1776307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lizzywiz: Wow daycare under $7000 a year? Is it full time? And a mortgage under $7000 a year? That's amazing!</p> <p>Our daycare is $22,000 a year. Sounds like a lot when I type it out, but it's actually the cheapest daycare in my town and to be frank, it's not that great. I'd like LO to go to Montessori when she's a bit older but that's even more $ so I will probably keep her in a cheaper option. </p>