https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 03:59:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-37250 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:56:06 +0000 erinpye 37250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were in a much higher category, until I decided to start my own company from home a year and a half ago. DH makes a great salary and we've been able to live on his income alone, putting whatever I make from my biz to savings as we prep for baby. I have always had a personal goal of working from home when I'm a mom, so it was important to me to start my business when I did, so it'd be up and running when baby got here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-37058 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:34:29 +0000 ecogirl 37058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anewme I'm sorry I didn't read your original question carefully. I'm embarrassed that I answered without doing so. If I had gone from where I was pre-marriage to an income of $150,000 or so I still would have felt wealthy. If I were to go to an income of $150,000 now I would not feel wealthy. It's really all relative. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-37050 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:27:12 +0000 yoursilverlining 37050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anewme: I recently read an article that polled Americans and the results said that $150k/year in income is the magic number in which most Americans say they actually feel "wealthy." Would you agree?</p> <p>No, I wouldn't agree with that survey. Maybe if we each made $150k a year, but at a combined $150k a year we are definitely not wealthy. But we are comfortable. (We also live in the northeast where the cost of living is higher. If we could buy a home for 100k or even 200k, I might feel relatively wealthier than I do now. Maybe). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-37037 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:07:46 +0000 BananaPancakes 37037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're at the higher end of the $75,000-100,000 and are located in the south. I would feel very comfortable if we could sell a couple of pieces of property that we own, but right now we're a bit tighter than I'd like to be. I'd prefer saving much more than we currently do. We also only have a small amount of debt in one of our vehicles and no credit card or school debt, so we're definitely doing a lot better than so many people around us in this crappy economy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-37027 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:57:05 +0000 Shutterbug 37027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in the middle of the 100-150k range, but we live in the north east, so our mortgage is a big chunk of our monthly income. Plus we have about 20k in student loans, and several thousand in credit card debt (from paying for home improvements, etc - we bought our house when we were making roughly 75k combined, and we didn't have the cash to pay for things like that at the time). </p> <p>Money is the only thing stopping us from TTC - we don't make enough to save anything substantial right now, and I really want to figure out a way to be at least a part time SAHM or WAHM. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-36999 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:02:17 +0000 winniebee 36999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anewme: Hm, I don't think we feel wealthy (because we don't drive super nice cars or wear expensive clothing or take exotic trips), but I do think reaching that figure we feel "comfortable." That allowed us to buy our condo, we now don't stress much about money, don't have to penny pinch, and get to go out to dinners and have savings. I would like to save more and hoping to work on that in the new year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-35849 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:39:00 +0000 ecogirl 35849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anewme I do feel wealthy because of our income and the luxuries we have in our life. I think that because I grew up decidedly not wealthy I am aware of it more. My husband grew up in a family that has far more than what we do so he does not feel wealthy. He was looking into getting his own plane/pilot since he flies overseas every two weeks and regular airport travel can be so annoying. He felt that we didn't have enough of an income to buy a small plane and he was honestly upset over it. I had to snap him back to reality haha! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-35827 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:36:26 +0000 anewme 35827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are actually newly minted into the over $200k category. DH started his own company a few months before DD was born. His annual income is ~500k. I was a full time RN, then dropped to part time, probably make about $50k before taxes right now. </p> <p>I recently read an article that polled Americans and the results said that $150k/year in income is the magic number in which most Americans say they actually feel "wealthy." Would you agree?</p> <p>Our lifestyle really hasn't changed that much from before he started his company till now. I just feel blessed because we can provide for DD the way I envisioned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-35803 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:55:27 +0000 lilteacherbee 35803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MK0180: I'm a preschool teacher at a private daycare, but my class is funded by the state. I completely understand what you mean about making a difference. Teachers definitely don't go into it for the money, haha :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income/page/2#post-35798 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:51:45 +0000 lilteacherbee 35798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a teacher and DH is training to be a restaurant manager, so we are in the $25,000-$50,000 range. DH went to college to be a teacher, but after graduation he decided he wanted to take some time away from teaching. When he becomes a general manager in 1-2 years, he'll be making close to $80,000 so our income will dramatically change.</p> <p>We also live in a rural community in the South. Our rent (2 bedroom house) is $550/month and both of our cars are paid oFf, so we're doing well for where we are living right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35720 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:25:24 +0000 mynoahbear 35720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our income is in the $100,000-$150,000, all of it from DH's job. I don't work and DH is an executive chef for a hotel. We live in Tokyo and DH has an expat contract, so most of our living expenses are paid for by the company, including rent, utilities, insurance, plus yearly flight back to the States for all of us. We decided we were ready to start a family when DH had become more established and was able to spend more time at home, as well as living in a family friendly country. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35717 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:50:24 +0000 DigAPony 35717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ick, I feel shockingly poor compared to most of you ladies! I am getting my Masters right now, and I teach college writing classes, while my husband works on a farm. Hopefully I will start teaching at a university next year as an official instructor so that we can start TTC. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35453 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:53:48 +0000 mrs. wagon 35453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oops, I forgot to add: Rob Sr. works in grad school administration, I'm a web producer at an art museum. For two jobs in non-profits we do pretty well, considering our hours (Rob Sr. is 40 hrs/wk and I'm 32 hrs/wk). And we live just outside Boston and both work in Boston. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35401 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:48:10 +0000 Sha 35401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in tech PR and the husband is a medical resident and we're in LA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35391 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:24:45 +0000 StbHisMrs 35391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live on the West Coast where it isn't as expensive as NYC or SF Bay it's more than the Mid West. We make around $65,000, it's enough for a regular couple to be comfortable but we've got some added expenses (child support being a large chunk). We don't have student loans though! DH is a railroad engineer and I work as a licensed csr in insurance. Hopefully I will become a producer under my agent in 2012 after my next series of licensing an my income should double, then we will be comfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35389 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:20:37 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 35389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a teacher with a Masters and 7 years so about $50k. DH makes a lot more than that so we're over $200k. But he's 42 so he's spent a long time getting there. He's currently the VP of an Insurance company, but will be President soon.</p> <p>Money was not our reasoning since we are comfortable enough (although seriously, almost all of it is in our mortgage and his under-water previous mortgage)! Timing is our issue. I would love for our "kid" to graduate before he turns 60 : ( We're getting pretty tight on that one... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35388 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:19:25 +0000 HabesBabe 35388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hubs makes a lot more than I do, but we do pretty well for our area (normal OC, not ritzy OC). We have a different situation because I still contribute $1500/month to my mom's mortgage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35375 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:03:45 +0000 winniebee 35375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We make about 180K combined - I'm a lawyer and DH is a medical resident. BUT we live in Boston = cha ching. Day care will be 2K a month. Yikes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35370 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:54:44 +0000 TJBee 35370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Combined we make around $200k w/ DH's salary being a big chuck of that. He own a recycling company and I work in marketing and own rental properties.<br /> When we bought our house and started budgeting for our future, we were making around $70k combined. In the past few years, DH's business has been very successful, so his salary has increased, but our expenses have remained the same (with the exception of some sporadic luxuries), so that has put us in a really good financial position to start a family. We also live in the midwest and have no student loan or consumer debt, so that helps a ton as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35367 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:49:51 +0000 MK0180 35367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We both work in public education so we don't make as much as others. I just finished with my masters and get to make student loan payments soon. Super excited. DH started his masters but he is putting it off for now - what sucks is that in order for him to have a higher pay raise he needs to have a masters which means incurring more debt. Raises at our jobs are pretty much non-existent. I got a whopping 3% raise for the first time in 3 years and the state has to do a drastic budget cut to public education for the next fiscal year. So, no 3% raises for a while now. However, I cannot imagine working in the private/corporate sector. I love my job knowing that what I do really can make an impact on someone's life. I really don't care about money in all honesty. Just so long as I have enough to pay bills and a little extra for Starbucks and perhaps a trip once in a while I am ok :) I am working on winning the lottery, however. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35352 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:36:38 +0000 Jenn23 35352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in the middle of the $100,000 to $150,000 range but live in a semi-pricey area. Not nearly as expensive as NYC or LA, but not cheap like many midwest and southern areas. So our combined salaries don't seem like nearly enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35348 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:32:47 +0000 Modern Daisy 35348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been really stressed about this lately! I feel like DH and I both need to get big raises this year if we are ever going to be able to afford daycare. Meanwhile, I'm pretty sure I will be getting very little if not no raise since my department didn't do that well :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35344 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:21:44 +0000 skibobrown 35344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're on the mid-to-high end range of this poll, but we live in a very expensive part of the country (SF Bay Area). I feel like we currently live comfortably but not extravagantly at all. We won't be saving much once baby comes along, and it's pretty much not possible for us to have savings at all if we have a second baby. </p> <p>Luckily my career is on an upward trajectory right now, and there's a good chance we will be moving to a much cheaper part of the country in the near future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35339 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:15:46 +0000 Red 35339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used to be a $200+ household but since I'm a SAHM now, we're about half that, which isn't that much in CA. Rough adjustment but we've never been extravagant with our spending. The mortgage does suck a lot of our money though. Good news is that the husband is expecting a nice promotion next year :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35328 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:02:27 +0000 mrsjyw 35328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We make pretty good $ for being in MI. DH is a bank manager and I'm a proposal consultant. We bought our house before the wedding, paid for half our wedding, and have a decent amount saved in savings, retirement, insurance. </p> <p>We continue to save and always feel that there's no such thing as having too much savings... being financially ready was definitely a main focus for both of us, moreso in my reasoning because I wanted to raise my credit level up significantly in the last few years. A couple months ago, I found that I'd exceeded my personal financial goals and we are now TTC :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35325 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:59:51 +0000 ecogirl 35325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza that's very true. Our mortgage is substantial and everything costs a lot in NYC. It really is relative to where you live and your expenses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35324 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:57:16 +0000 Lozza 35324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just remember that a lot of the people whose incomes are on the higher end of the spectrum live in places where they might need to spend $3000/month on rent and $2000/month on daycare, so it's all kind of relative, and "what we need to have before we TTC" depends mainly on what YOU think is a necessity. (Like, if you think owning a home is a big priority for TTC, that might be more realistically accomplished for a couple living somewhere far from a big city, than for a couple making four times as much living in NYC or San Francisco). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35317 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:48:19 +0000 mrs. wagon 35317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We decided to conceive after I was laid off and the recession started, and I couldn't find a job. I figured, if I'm gonna be on unemployment and unable to get an interview, I might as well be pregnant and a stay at home mom!</p> <p>Pretty much the worst time financially to have children, but we've made sacrifices and worked hard to make it happen (I had 3 part time jobs, Rob Sr. was full time and had 3 tutoring students) because the timing was the best for us. We're of the mindset that you're never really prepared for kids financially... once we were prepared emotionally and our relationship was good and stable and a good foundation for a family to be built on, we went ahead with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35302 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:37:32 +0000 Adira 35302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and I both make decent as we're both software engineers. We weren't ready to have kids until we were both done school (I got my Master's after we graduated undergrad), were married, and owned a home. Now we're just waiting for my trip to Las Vegas to come and go and we'll start! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-household-income#post-35285 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:21:33 +0000 heffalump 35285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are on the low end of the $75-100. I think it makes a difference where we live though, it doesn't cost nearly as much to live here then it does to live in some place like NY. I'm a SAHM and my husband is a computer programmer for the local blood bank.</p> <p>We don't have a lot of money, but we have enough to cover the basics. I feel like if we waited until we had a lot of money to have the baby, we would have been waiting our whole lives. And you never know what's going to happen. We actually had a pretty good savings when I got pregnant, and then realized holy crap I'm pregnant, we need a bigger house. And there went the savings. </p>