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06.16.08, 11:52 AM General Topics
43 replies
Money Matters: Am I the only middle class person left on Manhattan? Seems like everyone in ds's class has a country home. We can barely afford to rent here! Despite making over 200K per year, we are still scrapping by...Anyone else out there feel the crunch? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 06.16.08, 11:52 AM Flag
 

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no, yo'ure not the only one. but most of us end up leaving because of that. and then missing it. ugh [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 11:53 AM Flag
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Right there with ya! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 11:54 AM Flag
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you aren't alone. We live in Manhattan and make 90k. We are one of the few at our preschool that doesn't have a house out in the hamptons, or vacation during every school break. Doesn't bother me [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 11:54 AM Flag
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OP: Do you worry about how (1) hanging out with these Hampton kids will effect your kids? When do we start to worry that our kids are going to feel "less than" because they don't have a townhouse in the West village. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:00 PM Flag
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or: I don't worry. I was raised poor in Manhattan but raised to appreciate the little we had. I was raised to be thankful for the apt, food, clothing and love. That is exactly how we are raising our kids. We do own our apt, have a car but we don't own a townhouse..no biggie. My kids (thankfully) aren't high maint. They appreciate the little things. Like last summer we couldn't vacation out of the country..but took a weekend to Lancaster PA..they LOVED IT and couldn't stop thanking us. My older dd is 8yr and is happy and appreciative for the little things. She has even set a girl straight about calling our PA getaway not a vacation. My dd told her I don't have to be on a plane to go on vacation. you should try it..I was so proud of her for standing up for herself. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:06 PM Flag
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np I don't worry about things like that. I know why we aren't as rich as some people we know. We made choices that work for us. If DD wants to be wealthy someday, she can work for it. That's her motivation to succeed and her choices to make. Nothing wrong with deciding to be not rich [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:08 PM Flag
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i grew up in a terrible area in bklyn and went to a very nice boarding school in CT. I never felt "less than". I went to all of my friends houses and appreciated nice restaurants and activities with their families. I don't know why, I just never felt anything personal. My parents didn't have $. Theirs did. It was a simple fact to me. I didn't internalize it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:09 PM Flag
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your parents did a hell of a job with you!!! that's how ppl should raise their kids...to appreciate what you have and not envy what others have [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:12 PM Flag
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I am in similar income bracket, but try to not compare our family "up" - people are doing much worse than us as well. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 11:55 AM Flag
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Yes, it is actually really hard to complain to my family (not in NYC) who work MUCH harder for MUCH less money. I just never thought I'd feel this poor again. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 11:58 AM Flag
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OP: I was sitting with ds in park sandbox near where a 6 year old was playing. He was being nice to ds, and then talked to me about his sand castle. It was very sweet until he started talking about his CN country home on the water. UGH! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 11:56 AM Flag
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why ugh? it's his reality. he has no idea how you perceive it. geez. he's a kid! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:02 AM Flag
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We are with you. two professionals and we are solidly middle class in manhattan. we still rent, kids will go to public elementary, no car, no summer home, etc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:07 PM Flag
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we are the same but vary between 200 - 400k but still seem to have nothing. I dc in public the other in private nursury with full time nanny. I feel like we struggle [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:43 PM Flag
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Hilarious! $200k. and you call yourself middle-class? Get a life. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:16 PM Flag
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OP: Clearly you are not from Manhattan. In the rest of the country, I would be doing very, very well. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:32 PM Flag
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i am! and i make far less, and we are happy. :) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:03 AM Flag
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NYC government would disagree. A dual income of 200K still qualifies one for middle-income benefits [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:58 PM Flag
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what the heck is a middle income benefit? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:00 PM Flag
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To purchase housing at slightly below market rates (although there are few of these they do exist) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:01 PM Flag
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i don't know if you are correct. i know the sonyma program has an income cap of 99k. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:05 PM Flag
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I am. We bought a middle income apartment a few years ago and if we had earned 200K we would have qualified for a brownstone. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:30 PM Flag
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hey, tell me more! where can i get information about this? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:32 PM Flag
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HPD - the higher income/middle income ones are rare, but they exist. Most of the middle income hover between 125 - 160K, but I have seen them up to a bit over 200K. You have to look at their website all the time and cull through the nytime, etc. GL [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:35 PM Flag
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thanks. we are pretty low income so i'll see what they have. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:37 PM Flag
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there are way more at lower income brackets under $100000 [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:04 AM Flag
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what kind of bennies? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:03 AM Flag
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amen! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:03 AM Flag
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what school? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:33 PM Flag
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We are just scrapping by in a sense, but we know it is because we are paying for private. We feel fortunate that we can barely do that. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 12:56 PM Flag
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i think there are a lot of people who do things for "appearances." people may have 2nd homes they bought when things were"better" or are the homes of grandparents. or, they may rent and leave the appearance of wealth but are in hock up to their ears, so both parents work like crazy. i've had some of my own preconceived notions about families change this year-dc just finished k in a private. and, the ones I've found out who are wealthier, are the most low key, messy dressed, etc. the ones who are so caught up with 2nd homes, purses, etc are the ones who are financially struggling [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:24 PM Flag
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I hear you sister. DH and I together made about $200K. We are NOT well-off. And, I'm pregant without maternity benefits, so we're about to be broke. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:26 PM Flag
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That is what kills me about this country - lack of respect for mothers and families. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:32 PM Flag
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OP: Exactly! As a working mom, I am really struggling to pay for preschool, babysitting (during non-preschool days) to say nothing of the rising cost of food! We sold our car (which we parked in Jersey while we had it) and are really worried about the price of heating oil for winter. How are we going to do this? Totally didn't think I'd be here with two professional jobs in the house! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 01:43 PM Flag
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agreed. it's sick. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:05 AM Flag
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Just checked on wikipedia. You are upper middle class. You're college educated and make over 100K a year. But I'd get a proper financial planner if I were you (and if you have one, fire em) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 06:53 PM Flag
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If one is living in Manhattan and has children - it doesn't go that far - no financial planner can make it go further. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.16.08, 07:03 PM Flag
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Financially, "class" categorization is relative to the local economics, therefore I would have to agree that as unfortunate/rediculous as it is, $200k doesn't go very far with a family in Manhattan. However, I personally believe that "low/middle/high" class is determined by your values. While I have been very fortunate with my current financial situation, I plan to raise my children to save up for the things they want and vacations will definitely involve lots of camping and rentals of great little shacks surrounded by trees. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 04:47 AM Flag
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It does though. You are wrong. I live in the city, have children, and I don't bring in nearly that much. And we survive--and really well. I am amazed at people's inability to see past their noses. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:08 AM Flag
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this is not middle class. I make far less, and I make it work! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:01 AM Flag
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no - most people actually make less than you. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:02 AM Flag
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agreed. We do, my MIL does, most of my friends do. And they are all in Manhattan. You just have to be smart about how you spend it. I love $200K earners complaining about being tight when on a little more than a 1/4 of that I live great! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 05:05 AM Flag
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We live in Manhattan on dh's blue collar city job income (recently promoted to supervisor), our rent is not "market", so we're in a golden handcuffs situation as far as housing goes (1 br for 3 of us). We do own a car, we do vacation, eat out, bring db to classes when we can, do not save much. I grew up on what is now the Upper West Side, we now live in Chinatown/LES where dh grew up (him, working class, me, upper middle w/ 4 siblings, public schools (dh, parochial to specialized public, me public to specialized public), we owned nothing). I choose to SAH and plan to homeschool for philosophical reasons ("good" schools are still warehouses that betray the children entrusted to them, IMO). You live in a bubble, and it sounds like a depressing one. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.17.08, 07:11 PM Flag
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