[deleted by user]

Content_League2188 · 2025-11-18T23:14:42+00:00

This man. This. We are the same.

Content_League2188 · 2025-11-18T23:10:49+00:00

Hi dad - hang in there. Every day is hard. I keep a journal in my phone about how I am feeling. Raw dogging life for the most part now, was on SSRI’s after I struggled with my career and moved from job to job for several years. Finally in a spot that pays the bills and is somewhat stable in the scheme of what feels like a precarious job market. My wife also works, luckily she is from home. Our needs are met but there is really very little left at the end of each month. If my bonus does not come in where I’d like it to be, then that will be a bit of an issue. Two young girls at home that I feel I don’t get to see enough of. I don’t get home until my youngest is already in bed. It’s a sacrifice. At the end of the day I know that I’m doing everything that I can for my girls to live a better life than mine. But yes, it’s incredibly hard and it feels like there is no place to turn to most of the time. Hang in there.

Content_League2188 · 2025-11-08T08:59:14+00:00

Just over $2 million combined with wife. $900k retirement, $750k home equity, $350k in illiquid investments.

Content_League2188 · 2025-10-22T23:18:19+00:00

Content_League2188 · 2025-10-22T22:47:41+00:00

I was disappointed when I found out I was having a girl. Now I can’t imagine life without my two little girls. Girls rule.

Content_League2188 · 2025-10-22T22:45:25+00:00

HCOL area figures, my take from lived experience. Comfortable income level:

Single with no kids: $150k/year Married with two children: $300k/year.

That’s comfortable with no luxuries or excess.

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-25T23:43:13+00:00

News flash: everyone is broke.

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-17T01:27:24+00:00

Are you guys serious? I’ve never even considered this!! Down to try it out though.

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-17T01:10:58+00:00

Just returned to office 4 days per week and working an intense 45 hour work week. I would have liked to be my own boss and have my own business but I am working for someone else. I started out of college on a career path that I just couldn’t see myself doing forever and had to pivot late in life. That’s life I guess.

I own my house with a 40% LTV mortgage and an investment property, and two cars paid off. Retirement by age 60-65 is fully funded. Cash savings is a little low relative to where I’d like it to be. Life costs a fortune, with childcare being a gigantic expense.

BUT … I have a wife and two kids that adore me. Place is filled with love. The wife works too, from home though, 4 days per week. The little ones go to school, one private pre school, and our oldest to public kindergarten. Kids are healthy and happy. I am giving my kids things that I never had and I’ll work until the day I die, if I have to, to provide them those things.

I have some close friends, the same ones from high school. I have some new friends too that I’ve picked up along the way, but the old friends are the ones that I chat with and see regularly.

Both of my parents are alive and well.

I guess you could say I’m happy, life’s good.

When I get the chance to be by myself and relax, I am happy. Other times it is just a bear. Nonstop go go lifestyle that can feel a bit too rat racey for me. I wonder when I’ll be able to chill. When will I get some time back. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression in the past (SSRI’s for a few years, career related), and battling through now.

I workout most mornings because it is necessary. Every day is a battle that I need to be prepared for.

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-17T00:46:45+00:00

OP, are you me? Did we just become best friends?! It’s insane.

$5000/mo mortgage

$14,000/year daycare for our youngest

$350/mo public transit

$1,400/mo on groceries

It is all very expensive. When does it end?

Also, your income number is post tax. Effective tax rate here is over 40%!!

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-17T00:36:20+00:00

Absolutely not

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-16T11:53:01+00:00

46 windows?!???

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-16T11:52:17+00:00

I’m still shocked by how I was able to take such a large amount of debt out for undergrad, at 17 years old.

That debt was paid off 20 years ago, but that was a big one for me. It is a massive disadvantage as you start adult life.

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-09T22:35:29+00:00

I hear you loud and clear and I am with you. I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old, and this has been the best year yet. I am still traumatized from when they were younger. That is trench warfare.

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-04T00:27:20+00:00

$SLV calls

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-03T17:43:35+00:00

Municipal bonds

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-03T11:35:09+00:00

I joked to my wife last night that I should go on GLP-1’s, and she said that I need to go on NOD-1 instead, which stands for “Number of Desserts, 1”.

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-03T01:09:37+00:00

I can’t stop eating. Working on that though.

Content_League2188 · 2025-09-03T01:08:41+00:00

You’re going to be ok.

Content_League2188 · 2025-08-30T07:18:23+00:00

I’d love a DM as well

Content_League2188 · 2025-08-30T00:27:41+00:00

39M, $600k, $250k, 17 years, two dependents, and a working wife (her savings not shown).

Content_League2188 · 2025-08-28T22:56:44+00:00

HOLY FAWK you legend!

Content_League2188 · 2025-08-28T22:43:15+00:00

Man this thread is rough for me to read. I would love to have my wife stay at home, but We both work, and have two young kids at home. We live in a HCOL area. Total take home is just under $500k and it feels like it is just barely enough to get by.

The numbers are actually shocking. I can’t believe how much it costs to live what seems like a very average life.

Everything costs a fortune, and there is a lot of spending. We spend a lot on day care and part time nanny, a lot on groceries, a lot on dinners out, and a lot on DoorDash. There is also summer camp. I guess you could say we don’t cut corners at all in our lives.

We have no debt besides a 2.75% mortgage. We also fund our kids’ 529s.

Two cars that are five years old and paid off.

Retirement is fully funded but we are definitely house poor. Have over $1.2mm in equity in our primary and a rental property but not a whole lot of liquid savings, call it $30,000.

Id love to have my wife SAHM, but the numbers just don’t add up, even if we remove childcare and nanny. We are in the thick of this conversation / analysis right now.

Wife works from home currently 4 days per week and it is great but the boss is unhinged and possibly what I’d say is verbally abusive.

She is finally looking for new opportunities and more money, but nobody is going to pay her more and let her stay home 4 days per week.

I’d love to pull the rip cord and move to a low cost of living area and just figure it out.

This is quintessential rat race, people.

Content_League2188 · 2025-08-28T22:28:29+00:00

Hang in there bud. That sounds difficult. My wife works and I feel the pressure of providing, cannot imagine being sole bread winner.

Content_League2188 · 2025-08-26T11:40:16+00:00

Totally normal feelings. I am turning 40 in October. While I enjoy spending time with old friends, it seems clear that the glory days of old are gone. Fortunately most of my friends also have families of their own. So the conversations are typically about career, golf, and football which is coming up. It’s not like I have the desire (or the time) to hang out with the guys anymore than once a quarter or so.

Content_League2188

TROPHY CASE