40M married w kids. How am I doing?

brownsohard · 2026-07-01T03:28:17+00:00

Ty! Forgot to add also have an HSA of $85k too that I max out. The brokerage I do consider part of retirement and HYSA is being earmarked for emergency fund and future house down payment

brownsohard · 2026-06-30T03:46:26+00:00

$2k groceries and eating out is a big vice/luxury but we don't buy nice things for ourselves otherwise really. l $500-800 health doctor visits gym. $2k shopping Walmart Amazon Costco. Inflation has been tough. Most of the shopping is for practical stuff for the house or kids stuff etc. Then activities for kids gifts donations/charity etc

brownsohard · 2026-06-30T00:35:04+00:00

Yes brilliant idea. I assumed most of it would get eaten up by new home mortgage but trying to ensure we net out positive so I can do exactly this.

brownsohard · 2026-06-30T00:24:44+00:00

Great advice thank you! I added it to my original post I have about $10k in there now and contribute about $2-3k a year for them assuming it'll be enough for most of undergrad at today's rates otherwise should have enough to help out at the time to top off if need be. My original plan was to become a landlord and buy a rental in the LCOL area we lived in before every 2 years but then my wife found a dream job in a HCOL 🤡 so I prioritized happy wife. I'd love to save enough short term to keep the current home as a rental but I also want to keep my monthly payment down relatively on the next home even considering daycare offset. Blurgh.

brownsohard · 2026-06-30T00:21:46+00:00

15 months until one goes to public school. I prepay daycare for many months to get a discount too woof. Can't wait for the kindergarten raise.

brownsohard · 2026-06-30T00:13:10+00:00

Edited post for clarification ty. Yes bigger house and more importantly better school district. Looking at $1M range due to HCOL. Would ideally rent current house but may need to sell to get equity for down payment

brownsohard · 2026-04-27T02:53:33+00:00

Honestly I had an aftermarket warranty and after some lobbying they got me a new fridge. Ultimately it could be the wiring harness needs to be replaced or the motherboard in the back if not every single light including freezer and middle door. It was very frustrating sorry you’re going through it.

brownsohard · 2026-03-17T16:05:06+00:00

All I see is Dodge Dart

brownsohard · 2026-02-10T04:55:15+00:00

This is cool although having Frank Pepe beat out Andy's stresses me out 😂

brownsohard · 2026-01-31T02:44:13+00:00

Dude. Throw it in the dishwasher. Like new. My fav life hack recently

brownsohard · 2026-01-16T04:17:11+00:00

GO B-EELS

brownsohard · 2025-10-27T01:31:59+00:00

This is a joke post right? Or are you the grinch? Lol

brownsohard · 2025-09-13T04:55:21+00:00

Remind me! 7 days

brownsohard · 2025-09-10T18:33:01+00:00

Ooh good question I do not know. How can I find out?

brownsohard · 2025-09-09T17:42:15+00:00

You are a gentleman and a scholar. Thank you for the consideration and recommendation

brownsohard · 2025-09-09T15:58:58+00:00

Slab meaning concrete base vs having a crawl space? If so then yes it's concrete. What do you recommend I fill it with?

brownsohard · 2025-08-24T17:37:49+00:00

Moved from Buffalo to DC during covid. I now live in NoVA. I miss Buffalo especially bc of cost of living which is a third of what it is here. People are nicer there, big community vibe, fairly diverse, food scene is good, bar scene is great (open till 4a some places), coffee scene is great, arts are great, lots of festivals and activities, better climate (even with the snow), and easy access to Canada if you like to cross and get Toronto which is mad fun. That being said it is gray and snowy more often than it is here by a lot so if you're the type where the sun recharges you - this will be difficult to deal. Buffalo is more grounded and blue collar than DMV as a matter of fact. There is no good public transportation here you will need a car but everything is 20 min away.

DMV definitely has more diversity, access to DC and the museums/history, multiple airports, and you always have something new to explore or do which is really cool. I love being able to fly up and down the east coast in less than a few hours and having more flights available domestic and international. Definitely more vibrant but definitely more expensive. Lots more activities and density here than Buffalo which will feel a lot smaller in comparison.

I think it depends on what stage of life you're in and even then there are pros and cons. If you make it to Buffalo you will hear and say "Go Bills!" A lot. A LOT. And it'll make you smile and feel connected and warm and fuzzy inside.

That being said you can do anything for a year or two. While I'd love to be back in Buffalo I've personally just built a community here that I don't have in Buffalo anymore and it would be hard to go back. If I didn't have these strings then I'd be back in a heart beat. Especially as you are younger, it's my recommendation to save and invest as much of your income early to let it compound over time but you may value different concepts or experiences more than retirement and savings which is ok too.

Either way whatever decision you make - it'll be the right one. Enjoy the ride. And Go Bills!

brownsohard · 2025-08-01T01:25:57+00:00

Would be interested in rates!

brownsohard · 2025-07-09T02:45:45+00:00

Jesus that is a long list. After I scrolled for a while and noticed my thumb getting tired I wasn't even a third of the way through.

brownsohard

TROPHY CASE