Can two teachers make it in cary? (Raleigh, Garner: houses, elementary schools) - Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary - North Carolina (NC) -The Triangle Area - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

ljd1010 · 06-13-2008, 03:29 PM

Ooooops - I just did a search on FM realty and there were several townhomes in your pricerange in the Cary/Morrisville area. Looks like they can be found. My bad.

ceili723 · 06-13-2008, 04:52 PM

Welcome! I think your plan is doable, especially if you and hubby remain open-minded about possibly one or both of you supplementing your income with PT work. Plus, you'll have some savings. Sometimes on boards like this it seems as if everyone aspires to the biggest and best this area has to offer. Well, SO much of the QOL factor here is FREE! The parks, the weather, the people, etc!

The switch to staying home may be rough in other ways. After six years, I still have a tough time not having my own (significant) income (I work very PT.) Luckily, it's cool to be cheap in the current economic climate. And you'll have LOTS of company! I know when we lived in CT I was one of very few SAHMs in our town, now here in Cary there's tons of us, and lots of activities and playgroups! And we ALL have to watch $$$!

lamishra · 06-13-2008, 05:28 PM

OP, I live in a neighborhood in Cary where the homes are in the 160-200K range. It's definitely do-able on your income if you're OK with older, smaller homes (but nice large lots!) and many of the people who live in my neighborhood are teachers!

Gatornation · 06-13-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sswernof

Thanks... I know it won't be easy... just looking for doable. Like I said in my original post, trying to live on Long Island on 90,000 wouldn't be easy either, so we are trying to look at the whole picture (quality of life).

50k in Cary likely won't be much easier than 90k in LI.

saturnfan · 06-13-2008, 06:26 PM

Family health insurance is almost $500/month for teachers in NC.

You'll spend less here than on LI, but you'll make less.

Now, if you can rent a decent apt for a few years, you'll do fine. Rents in many areas are reasonable.

LRoyal10900 · 06-13-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sls76

Here's the salary guide for NC teachers. You need a lot of experience to make $50k.

Salary Guides

I think from what I've read family insurance will cost another $450 or so per month.

The family insurance is $489.44/month.

sswernof · 06-13-2008, 07:29 PM

Thank you all so much. Please keep the info coming!!! It is the only way we can make an informed decision.

wanderintonc · 06-13-2008, 08:00 PM

What about moving to Cary, dh working and you can run a home daycare? You could be home and still make money. Maybe just have a few kids to watch, so it's not huge.

saturnfan · 06-14-2008, 03:30 AM

Beware of liability issues running a daycare. Also HOA restrictions can bite you.

hurricanedavid · 06-14-2008, 10:14 AM

I just wanted to commend you for placing more priority on your kids than on a lifestyle.

Most kids I know would much rather spend more time with their parents than have more money.

Others in this thread have been quick to say that you HAVE to have two incomes. But I think it is worth the loss of income to have kids that have grown up enjoying significant, quantitative time with loving parents, instead of getting "what's left" after Dad and Mom have given most of their energy to the workplace.

Caveat: I'm not saying that every family must have a parent that stays home with the kids. But I am saying that having both parents work outside the home should be the exception and not the rule, as it seems now to be.