Is this a realistic budget for Seattle area? (Redmond, Issaquah: for rent, insurance)

[metimes3]

I keep seeing post about how you can't live off of 100k plus very easily? I just don't understand. Maybe we just don't do much. That would explain why we are bored a lot .

Anyway, here is what I was thinking our budget might look like if/when we move there. It is similar to our current only with higher rent/mortgage.

rent/mortgage (w/tax and insur.)- 2000-3000
gas/elec.- 275
cell phone- 75
cable/internet- 60
garbage- 30
water- 50
groceries- 750
insurance car- 100
gas car- 275
misc.- 200
allowances (we give ourselves each month)- 400

total= 4215-5015

I estimated that if we were to be paid 120k our take home after insurance, 401k, taxes, and tithing would be about $5400-$5500 a month. That would leave us with several hundred to save etc.

I'm not sure if 120k is realistic either, but from what I've heard I think it would be reasonable. My hubby is a software engineer/programmer for a game company here in the midwest. He is currently making around 81k before bonuses. Last year we made just under 100k. When/if we move he will be closer to the 90k mark with 6-7 years experience. So I would expect they would pay him more due to cost of living. Anyone know anything about startiing wages for any of the game companies????? I know there are 4 or 5 in the area.
It is cheap here in comparison. We built a new home 3 years ago. Granted it's not huge but it is nice. It's 3bd. 2 bth. 2 car garage. 2200sq.ft with the finished basement. We paid 152k.
Anyway, I would really like to make it to the western part of the country and Seattle area is our number one choice right now. I just want to make sure I'm not being naive about costs.
We have 2 children and I am a stay at home mom so we will not have any daycare costs either.
Thanks!!

[azoria]

Great scott, that seems like a lot of money to me. That's twice what we're making and I think we're living a pretty good life. You should consider renting instead of buying a house right off the bat. Renting is cheaper than buying in Seattle, and water/sewer/garbage are usually figured in the rent. Electricity is cheap here.

You could rent a nice place suitable for a family with 2 kids easily for $1,500 to $1,700 a month. No property tax or insurance payments.

Admittedly there are scams to be found on craigslist, but looking at these housing ads should give you a general idea of costs. seattle-tacoma apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

[CityGirl72]

YOu should be okay

Here's our breakdown, and we have two kids

rent/mortgage (w/tax and insur.)- 2000
Car payment - $425
gas/elec.- 275
cell phone- 125
cable/internet- 140
garbage- 30
water- 200
groceries- 550
insurance car- (750 twice a year)
gas car- $100 or less, we use mass transit for work and it's subsidied by our works
college loans $200

misc/ allowances (we give ourselves each month)- we don't have allowances, but we do have spare money in case of a concert or date night that might occur

Elementary school afterschool care $500 per month
Nanny for baby: $1750 per month

We make about $150K.

PS We also have 8% of each of our paychecks go to our 401Ks, and $100 each child ($200) per month going to college funds, And $200 per paycheck into our savings account

[wannabeaTexan]

Originally Posted by azoria

Great scott, that seems like a lot of money to me. That's twice what we're making and I think we're living a pretty good life. You should consider renting instead of buying a house right off the bat. Renting is cheaper than buying in Seattle, and water/sewer/garbage are usually figured in the rent. Electricity is cheap here.

You could rent a nice place suitable for a family with 2 kids easily for $1,500 to $1,700 a month. No property tax or insurance payments.

Admittedly there are scams to be found on craigslist, but looking at these housing ads should give you a general idea of costs. seattle-tacoma apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

Me too....seems like alot of money to me. Water/Sewer/Garbage isn't paid for in most places anymore though.

[toughguy]

Your husband should easily be able to make six figures as a software engineer for one of the big gaming dev/publishing houses here. My spouse and I make a combined $85k, are in our early-mid 20's with a child (and one on the way), and make we make it OK living in Redmond (even with student loans, car loans and credit card payments). We are just frugal when it comes to eating out and spending money when we don't really need to.

[texastrigirl]

Doable if you are not planning on buying right away as you will need a pretty serious down payment to get your mortgage to a reasonable amount. Renting will also give you the lay of the land. There are so many cool places to live in this area and if your kids are not in school, you will have a chance to check them out without yanking your kids out of grade school when it's harder on them. Good luck. We have enjoyed our first year in Seattle...it's definitely a place worth checking out.

[txex94]

Originally Posted by texastrigirl

Doable if you are not planning on buying right away as you will need a pretty serious down payment to get your mortgage to a reasonable amount. Renting will also give you the lay of the land. There are so many cool places to live in this area and if your kids are not in school, you will have a chance to check them out without yanking your kids out of grade school when it's harder on them. Good luck. We have enjoyed our first year in Seattle...it's definitely a place worth checking out.

Where did you live in TX? We're moving there in August and looking foor a place comparable to our hometown of Mckinney.

[azoria]

I lived 13 years in Collin county. I think Seattle is not at all like Texas.

Mexican food is far superior in McKinney, and McKinney has Sonic! Ummm, gooey chili cheese dog. I like Seattle better by miles, but the food here is really bland. And expensive. No chili cheese dogs.

[txex94]

Any suggestions on family friendly neighborhoods (we live in original Eldorado area of Mckinney), where kids go out and play, NOT Issaquah Highlands, but in either Lake Washington Schools or Issquah School District in the 650s-750s range?

You say Seattle is not at all like Dallas... how does it differ on an everyday basis? Are sports the end all and be all of children's existence like in Dallas (hoping not!)

[azoria]

El Dorado, I used to UPS that neighborhood.

People ask odd questions sometimes. Any place can be super sports oriented if that's your focus. You will find the sports people and sports places and move with the sports crowd.
I raised 2 kids in Texas and neither one of them gave a whit for sports.

Seattle isn't as class conscious as DFW. People here don't seem to get the same joy out of flaunting their leveraged lifestyles. Hundreds of square miles of McMansions don't exist here. Don't see the gaudy cars--the pimped Lincoln Navigators and Excursions and cherried Mustang convertibles. Seattle is much lower key.

So is the food.