Do you need to make 75K a year in Seattle to "make it." (Bellevue: lease, insurance)

[dpgtfc]

Originally Posted by CityGirl72

It's public really? Wow, it's expensive! I was in my degree program at Cal State same time hubby was at UW, and my degree was $150 a unit (called credits up here), my whole degree cost me 10K...an amazing investment!

Mine has ran me 10k a YEAR for just tuition(approximately) At a state university. Other expenses of course have accrued. Cost of education is getting ridiculous.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by dpgtfc

Mine has ran me 10k a YEAR for just tuition(approximately) At a state university. Other expenses of course have accrued. Cost of education is getting ridiculous.

When I went to the UW as an undergrad back in the 80s my tuition was 550 a quarter and by the time I graduated it had risen to almost 800 a quarter. For the law school, many years later I paid something like 17K a year.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by dpgtfc

Mine has ran me 10k a YEAR for just tuition(approximately) At a state university. Other expenses of course have accrued. Cost of education is getting ridiculous.

Alot of people want to go to college, and not everyone wants certain people in college. Money is one way colleges weed out certain people. Sad, but true.

[jenlion]

I'd disagree. Colleges aren't weeding people out because of money! Rather, they weed people IN based on ability. If you have money and a decent record, they'll take you because they require money to stay afloat. If you have no money but a stellar record and potential, likely they'll take you because you increase their reputation.

If you have no money and no stellar record, you're out of luck. But that does NOT mean you've been cheated or weeded out. That's an attitude that says somebody is looking for a handout. Nobody DESERVES a college education. You earn it -- either by your record or by your pocketbook. You DESERVE a K-12 education. After that, you're on your own.

Certainly it's not fair that people with rich families don't have to worry so much about their academic records, and they can just go buy into many colleges and get their education without worrying about it. But life isn't fair. You can't say that "college should be free" unless you're willing to put the tax money into supporting colleges like they do K-12. And you can't say you deserve to go to the same school as your rich buddy regardless of ability to pay unless you're a socialist.

I'm all for seeing people educated as much as possible. But I think that anything worth having is worth working for. It's hard -- harder for some than others -- but worthwhile.

I paid off my student loans a few years ago. Great feeling. I got a very good education and it's paid for itself many times over, I think. Still bitter about the aid process -- it is all messed up, like many things government sticks their fingers into. But I'm glad I got to go to the school of my choosing, based on a good academic record and my ability to work. Money certainly had nothing to do with it: I had none at the time! I was scouring the parking lots looking for quarters: If I found 30 cents and got a ride to McD's, I could buy a hamburger and not be hungry that day! But 13 years later, it has paid off.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Alot of people want to go to college, and not everyone wants certain people in college. Money is one way colleges weed out certain people. Sad, but true.

That's total BS. I was poor when I went to college as in barely having a roof over my head poor. But I went because pell grants were available as were student loans and finally, I was willing to work the graveyard shift at Denny's. I remember some of coworkers telling me I was lucky to be able to go. You know what, my parents paid nada. I did it myself and if someone is determined enough he or she can do it too.

And my husband? Same thing, only he owed the military when he was done.

[Heiwos]

When did you go? With college costs having risen far faster than the rate of inflation over the past 20 years, putting oneself through college has become increasingly difficult.

[dpgtfc]

Well, I don't know about weeding out the poor. While my parents are solidly middle class (combined income of around 60k I'd guess), when I went I was 26, and my parents didn't help at all. I paid for my college on credit. That has nothing to do with poor. For what it was worth the whole time I was in school I was making about 11k a year. Hardly rich.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by Heiwos

When did you go? With college costs having risen far faster than the rate of inflation over the past 20 years, putting oneself through college has become increasingly difficult.

Well, I just finished law school two years ago so I know how expensive THAT has become. But at that point there were many people in my class that got half of their tuition covered by need based grants. I went to college back when minimum wage was $3.35 - so tuition may have increased but so did what you can make at a part time job and like I said, loans are available now just like they were when I went. I also started at community college because I didn't get financial aid initially because my parents (although we would have been eligible) couldn't get it together to file a tax return which meant I had nothing to show on a FAFSA. My point is that even if you are dirt poor, like I was, if there's a will there's a way. Even if it means waiting a year or two to work full time to save money (again, what I did).

Plus, the schools don't have some nefarious plot to keep the poor out - the cost of educating someone is high because professors and the other labor involved all cost money.

[wsugrad03]

I got my undergrad at WSU off of Pell grants, scholarships, work study, and state tuition waivers. Of course, this was back during the Clinton Era, where FAFSA and Pell grants flowed like milk and honey. If it wasn't for these programs, I would still be working part time jobs and taking 1 class per semester. When I got my masters from Seattle U, I made my employer pay for it. That's $36K that didn't come out of my pocket. My wife also got her $100K law degree also paid for by her employer. No way in hell would we want that kind of student loan debt.

Back to the point of the thread, I think 75K is enough for 1 individual. That'll cover rent, food, 401K, utilities, savings, and give you a little extra to enjoy life and travel. 75K isn't enough to really afford a home in trendy neighborhoods in Seattle (unless you put down 20%, or it's a small studio with low HOA). A family could manage on 75K, but I would call it "surviving" rather than living.

Of course, people will say that I should stop complaining and move to Lynwood or Kent, where you can live very comfortably on 75K. Pthth...no thanks. First rule of real estate is LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.

To get to the point, I think the going rate for a family in a good home in a quality neighborhood with good schools is $150K. This should cover the 500K home, college funds for your kids, retirement, savings, living costs, daycare costs, vacations, incidentals, etc...

That seems like a ton, but it isn't when you really calculate everything and not just basic needs. I think VERY conservatively, because it takes a lot of money to retire and daycare is horrendously expensive. I doubt most people making 150K alone, so this is a combined income, which means daycare for the kids.

Seattle is really darn expensive. If it wasn't for my job, I wouldn't be living here.

[Botev1912]

you need only 20K to make it

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...towers20m.html