Manassas Job Interview...Could you live in Manassas on 100k? (Richmond: condo, townhouse)

[steven r.]

I shall google this Bristow Linton Hall in which you speak.

[scottfs]

Originally Posted by steven r.

Yes there is San Francisco and New York City. 100k a year most likely wouldn't cut it in DC or Boston either...lol. I hope to make some new friends up in that area, I know there is alot of college degrees so I hope I'm not to judge by deciding to get to tech school over college. Alot of the schools I have been to have been hands on. I've been to Honda and Chrysler factory schools as well.

I think education in any form is always a good thing. I just wanted to pursue my passion in life which has always been cars and other mechanical things. Heck I still take classes from time to time. In the automoitve field you have to constantly keep up with technology, they always wanna change something.

You have a valuable skill I don't, I don't see why anyone would judge you on your degree, and if they do, then the heck with them anyway. Honestly you probably learned a hell of a lot more real useful knowledge in 6 months of auto tech school than I did in the 4 years I spent getting my BA. I learned a good amount of useful things but soo many of the classes were pure useless BS. Maybe not the case for everyone but that's the way I felt. You'll fit in fine.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by steven r.

Yes there is San Francisco and New York City. 100k a year most likely wouldn't cut it in DC or Boston either...lol. I hope to make some new friends up in that area, I know there is alot of college degrees so I hope I'm not to judge by deciding to get to tech school over college. Alot of the schools I have been to have been hands on. I've been to Honda and Chrysler factory schools as well.

I think education in any form is always a good thing. I just wanted to pursue my passion in life which has always been cars and other mechanical things. Heck I still take classes from time to time. In the automoitve field you have to constantly keep up with technology, they always wanna change something.

I lived in NYC on 40K/year and SF on 35K/year.

So, it's entirely possible to live well below 100K even in the big cities. Granted, I would have absolutely loved to have made 100K+ when I lived in either of those places, but not everyone living in those places can command those types of salaries.

[KnownUnknown]

If you can't live comfortably in america on 6 figures, even if it's barely getting past 100k, you are doing something very, very, very wrong.

I mean, if comfortable is 4 bmw's and 5k shopping sprees every other week, sure, but seriously, I don't see how anyone can question whether or not they can survive on 100k.

Unless you're just swimming in an ocean of debt, you're making what, double the average income in america.

It's laughable to be honest. Can you imagine someone complaining about only making 6 figures? Only?

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by steven r.

Yes there is San Francisco and New York City. 100k a year most likely wouldn't cut it in DC or Boston either...lol. I hope to make some new friends up in that area, I know there is alot of college degrees so I hope I'm not to judge by deciding to get to tech school over college. Alot of the schools I have been to have been hands on. I've been to Honda and Chrysler factory schools as well.

I think education in any form is always a good thing. I just wanted to pursue my passion in life which has always been cars and other mechanical things. Heck I still take classes from time to time. In the automoitve field you have to constantly keep up with technology, they always wanna change something.

Some of the smartest, interesting people I know, didn't go to college. Don't worry about that at all!

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by steven r.

I shall google this Bristow Linton Hall in which you speak.

While the Bristow/Linton Hall area is nice and a good sage area it's far from the only area in and around Manassas. If you work in Manassas Park then you might want to be closer. I live about 3 miles from Manassas Park in a very good/safe neighborhood within 20110. As with any large populated area there will always be neighborhoods to avoid but there are good ones in Manassas.

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by steven r.

I shall google this Bristow Linton Hall in which you speak.

You can probably live lots of places around here on 100K without massive debt. Manassas is not known for great schools, so if you have kids you might want to go one town over one way or the other. Gainesville is very close, with lots of newer development that is quite inexpensive compared to other parts of NoVa. Someone already mentioned Linton Hall and Bristow.

If you wanted to live in the other direction you could do that, too (then you'd have a "reverse commute" if you're working standard business hours). Just depends on what kind of living are you want, and of course if you are buying or renting.

[marie5v]

Originally Posted by KnownUnknown

If you can't live comfortably in america on 6 figures, even if it's barely getting past 100k, you are doing something very, very, very wrong.

I mean, if comfortable is 4 bmw's and 5k shopping sprees every other week, sure, but seriously, I don't see how anyone can question whether or not they can survive on 100k.

Unless you're just swimming in an ocean of debt, you're making what, double the average income in america.

It's laughable to be honest. Can you imagine someone complaining about only making 6 figures? Only?

Well, maybe if he was going to New York City it might actually be a different story.

[Chitownbound711]

What's a better pick Herndon Va or Manassas?

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by Chitownbound711

What's a better pick Herndon Va or Manassas?

I'd say Herndon. Decent schools, cute little downtown, and the Silver Line is on the way.

Originally Posted by KnownUnknown

If you can't live comfortably in america on 6 figures, even if it's barely getting past 100k, you are doing something very, very, very wrong. I mean, if comfortable is 4 bmw's and 5k shopping sprees every other week, sure, but seriously, I don't see how anyone can question whether or not they can survive on 100k.

Unless you're just swimming in an ocean of debt, you're making what, double the average income in america. It's laughable to be honest. Can you imagine someone complaining about only making 6 figures? Only?

Wow--making a few major assumptions there, maybe?

It all depends on what kind of housing he wants. A townhouse or condo? No problem. Newer or larger SFH on that income? Harder but doable. I will say it's refreshing that someone moving to this area is actually being conservative in estimating the cost of living here--unlike the five posts a week asking about housing options on a budget that's 50% too low.

I think the OP is wise not to assume he should go to college because hey, that's what people do. College is a fast way to major debt, if you're not careful. And it's no longer a guarantee of a good job. Meanwhile, cars are getting more and more complicated, and there are fewer people trained to repair them.

My own mechanic is a very smart guy who owns his own shop. His brother and son are both doctors, but he doesn't seem unhappy at all with his choice. In fact, I envy him a little. He's his own boss and loves his work. Hard to beat that.