How much do you need to make to comfortably live in Lower Westchetser, really???

[john70]

Originally Posted by KensingtonPark

My guess is that the OP put down considerably more than 20%, and that they chose to get the mortgage to stretch past the cash they had on hand to purchase the home.

Maybe they are in an ARM or interest only mortgage? You can pay over $32k per year in taxes n a house for far less than 1.5M in lower westchester.

[john70]

Originally Posted by kletter1mann

LOL, there are party places booked solid for 6 weeks out. I personally know of one such venue that regularly hosts $1000+ kids parties. It's actually pretty sickening IMO, regardless of how much $$ somebody has.

Not extravagant either -- just being considerate to order food for the parents usually runs a couple hundred bucks on top of everything else...such a racket....i went to parties at BK as a kid.

[matlabmaster99]

it depends how much you spend.

I know people who live there who make 75k and live comfortably and I know people who make 400k and are struggling to scrape by.

You need to live as a rugged individual, don't buy in to mainstream society.

never pay an interior designer to pick out paint for your house.

don't buy matlab enterprise toolboxes if you are not going to use them

buy only used cars. Why pay 75k for a new BMW when 10 years later you can buy the same one for <20k?

also don't ever lease or finance a car, only pay cash. If you can't pay cash for the car you can't afford it.

also don't eat out every night. go to the grocery store and buy ingredients to make food

don't pay for furniture that is made out of wood. learn to do upholstery yourself. Furniture is literally just foam glued to some wood and covered with cloth. Not hard to make.

[matlabmaster99]

Also landscaping.

cut your own grass on the weekends. Take pride in the landscape of your house. It is fun to install different plants, spread mulch...ect also you can save money buy owning a vegetable garden and growing your own produce in the summer months.

don't buy in to the system of paying landscapers, interior designers, buying expensive furniture...ect

[Yoowanna]

[quote=newnewyorkers;37415465

So, what do you think? how much do you live on? Is the low $200s too tight? I am in the mid $200s once we factor bonus in. Please let me know your experience. Thanks!!![/QUOTE]

We are just over 200K (family of 5) and have been living in Northern Westchester for 11 years, and it is tight! We're moving to Northern Danbury CT area soon.

Good Luck!