My husband alone makes close to $100K/per year and I still have to work part time or full time to make ends meet. We have 4 children, and at one time all 4 in catholic school with monthly tuition payments of close to $700/month. Now, with only two it’s around $450/month but in two years we’ll have college tuition. I drive a car that is 13 years old and my husband drives one that is close to 10 years, so no car payments for the last 5-8 years. We;ve taken 2 family vacations in the close to 18 yrs. we’ve been married and each time it was because my parents basically paid for them. We live in a nice home, in a wonderful neighborhood and pay close to $10,000/yr for property taxes (and in my area, that’s low). North Jersey property taxes are even higher.
The economy is in excellent shape, despite how difficult it is for my family. My husband keeps telling me, if we lived in other states we’d be rich. If we lived where I grew up, we’d be considered wealthy.
I don’t even know what gas prices are nor do I care. I have to drive, just like I have to buy milk and other products so I don’t look at the price tag.
Our savings is non-existent and that’s really our fault. However, we don’t have huge credit card debt (I’m one of those women who doesn’t buy on credit and believe if I don’t have cash then I don’t need it, just like my mom taught me).
My parents grew up during the depression and I remember their horror stories well. This country is no where near the Great Depression and forgets just what it was like to be really poor. We have the richest poor in the world.
I’m not judging you. I know how difficult it is to live in this State but it’s not because the economy sucks.
I moved here because the area was better, the schools were better (which they aren’t anymore).
As for your autistic child, I do understand since one of mine was learning disabled and since we went to Catholic School the resources weren’t as available to her so we did the private tutoring thing for 7 years. She fortunately was declassified 3 years ago. Granted, autism is different but services, free services are available including meds.
We don’t rely on gov’t services, never did never will per what my parents taught me. We live above our means so to speak because we live in an affluent area in a single family home, our choice. We can’t furnish our house or fix everything, or provide our kids with everything they *want* but we provide them with everything they need, materialistically. They’re learning to work to earn income (the two teens).
I understand your frustation with the high taxes in NJ since I live here too. However, the economy is in fantastic shape.
Your attitude is very refreshing to hear. You are making CHOICES that cause you to not have tons of free cash. And, frankly... I’d say most of the choices are good ones. Choices that put your family as your top priority. Congrats.
The only choice I’d question is: Why do you folks continue to put up with life in NJ? We live in Louisville, in a very nice home (6 years old, 3500 sq. Ft, value ~$270k) in a fantastic neighborhood. We pay, maybe $1400 per year in property taxes. (~ 4% Income tax) The public school system here is very good... My son is in his 3rd year of Japanese language class in High School.
My oldest just finished his first year at UK.. cost us a TOTAL of $13k, including room/board and spending money.
This is the 4th state we’ve lived in... and, it’s actually one of the most expensive. (Texas, Louisiana, Georgia) You could live much better elsewhere.
But, then again... home is home. I get that. It’s expensive in NJ because: Lots of people WANT to live there.