![]() I’m earmarking most of my savings for a down payment on a house, but that dream still feels far off. And between rent for a larger house (our current apartment is much too small for another pet, let alone a child) and childcare, I’m afraid both of my goals will never happen. We’d like to own a house in the city and have a child. Other household income: Living expenses shared with partnerĪre you living comfortably in Seattle? “I feel financially comfortable, but I have some other financial goals that I’m worried I’ll never meet. Monthly housing costs: $1,895 monthly rent We feel secure now, but it was a lot of luck and help that got us here.” In 2019 I got a pay increase that put us where we needed to be, and in 2020, we used equity from the house to buy a small cabin on three acres on the Hood Canal. My mom helped us out a lot back then, and I’m so grateful. What’s there now is really just from an autosave program at a previous employer. We bought a house in August of 2013, and we couldn’t really afford it. I never planned on being able to retire and couldn’t really afford to put any income into a 401K. Other household income: $55,000 (spouse) and $500 per month (roommate)Īre you living comfortably in Seattle? “Yes, but only within the last couple of years. Monthly housing costs: $2,300 monthly mortgage in Seattle $1,400 monthly mortgage in Jefferson County I live much more comfortably than many, but in the 13 years I’ve lived in this city…I’ve always lived paycheck to paycheck.” Unemployment pays less than my monthly bills (rent, car payment, insurance, groceries, other debt payments) and my savings is now gone. On the other hand, this month is the first one my bills are really, really tight after getting laid off. After getting laid off, $45 to split the cost of a road trip to the coast.Īre you living comfortably in Seattle? “I am still housed, so I am living much more comfortably than many folks in Seattle. ![]() Last splurge: Before being laid off, about $700 for a vacation. Other household income: Living expenses shared with two roommates ![]() ![]() Monthly housing costs: $700 share of $2,205 monthly rent The tradeoff for the cost is I have a very easy, short walking commute and hardly ever have to drive or pay for gas regularly.”Īnnual income: $68,000 before being laid off $2,400 per month in unemployment I choose to live in a somewhat costlier apartment and neighborhood for the convenience of being walking distance from downtown, the waterfront, and my job. Monthly housing costs: $2,325 monthly rentĪre you living comfortably in Seattle? “I am living pretty comfortably but am stretched very thin to the point I have little actual spending money and I have a constant low-level worry I’ll be priced out of my apartment if rent continues to increase without much change in income (or worse, laid off). We also both came from relatively well-off families and above-average public education, privileges that I know are not universal and opened a number of opportunities for us to get to where we are now.” Had either of us started our careers even a few years later, it would be a much different story. Student debt: $3,927 left from over $125,000Īre you living comfortably in Seattle? “Yes, only because both my partner and I have been extremely fortunate to have high-demand professions that not only persisted through Covid with minimal disruption but also because we made investments at the right time. Other household income: Over $200,000 (spouse) Monthly housing costs: $4,020 monthly mortgage As much as we’d like to change locations and have more space (e.g., for aging parents), we’re not sure if we can afford to anytime soon.” Last splurge: Season ski passes to Snoqualmie Pass for himself and his son.Īre you living comfortably in Seattle? “I do feel like we’re living comfortably in Seattle right now, although the housing market is intimidating. Other household income: $200,000 (spouse)Ĭhildcare: $1,080 monthly school tuition and $320 in after-school care Monthly housing costs: $1,353 monthly mortgage
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