Comments for Escaping DC

Comment on The Reverse Budget: Your Best Friend by Phil

Phil — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:05:40 +0000

Hey Devin – thanks for reading! I’ll get a GDoc worked up and exported to share. When I update the main article, I’ll also send you a quick note to let you know it’s online. Might take a few days or so, but I think it’ll help in your decision-making process.

Thanks again!

Comment on The Reverse Budget: Your Best Friend by Devin

Devin — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:55:32 +0000

I would definitely be interested in seeing a redacted spreadsheet, or even just the taxes portion of it. We’re trying to figure out the part-time daycare vs. full-time mom equation.

Comment on Dissent: Reasons To Second-Guess The Move by d

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:09:02 +0000

With respect to the job market in DC: yes, you can readily trade any given mediocre job with a horrible commute for some other mediocre job with a horrible commute. But if the net-happiness is nil, what’s the point?

As for housing: yes, it’s certainly most ideal to buy low and sell high. But as Rich Dad/Poor Dad says, you should view your home is your biggest expense, not your biggest investment. Reduce your expenses and then you can put more money towards investments (not necessarily your IRA, but anything that you could put money towards which would generate wealth–for example, a duplex you could rent out).

Also, I lived in DC for three and a half years–and don’t have any regrets about the time spent there–but I spent well over $60,000 in rent during that time. So weigh at *least* a $20,000 loss for each year that you’ve had a mortgage when looking at your purchase vs. sales prices.