I’m so sorry for your loss. So sad.

I just got that extra week this past year! Due to 10 years working for them.

We are not young, almost 42 and almost 48.

We net 10k per month and our mortgage/taxes/insurance is $2205/mo. Daycare is $3090 (includes 2 at full time and 1 before/after care)

I work approx 42-44 hours a week. Every hour per day over 8 hours per day is paid at 1.5x my base rate.

So if I work 10 hours for 2 days and then 3 days at 7 hours I get paid for 37 reg hours and 4 hours of overtime.

Even in a fantastic neighborhood with a mortgage at 2.5%?? To get something bigger we would be looking at $850k in our town, not even in our neighborhood. Home prices have increased drastically in our area in the past 5 years.

But what kind of socialization/schooling would my children get without daycare? Getting creative is great for babies and toddlers, but in February my twins will be 4 years old. I’m September they will start preK at their current daycare (private, no public preK here).

Not to mention both boys receive speech therapy services at school now, through Early Intervention. There is currently a shortage of providers, so they would not receive services if I took them out of daycare/school.

Thanks!

Specification lighting manufacturing

Very true, his job is not as flexible as mine but he is also fully remote.

We are a 7 person small business and I am the owners right hand person. I wear many hats, I’m a product specialist but I also quote & close the sale, manage the project through the shop, I’m the direct customer contact and customer support. I also work with specifiers to select the best product for their project. I advise on product development and am kept in the loop on company finances. I’ve been doing this job since 2014 and have grown with the company which was started around 2010.

Thank you for this, yes I think I have a good gig.

We are a 7 person small business and I am the owners right hand person. I wear many hats, I’m a product specialist but I also quote & close the sale, manage the project through the shop, I’m the direct customer contact and customer support. I also work with specifiers to select the best product for their project. I advise on product development and am kept in the loop on company finances. I’ve been doing this job since 2014 and have grown with the company which was started around 2010.

Thanks for these points!

Great point!

Why is that?

I grew up in Maine, left to get an education and returned to raise my family after years of experience in a city that had lots of opportunities to gain experience in my niche field.

I grew up in Maine

Where did you get that Portland isn’t a med COL area? Housing is 29% higher than average across the country.

https://www.payscale.com/cost-of-living-calculator/Maine-Portland

Als, look at this table for 2 working adults with 3 kids

https://livingwage.mit.edu/metros/38860

Great idea! We do shop at the cheaper grocery store and I take all the hand me down toys & clothes/shoes/outerwear items for my kids

Combined gross is 210k for 2022. All our pretax deductions keep us under the limit. 401k, 403b, dependent care FSA, medical FSA, dental, vision & health.

Yes I realize that. I also have over 20 years of experience and I have a masters degree.

My kids have been in full time daycare since they were 12 weeks old. I’m quite familiar with keeping them home when sick.

My husband thinks I can find another full time fully remote job that pays me more money.

$8,557.15 in overtime for 2022, 159 hours

Regarding the minivan, #1, we have 12 months left on the loan.