Confessions of a nonpayer S/O tuition thread

amother

↑ Hydrangea

Yesterday at 5:31 pm

amother Jasmine wrote:

I did remember wrong. Brownstones were not for rich people, but for middle class. The wealth gap described by Jacob Riis eventually lead to the Great Depression. After that, the economy was much more stable, and poor people did not live in tenament style homes (on average). The middle class was robust and varied, and held the majority of people.

Today, again, we are headed to a huge wealth gap, where or you are not making ends meet or your living on fifth avenue.

After the Great Depression the economy was more stable??? Aren't you skipping quite a few major world events?

The Great Depression started in 1929 with the stock market crash. The economy didn't start recuperating until the 1940's, when they were supplying war equipment to Europe...

amother

Teal

Yesterday at 5:34 pm

amother Raspberry wrote:

You literally cannot afford to buy food without going into debt yet you have 8 children, with the 2 youngest still playgroup age?

YOU ARE SO JUDGEMENTAL THROUGHOUT THIS THREAD
I can't help wondering- How old are you? how many kids do you have? How much are your tuition bills compared to your salary?
You sound very young, entitled and immature. I can't imagine that you are "qualified" to judge they way you have been. You're entitled to your opinions WITH A LIMIT AND A LITTLE RESPECT.

amother

Lemonchiffon

Today at 1:24 am

OP,

I'm almost exactly in the same boat. We bring in $12K net, almost $200K gross. My husband and I both have a master's degree in our fields, and he works full-time, while I work similarly to you, during the day 9:30-3 and all night to catch up.
If you are not in this situation, especially in Lakewood, you will not understand how prices have skyrocketed out of NOWHERE, as OP keeps saying. Just eight years ago, playgroup tuition was $230 and now I pay $575. The $12K just about covers expenses, which does not include cleaning help EVER, eating out EVER, or gym/ manicure/ any luxury items.
I do not have any answers, but I do completely understand. You are not irresponsible. In fact, you're earning very well, and you are doing your best to stay sane, raise a happy family, and bring in parnassah.

Much hatzlacha and menuchas hanefesh to you.

amother

IndianRed

Today at 2:52 am

amother OP wrote:

On average, we bring home $9,200 a month net.

These are our monthly expenses:
Mortgage: 3500
Utilities: 1k
Cars: 900 (insurance plus payments on one car, the other is owned, no leases)
CC debt: 600
Transportation for kids: 600 (no bussing, need this or could not get to work on time. We do get some of this back in aid in lieu, but not close to what we pay)
Playgroups: 1k
Tuition 1 elementary: 700
Tuition 3 elementary: 1600
Tuition 1 girl hs: 600
Tuition 1 mesivta: 800

Total: 11,900

This is before we spent a penny on food or gas and we're already 2,700 under. Do you still fault me for not paying that tuition?

With that income you can’t afford that mortgage. Nothing you can do about it now. When they approve people for mortgages they don’t take into account frum lifestyle and the cost of tuition and kosher food….

1k on utilities is insanely high - figure out how to cut it I don’t know the breakdown but mine is under 500 for a house in NJ.

Cc debt is not standard…. Shouldn’t have happened to begin with… what was it from??? Make sure you don’t have unhealthy spending habits… paying tuition comes before new clothing, shoes, random stuff I see people buying that they “need”, etc.

The car that’s leased is a waste of money… buy a cheap used car… Or calculate cost of ubering and good chance it will save you a ton…
Also if you add up playgroups, transportation for school, and that second car- do you really make much more than that? Maybe switch and do something from home …

People who mentioned the amount of children don’t have the right hashgafa… you don’t limit kids based on finance. Each is born with its own Bracha to the family and will bring more parnassa…

Also give school the breakdown and give each equally like other said. Some shouldn’t get nothing.

↑ water_bear88

Today at 2:58 am

amother Holly wrote:

If you are in New York City, a visit to the Tenement Museum would be interesting.

https://www.tenement.org

I am old enough so that I remember the Lower East Side before it was gentrified. I had friends who live in the unrenovated apartments because rent was cheap and they were young and poor.

I'm in Israel, but I do remember visiting the Tenement Museum on a visit as a teen. I find that period of history fascinating!