Relocating to DC as GS11-step 1; can I support a family of 4?

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   I was offered a GS11-step 1 position with promotion potential to GS-12. So my starting salary will be about 61k (slightly higher after Jan. adjustments). If I increase to a GS12 after 1 year, as the job offer allows, I will make roughly 75k. I'm worried, however, that it will be very very difficult to raise a family on my initial salary. We won't live in DC, we're looking out near Nokesville area (I'd take the VRE in). W'll likely rent first, then eventually look to buy. Does anyone have any opinion as to whether I could support a family on my initial salary? Thanks in advance.

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caje Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote caje Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Relocating to DC as GS11-step 1; can I support a family of 4? Posted: 27 Oct 2009 at 10:54am
	I was offered a GS11-step 1 position with promotion potential to GS-12. So my starting salary will be about 61k (slightly higher after Jan. adjustments). If I increase to a GS12 after 1 year, as the job offer allows, I will make roughly 75k. I'm worried, however, that it will be very very difficult to raise a family on my initial salary. We won't live in DC, we're looking out near Nokesville area (I'd take the VRE in). W'll likely rent first, then eventually look to buy. Does anyone have any opinion as to whether I could support a family on my initial salary? Thanks in advance.

Katydid_MD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 728	Post Options Post Reply Quote Katydid_MD Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2009 at 4:43pm
	A lot depends on your lifestyle and current economic situation. If you live frugally and have few outstanding debts, should be OK. If you're already living on the financial edge, I'd recommend against it.

Knight Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Posts: 1401	Post Options Post Reply Quote Knight Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2009 at 6:08pm
	http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html I put $75K in Dallas Tx vs DC metro area and it says you need $112K to live in DC. You can plug in your own real numbers and compare two different locations. I left Vegas for Dallas since my 75k went further.

spidervalley Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Posts: 55	Post Options Post Reply Quote spidervalley Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Oct 2009 at 6:11pm
	Edited by spidervalley - 03 Nov 2009 at 9:11pm

dfhensley Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rookie Joined: 01 Oct 2001 Posts: 44	Post Options Post Reply Quote dfhensley Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Oct 2009 at 6:08am
	Yes if you live in a tent or under a bridge. Otherwise housing will eat you up. What housing does not get taxes will.

jaybones Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Location: Charlottesville Posts: 718	Post Options Post Reply Quote jaybones Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 28 Oct 2009 at 7:25am
	Nokesville won't be too bad for housing costs, especially in comparison to closer to DC. You should also be able to get a transit subsidy to help pay for VRE. I would not move there if you are hispanic though. The local police are on the warpath with regard to illegal immigrants. They will pull over anyone that looks hispanic for any reason, just to check their legal status. As a result, the county has incurred a lot of expenses and gone from a surplus to a financial deficit. The housing market has also been crashing out there, with a lot of foreclosures. So you might be able to pick up a deal. Just be careful that any house you buy doesn't continue to drop in value.

hablo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Advisor Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 136	Post Options Post Reply Quote hablo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2009 at 7:52am
	Absolutely you can, don't believe otherwise. It's ludicrous to believe that every single family living in the DC metro are making 61K a year, and it's even more ludicrous to think that anyone making less is poverty stricken. For the record, I moved to the exact same area, working in DC, as GS-6 with a family of 5 where I was the the sole source of income. Sure, it was rough and I had to give up my lifestyle of caviar and the rich and famous (haha), but we still paid all our bills and had enough left over to enjoy the same luxuries as most people. The key is to do a tremendous amount of research both on housing and taking into account your personal needs.

hablo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Advisor Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 136	Post Options Post Reply Quote hablo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2009 at 7:53am
	quote: Originally posted by jaybones: Nokesville won't be too bad for housing costs, especially in comparison to closer to DC. You should also be able to get a transit subsidy to help pay for VRE. I would not move there if you are hispanic though. The local police are on the warpath with regard to illegal immigrants. They will pull over anyone that looks hispanic for any reason, just to check their legal status. As a result, the county has incurred a lot of expenses and gone from a surplus to a financial deficit. The housing market has also been crashing out there, with a lot of foreclosures. So you might be able to pick up a deal. Just be careful that any house you buy doesn't continue to drop in value. This is remarkably accurate.

hablo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Advisor Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 136	Post Options Post Reply Quote hablo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2009 at 7:58am
	quote: Originally posted by IneedHelp: Yes if you live in a tent or under a bridge. Otherwise housing will eat you up. What housing does not get taxes will. Why would you discourage someone like that?

feb14 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Posts: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote feb14 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2009 at 9:40am
	I relocated here a year ago, live in Woodbridge, right at a VRE stop, and although I get the govt allocation to pay for the ride in to the city, it is still hard, I looked at 58 properties when I came on the house hunting trip and secured a beautiful place right on the potomac, but, I had to rent and to find a home large enough for a family of four and to be able to do the simplest things is hard sometimes and I am a higher grade making over $100K a year. I had the opportunity to move up here several years ago when I was a GS7 and my friends who lived here advised against it......but, where there is a will there is a way and if you really want to do it you will find a way to do so...Good Luck, but it isn't going to be easy.