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Occupation: Academic Advisor
Industry: Higher education
Age: 34
Location: Virginia
Common salary: $158,000 (my salary: $44,600). My husband, C., and I fully combine our finances (although his tithing is only based on a percentage of his income). We use a credit card in advance (I have a companion card) for everyday expenses (groceries, gas, Target runs, etc.) plus a few specific bills and pay it off in full from a joint checking account each month . I keep a few hundred dollars each pay period in my own personal account for cheap stuff for me, gifts for C. and so on.
Real estate: Retirement balance: ~$30,000 in a few different accounts. I am a military spouse. We have moved four times in the last five years and I have spent the last two and a half years at home with our children. C. will have a military pension on retirement based on his rank at ~25 years. He also has retirement accounts that currently total ~$270,000. Equity: approximately $223,000. G. bought the house before we met. I’m not sure how much he put down. Savings Account Balance: HYSA (which acts as an emergency fund) has ~$30,000. Checking account balance: from payday to the end of my calendar it’s ~$10,000 (about $8,800 from wages and housing benefit). C. makes about $113,000, plus we get a housing allowance of just over $2,900 a month. This is a military benefit. it’s based on base location, your rank, and whether you have dependents.
Debt: Student loan debt: $105,000, but I’m on track for public service loan forgiveness in another five years. Car loan: $28,000 (bought it new in 2022 and put $20,000 down).
Payment amount (2x/month): $1,600 (since writing I’ve opened 529 accounts for the kids, with contributions automatically deducted from my paycheck. I also adjusted my retirement contributions so my pay is more than $1,400 per paycheck/$2,800 per month and the kids each get $100 a month until they’re 529. Each costs about $200 right now).
Pronouns: She/her
Industry: Higher education
Age: 34
Location: Virginia
Common salary: $158,000 (my salary: $44,600). My husband, C., and I fully combine our finances (although his tithing is only based on a percentage of his income). We use a credit card in advance (I have a companion card) for everyday expenses (groceries, gas, Target runs, etc.) plus a few specific bills and pay it off in full from a joint checking account each month . I keep a few hundred dollars each pay period in my own personal account for cheap stuff for me, gifts for C. and so on.
Real estate: Retirement balance: ~$30,000 in a few different accounts. I am a military spouse. We have moved four times in the last five years and I have spent the last two and a half years at home with our children. C. will have a military pension on retirement based on his rank at ~25 years. He also has retirement accounts that currently total ~$270,000. Equity: approximately $223,000. G. bought the house before we met. I’m not sure how much he put down. Savings Account Balance: HYSA (which acts as an emergency fund) has ~$30,000. Checking account balance: from payday to the end of my calendar it’s ~$10,000 (about $8,800 from wages and housing benefit). C. makes about $113,000, plus we get a housing allowance of just over $2,900 a month. This is a military benefit. it’s based on base location, your rank, and whether you have dependents.
Debt: Student loan debt: $105,000, but I’m on track for public service loan forgiveness in another five years. Car loan: $28,000 (bought it new in 2022 and put $20,000 down).
Payment amount (2x/month): $1,600 (since writing I’ve opened 529 accounts for the kids, with contributions automatically deducted from my paycheck. I also adjusted my retirement contributions so my pay is more than $1,400 per paycheck/$2,800 per month and the kids each get $100 a month until they’re 529. Each costs about $200 right now).
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
