Check my mortgage payment budgeting please!

[wideopenspaces]

That sucks. They’re typically about at least twice as expensive as any other reputable business. You could probably tell the other contractors you’ll give them an extra $10k and they’ll bump you up the schedule and you’ll still save money.

Hahaha I already tried that! No such luck. I just keep telling myself the windows get really good reviews. . .

[Turf Doc]

Clearly not you. Many people are charitably inclined. I would also posit that most people want to be or think of themselves as people who are charitable even if they don’t actually give.

I don’t care if you or anyone else gives to charity - that’s up to you. But I did think it was appropriate to point out that it was missing from the budget. Similarly to saving, if you can’t save with a little, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to save with a lot.

This place serves as a sounding board. I was trying to help. Not sure what you’re trying to do with your statement other than troll.

i found your comment "Is that the person you want to be" pretty judgey. and i think its a silly way of judging people, all things considered

[VentAlarm]

who cares...

Clearly not you. Many people are charitably inclined. I would also posit that most people want to be or think of themselves as people who are charitable even if they don’t actually give.

I don’t care if you or anyone else gives to charity - that’s up to you. But I did think it was appropriate to point out that it was missing from the budget. Similarly to saving, if you can’t save with a little, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to save with a lot.

This place serves as a sounding board. I was trying to help. Not sure what you’re trying to do with your statement other than troll.

[Turf Doc]

If you can’t afford to give on your current budget, you won’t be able to afford to give with your future budget.

who cares...

[CordMcNally]

Yep. Our cabin is in a rural location and the 3 contractors who work out there are booked 18 months out so Anderson is the only other option. It's strangely my husband who super wants the new windows and doesn't want to wait so here we are.

That sucks. They’re typically about at least twice as expensive as any other reputable business. You could probably tell the other contractors you’ll give them an extra $10k and they’ll bump you up the schedule and you’ll still save money.

[wideopenspaces]

Is this a Renewal By Anderson quote?

Yep. Our cabin is in a rural location and the 3 contractors who work out there are booked 18 months out so Anderson is the only other option. It's strangely my husband who super wants the new windows and doesn't want to wait so here we are.

[wideopenspaces]

Where’s the dislike button? Put your kid through college, or install new windows?

I know I told my husband that I guess only one of our kids was gonna go to college now 😆 But seriously it does mean putting off buying a new car to next year.

[CordMcNally]

Ugh, yes this is my life right now. 12 windows and 3 sliders: 55k. I had no idea windows could be so expensive!

Is this a Renewal By Anderson quote?

[VentAlarm]

Ugh, yes this is my life right now. 12 windows and 3 sliders: 55k. I had no idea windows could be so expensive!

Where’s the dislike button? Put your kid through college, or install new windows?

[VentAlarm]

That really depends on the age of the house and its condition. If it's a new build, no you probably won't spend that much but if it's an older home you may very well spend that much and more in any given year. Plus I'm not sure if you are planning to pay for housecleaning, landscaping, lawn care, pest control, check ups on hvac, etc etc but I assume that would need to be accounted for in the home maintenance line item too.

True. You’ll need a pest service. Maybe a termite bond depending on part of the country. Even if you minimally maintain your lawn, that’s a couple hundred bucks a quarter. You’ll need lawn mower, blower, et al if you do your lawn yourself. Lawn companies will charge you an arm and a leg. Replacement air filters for your HVAC and fridge. A lot of these little things add up. You end up spending a few hundred bucks several times a year at Home Depot/lowes and likely some monthly costs.

[wideopenspaces]

Tough to say. All if takes is changing the windows and your in it for 50k+

Ugh, yes this is my life right now. 12 windows and 3 sliders: 55k. I had no idea windows could be so expensive!

[wideopenspaces]

thanks. Do you think the $3,000/month home maintenance saving is unrealistically high? I just based it in the rule of thumb of ~2% of home value, but $36,000/year in maintenance would surprise me. My feeling is that 2% figure is not necessarily accurate for a small home with a high price in a HCOL area. If I were to reduce that maintenance saving to $1,000/month, all of a sudden I have $2,000 more in the budget to use.

That really depends on the age of the house and its condition. If it's a new build, no you probably won't spend that much but if it's an older home you may very well spend that much and more in any given year. Plus I'm not sure if you are planning to pay for housecleaning, landscaping, lawn care, pest control, check ups on hvac, etc etc but I assume that would need to be accounted for in the home maintenance line item too.

[VentAlarm]

thanks. Do you think the $3,000/month home maintenance saving is unrealistically high? I just based it in the rule of thumb of ~2% of home value, but $36,000/year in maintenance would surprise me. My feeling is that 2% figure is not necessarily accurate for a small home with a high price in a HCOL area. If I were to reduce that maintenance saving to $1,000/month, all of a sudden I have $2,000 more in the budget to use.

Tough to say. All if takes is changing the windows and your in it for 50k+

[penumbra]

I think you're going to be quite house poor. Your food budget is very very low, is that honestly how much you are spending right now on food, household items and alcohol in a hcol area? We spend more like $1200/month in mcol with 2 kids. And your kid line is low. We have a nanny too and we still pay for preschool 3 half days a week ($220/month) as well just to get our son ready for a classroom environment. And do you want your kids to do any activities? I am not sure what kind of vacation you are envisioning with 4k/ year but travel has gotten much more expensive even if you're driving and camping with little ones is not super fun. This budget doesn't seem realistic to me and I wouldn't want to do it even for 3 years. If you are set on it though I'd make sure to have not just the downpayment but a solid 3 month emergency fund in place as well as 20k or so for the inevitable house repair needed in that first year before you've had time to let that home maintenance savings built up.

thanks. Do you think the $3,000/month home maintenance saving is unrealistically high? I just based it in the rule of thumb of ~2% of home value, but $36,000/year in maintenance would surprise me. My feeling is that 2% figure is not necessarily accurate for a small home with a high price in a HCOL area. If I were to reduce that maintenance saving to $1,000/month, all of a sudden I have $2,000 more in the budget to use.

[wideopenspaces]

I think you're going to be quite house poor. Your food budget is very very low, is that honestly how much you are spending right now on food, household items and alcohol in a hcol area? We spend more like $1200/month in mcol with 2 kids. And your kid line is low. We have a nanny too and we still pay for preschool 3 half days a week ($220/month) as well just to get our son ready for a classroom environment. And do you want your kids to do any activities? I am not sure what kind of vacation you are envisioning with 4k/ year but travel has gotten much more expensive even if you're driving and camping with little ones is not super fun. This budget doesn't seem realistic to me and I wouldn't want to do it even for 3 years. If you are set on it though I'd make sure to have not just the downpayment but a solid 3 month emergency fund in place as well as 20k or so for the inevitable house repair needed in that first year before you've had time to let that home maintenance savings built up.