[quote=carlsbadworker]Geez. You guys are cheap. Just avoid buying expensive house that you cannot afford, avoid sending your kids to private schools that you cannot afford, etc, etc. If you can take out these unnecessary major expenses, you will have plenty of money to buy new clothes for the kids and avoid cribs that are falling apart, which are really unsafe.
You will need 250 grand/year to afford college for your kids? Either you have a financial management issue or you have some serious priority issue.[/quote]
It’s all about priority. It’s not that we can’t afford new clothes, but there’s nothing wrong with Gymboree/Carter’s quality hand me downs from our cousins. When we do buy clothes, we only buy stuff that are on clearance. If I buy clearance stuff for myself, why should I spend more on my kids’ clothes than on my own clothes?
BTW, I would never suggest people to send their kids to private schools that they cannot afford or buy expensive house that they cannot afford. I would only suggest private school if you already max out your retirement, save enough to pay for their college (regardless of where they go), and save enough to build up for a decent rainy day fund.
