[phamilton]

To support a family of 5, you're looking at $4000/month in housing (PITI on 750k townhouse, 3Bed 2.5Bath, 1500 sqft, 40 minutes from the city). For that to make sense, your take home should ideally over $150k, and that's a bare minimum.

[douche]

That's completely insane. Starting out, I didn't gross $4000 a month.

I could live like a king on $150k per year. I don't know what I would spend that kind of money on.

[malyk]

5x$5 for a breakfast coffee/bagel 5x$10-$15 for lunch 5x$3 for an afternoon coffee 3x$30 for dinners/drinks out per week ---- 4x$200 per week in food out 4x$100 per week for food for the home ---- $1200 per month for food.

5x$4-$15 for commuting during the week 2x$15 per weekend for transportation on the weekend ---- $200 for communting per month

$3000 rent per month $150 cell phone bill per month $150 cable/internet bill per month $50 electric/gas bill per month ---- $3350+ per month in housing/utilities

=

$4750 per month in living expenses...not including entertainment, car/insurance, and a host of other things. If you're young you probably split the housing costs, so it comes down a little, but you're probably spending at least $3k a month just to live and get to work around SF.