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I grew up in the DC metro area and moved back after I graduated from undergrad in 2007. I'd say the majority of people my age (24) in the DC area are living a bit outside their means only because of the cost of living here. My rent is $1,615 for a teeny little place with my boyfriend. A girl in our complex graduated from the same school as I did just a year before me and she said that her rent was 60% of her salary (I think it's supposed to be 30% according to traditional budgeting.) I barely make any money because I haven't gotten my masters yet, so I can only be an assistant right now, so rent is pretty much the only thing I spend money on. The recession is scaring the crap out of me because I'm basically realizing that I will never actually be able to afford to live the way I grew up in this area. I'd say that something decent for a recent college grad in the DC Metro area would be between 32 and 40. A good salary would be 40+ for someone as young as me. I'm going to go cry about not having money for food now. (how's that for a flounce?)
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