It Doesn't Take Two Incomes

Not everyone can raise their own meat and own cows and goats for milk, or tend a large garden to feed their families... can they?
 

Cookie said:
It depends on the income - if you have a very small income and want to feed, clothe and house your family on that (especially if you are a single woman with no child support) forget about things like a car, furniture, decent food and clothing (even at discount prices) or vacations. So my experience has been that two incomes are necessary for many working people just to survive.
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I agree. Kids have needs and all the electronic devices they need just to get through the day are very costly. The cost of a good education is astronomical. Medical and dental insurance finish the picture. Kids are only covered on a parents plan for so long. Does your child drive. Good luck with paying for car insurance for a new teenage driver if you live on one income. Wanna live in a decent home in a decent neighborhood? That'll cost ya too. Two incomes might just help a family of four to keep there heads above water if they never get sick and don't take vacations.
 
I will add that my five kids went to a private school which was our largest bill...no everyone cannot raise their own food, but you do not need all the latest gadgets you will find and get what you need if you try......all five of our children are working and independent of anyone but themselves they work hard and all five visit several times a month and all love to tell stories about growing up and enjoying life.... they talk to each other regularly on the phone and their children are growing up with tight family ties.....today they all make way more money then I ever dreamed of doing when I was working regular......but they work hard and save up for what they need and they all have nice houses and nice cars and really nice children....
 

ronaldj said:
I will add that my five kids went to a private school which was our largest bill...no everyone cannot raise their own food, but you do not need all the latest gadgets you will find and get what you need if you try......all five of our children are working and independent of anyone but themselves they work hard and all five visit several times a month and all love to tell stories about growing up and enjoying life.... they talk to each other regularly on the phone and their children are growing up with tight family ties.....today they all make way more money then I ever dreamed of doing when I was working regular......but they work hard and save up for what they need and they all have nice houses and nice cars and really nice children....
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I'm not sure I understand your point - You have every right to be proud of your family and their upbringing, but are you saying that because your 7 member family subsisted on your single income (of ?? amount) and growing your own food 25 or so years ago, that a similar family should be able to do so in today's economy - minus the gadgets?
 
I am saying people waste and want more than they can afford.....I work with them everyday and see them everyday.........every situation is different but in my opinion people could and should take better care of themselves instead of counting on someone else...don't like your job find a different one, don't make enough money get a better job instead of credit cards and borrowing......now I am done I will not change your thinking and you will not change mine....times are and have been tuff I seen it and watched people go through it.....you can either sit on the side of the road and cry or pick yourself up and move on....
 
ronaldj said:
I am saying people waste and want more than they can afford.....I work with them everyday and see them everyday.........every situation is different but in my opinion people could and should take better care of themselves instead of counting on someone else...don't like your job find a different one, don't make enough money get a better job instead of credit cards and borrowing......now I am done I will not change your thinking and you will not change mine....times are and have been tuff I seen it and watched people go through it.....you can either sit on the side of the road and cry or pick yourself up and move on....
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This is true in many cases, I see it all the time as well and argue with friends for their waste when they complain about faulting on a bill, but, I do believe instead of thumping fingers and making like it's all the people all the time, we must remember there's a substantial number of people with legitimate cause and effect situations happening all over the world.

I could live like a queen knowing what I know today on the income some people make and live pay check to paycheck, but those aren't the people most of us are referring to when we speak of the ones not able to live off of one paycheck. I'm the first to scream at what I see, ya see the holiday shopping videos and all those tvs and phones people buy that they don't need and can't afford half the time and will go into hock come time to pay the creditors, well yes those folks have no place to complain about not being able to make it on one check. There's need and there's extras and unnecessary extravagances.
 
Son_of_Perdition said:
Since everyone told me that I was the breadwinner, I had this illusion that I was expected to provide for my family. I never asked my wife to go to work, it was her decision. She worked minimal wage jobs, never making more than $12 hourly. She worked until 62. I now look back and realize that her small income bought many gifts, food, gas, coats, school expenses, insurances,,,etc. I hate to think where we would have been if she didn't have that income and spend it willingly to maintain our so called middle income lifestyle. She gets a small SS check that goes towards supplementing my SS/Pension. I thank her for her sacrifices whenever I remember, and that it took the two of us to survive.
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well said.....
 
How about this scenario: wife (or husband) stays home and raises kids. As is common they get divorced. The resume or cv of the stay at home person isn't going to have employers knocking their door down when they need to work.
This is not an Ozzie and Harriet world any more.
 
Society has changed so much that expectations are that most women will work with just a slight pause for delivery...
 
Ameriscot said:
How about this scenario: wife (or husband) stays home and raises kids. As is common they get divorced. The resume or cv of the stay at home person isn't going to have employers knocking their door down when they need to work.
This is not an Ozzie and Harriet world any more.
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Very true.. and she won't be getting a very generous SS check either due to her/his employment history. 45% of hubby's isn't going to pay her bills.
 
We can't apply the same rules for everyone, but I do know several young couples that with a bit of thought could manage on the one salary while they bring up the children. The thing is they WANT not to have to work [until the children are in school] but say they can't manage, because they still want their holidays/a new kitchen etc. They have got used [as Lon said] to having extra money.Of course there will always be some couples who really do need it, and some women who want to go to work, and that's fine.
 
What with the high cost of housing most places today, I'd think that a single wage-earner would have to make a VERY good living to be able to decently support a wife and children on one salary. Unless you want raise your children in a hovel, which most people do not want to do.

By decently, I don't mean lavishly, I mean food, clothing, healthcare, etc.
 
AND, as someone above pointed out, if one of the parents has stayed home raising children and suddenly finds himself/herself widowed, divorced (or the wage earner ends up disabled or ill) he or she is going to have almost no possibility of finding a decent job. Especially now when people who are way overqualified for jobs end up taking them because that's all they can find and that leaves anyone without stellar qualifications and resume sort of out of luck. Especially if the one who is left is a bit older. This is not a scenario I'd take a chance on.
 

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