I am so heartbroken when I have to drop my daughter at daycare. My husband and I (together) make 75k a year, he makes 2x as much as me of course, but I pick up the slack. Ironicly, we are considered upper-middle class! We drive older cars, live in a nice house, but not a rich one, we have little debt and we only go "out" about once a month. Yet we barely make ends meet and I am p**sed off that I have to put our kid in some flippin daycare where she has picked up bad habits, Im too tired to spend time with her and dammit! we still have no money. I have to wake up this poor child at 6am and drop her off to strangers. I tried to find someone who would come in-house, but they charge a fortune! I've thought about quitting my job, which would put my husband working OT, and we would never see him either.
I just dont understand. not 50 years ago, a family like ours lived comfortably on a husbands income. Why cant we now? Why dont I have the CHOICE to raise my own kid!!!???
2006-10-03 11:10:23 · 9 answers · asked by Sticky 2 in Social Science ➔ Economics
I can understand your frustration. Maybe you could downsize your home; take a part time job and spend more time with her. Just a thought. Or you could look into ways to work from home. Once she starts school, maybe you could work during school hours, possibly at the school itself. Clip coupons, watch for sales, find a newspaper coupon for the times you do eat out, shop thrift stores, Dollar Stores, and Walmart, eliminate cable or just get basic. Just a few ideas. Hope this helps.
2006-10-03 13:01:54 · answer #1 · answered by Curious George 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sell your house and rent a smallish apartment or buy a condo. The person with less income can move into a job that can be done out of the house or short hours when the children can be watched by family or family friends.
If you're making 75k a year, you have more than enough money to live a comfortable lifestyle in an inexpensive area but is tough in an expensive area. Watch spending like clothing and take out dinners, and you can easily get more room in your budget.
You're problem is that your kids aren't a priority. Instead of making your life around your kids, you are trying to fit your kids into your life. Domestic production (that is the economic term) is not a statement of your personal worth, it is an economic decision. You may be more efficient working at home than you are in the workplace, while leaving you with more leisure time and general happiness.
2006-10-03 18:49:03 · answer #2 · answered by GreenManorite 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My husband makes half of what yours does and I'm a stay at home Mom of two. If you sit down and really look at where your money is going, you can trim the fat and be able to live on one income and be at home with your daughter. I cook all our meals, except twice a month when we either go out to eat or get take-out. (Our last trip to grocery store was $120 for two weeks-we don't buy convenience foods.) We have one cell phone which we are cancelling when the contract ends and will only use our house line. We each get a cash allowance each pay period and when it's gone, it's gone. We abide by a budget and with careful spending we are paying off credit card debt and building a savings account-- something we didn't always focus on.
2006-10-03 20:40:06 · answer #3 · answered by Angela B 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You need to sit down and evaluate your budget. 75k is not exactly a fortune these days, but you're not exactly scrapping the bottom of your rice bowl.
Take special notice of the "shortcuts" that your family must take in order to justify your 25k/year. Add up all of the instant meals and other conveniences (daycare for one), and see if it is still worth the time you are not spending with your child.
Once your kid/s turn 5 you can go back to work as he/she/they will be going to school, but for now maybe your job is at home.
2006-10-03 19:57:29 · answer #4 · answered by Understood 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
50 years ago the average middle class house was just over 1,000 square feet. Today it's over 2,000. 50 years ago the average family only owned one car. Now everyone has to have two or more. 50 years ago there were only 3 TV stations and they came in over the airwaves for free. 50 years ago most people hung their clothes out on a clothesline to dry. 50 years ago most people grew their own vegetables in a garden. 50 years ago nobody borrowed any money, except for their home mortgage, and maybe their car. 50 years ago the percentage that the average family paid in taxes was only 1/2 of what it is today. There was no sales tax, little if any gas tax, little or no property tax. 50 years ago there was no medicaid, no welfare, no civil rights, no social security (to speak of). The fact is, you and I live a totally different life than people did 50 years ago. Get used to it. As the post war baby boom generation retires, it will only get worse and worse. You just wait.
2006-10-03 19:41:28 · answer #5 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are making $75,000 a year, then you are not telling the whole story. You should be living comfortably.
50 years ago no one spent money on computers, Internet, cable, cell phones, microwaves, more than one car, more than one TV, video games, on and on and on. Give up all those things and live like they did 50 years ago and I'm sure you will have more than enough money.
2006-10-03 19:15:55 · answer #6 · answered by Zak 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i understand you but things have changed and you just have to deal with it. you DO have the choice to raise your own kid - dont go to work then have even less money. im sorry but your doing the best you can like so many other people myself included that have no money to live comfortably. your not the only one. try going part time
2006-10-03 18:20:35 · answer #7 · answered by ♥mama♥ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
because the republicans are running the country.
2006-10-03 18:18:09 · answer #8 · answered by betterlife_travel 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They should not siffer
2006-10-03 18:17:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋