I sit and listen to the stories of my parents and grandparents often, and it is very interesting comparing how life was in their day to how life is today. For example, salaries. Today it would be near impossible to find a household without both spouses working. In my grandparents day, only one of them worked, usually the husband. My point? The cost of living has sky rocketed to the point where if both spouses aren't working, they cannot maintain a comfortable standard of living. Back in the day, the income of just one spouse was more than enough to support the family. Now, I'm not being sexist or anything; I feel that it doesn't matter who goes to work (that should becided as a couple, what's best for the family). However, I can't help but notice back then vs. now. Back then, a man could raise his entire family on just his income and everything was provided for. Today, it takes both spouses. Prices have gone up, but income has not. Are we getting a raw deal here?
2006-11-01 09:49:24 · 4 answers · asked by Danny H 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Just FYI, I work and my wife doesn't...
I think it has less to do with the cost of living going up than it does with our *expectations* of lifestyle going up. Many (not all, but many) families where both parents work could get by just fine on one salary IF they would cut back on material things. That's really the main difference between now and your grandparents' time -- back then you made do with what you had, you bought things only when you really needed them, and credit was almost non-existant. Today people will spring for a brand new big-screen HDTV when they already can't afford their rent, and just put it on a credit card. Less restraint and the discipline of saving for what you want or need now than back then.
You are right, though -- real wages adjusted for inflation are down since 2000, though they are up a bit from, say, the 1940's.
2006-11-01 09:54:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That one income supporting the family thing is something of a myth. Working class women have always had to work AND take care of the kids.
2006-11-01 09:52:42 · answer #2 · answered by Smith Smith 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think alot of it has to do with the larger amount of goods out there that we are able to purchase. weve become more and more consumer based, we eat out more often and are less content with entertaining ourselves wich leads to tv, ans stereo purchases they never would have thought of. kids used to go out and play all day and use their imaginations, and now they have to have video games, computers , and even movies to watch in the car for a family trip.
2006-11-01 10:03:08 · answer #3 · answered by eric s 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my husband works i stay home and we are doing just fine. i have never worked and hopefully never will. i want to be home for my kids and be able to spend time with them.
2006-11-01 09:56:44 · answer #4 · answered by Delfina 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋