can one parent working support a family of 4?

Question

life in los angeles. i make over 700 per week, but it doesnt seem enough ? what can i do? do i need another job.

Answer 1

I had to support my family of four for 5 years. I was averaging 30K per year, but I live in Charlotte. I'm sure the cost of living in L.A. is higher.

Still, based on the income you have presented, I say it's highly possible. The thing is, you'll have to sacrifice SOMETHING. How much do you spend on groceries? If you can, curb your grocery spending. Shop at the supermarket that has quality, but is the least expensive. There are lots of ways to economize on groceries. Clip coupons. You may have to be assertive with your lady and kids and tell them thay can't always eat what they WANT. I mentioned groceries first, because it is a variable expense, but it typically take a major bite out of family incomes.

The key is, determine what standard of living you really want to have now. And if that standard of living currently doesn't meet what you want, you might want to consider finding another job. But first see if there are any monthly expenses that you can and are willing to cut, and how many. Obviously, you can't cut things like mortgage/rent and car payments (unless you trade in), but, for example, see what cable/satellite services you can sacrifice. I you have premium channels you don't watch that often, get rid of them. If you have home phone or cell phone options you don't need, get rid of them. See what I'm sayin? Pare down your expenses first, then see if your expenses exceed your income.

Answer 2

Sure, you just have to live right, live poor, no waste, no second car. You really can't do anything beyond NEEDS. And your wife has to be on the same sheet of music. Half of the ballgame is in her hands because she can't be wasting money shopping like most womens do and she has to be good with making things last and with cooking at home rather than eating out all the time. Your dollar figure is a little low, maybe you can make more in the near future, but yes you can do it if you really want to. Personally I would find a way to have her work a part time job maybe three nights a week, or you work a part time job, because in all honesty it will be very tight on that income. If you do a part time job, just make sure they take out the max in taxes so you don't end up with a large bill to the IRS at the end of the year. But on your full time job make sure they are taking out the least possible so you are getting the highest paycheck you can.

Answer 3

TPR should happen quickly when there is clear danger to the child. Period. As someone who "fell through the cracks," as they like to say, I don't think there's any excuse to keep a child in a home that has already hurt them. In cases that aren't so clear... I think there should be some allowances made, provided there isn't acute danger to the child. The parents should be given a chance to clean up a drug/drinking problem or something of that nature, if it is not DIRECTLY endangering the child, and if proper efforts are made, the children should be returned on a close monitoring basis. I also think that claims other than imminent danger to the child need to be thoroughly investigated, proved, and substantiated by an unbiased third party before TPR is even a question. Small in numbers though they are, false or frivolous allegation cases can destroy the lives of everyone involved. Foster parents (particularly in the case of infants) should not be allowed to push the system to their advantage. If TPR happens anyway, fine, but pushing TPR in a case that it's not really called for just to make the kid FFA is just sick. On the other hand, as I said above, abused and chronically neglected children should NEVER return to their abusers. EVER. I don't care what drug they were on, how bad the finances were, what emotional problem there was - there is NO excuse to hurt a kid. One strike, you're out. If abuse is proven or documented, or the child is old enough to testify under their own free will, TPR not only needs to happen, but needs to be expedited. My foster daughters' mother (my sister) recently had her rights terminated, though she agreed with it. It would have been voluntary if our state allowed that. She has never made efforts to clean up, has a laundry list of criminal charges (both convicted and pending), has been investigated by child services before and is incarcerated, and it still took several months for the courts to TPR. Maybe it was a freak case in which that happened, I don't know, but they definitely gave her more than her fair share of chances to clean up and get herself together. More often than not, the courts do rule in favor of the parents if there is any doubt at all whether rights need to be terminated. It's not perfect, but no system is.

Answer 4

Hi! The cost of living in Los Angeles is extremely high. Everyone who has responded so far is correct: you must simplify your life somehow. Your house payment or rent payment is high (I'm sure) -- can you move further out? Entertainment costs for children can be quite high and add up - are you checking out free DVDs from the public library and not eating so much fast food. Can your wife shop at discount grocery stores and prepare/cook meals from scratch. There are good, thrift stores that sell good quality childrens and adult clothing. Is your wife able to babysit other working mothers children? This allows her to stay at home with her own children. Can she go to a college/university at night and get additional education or training so that she can work once your children have gotten a little older. Can she work part-time at your children's school? Hope we are helping your family!

Answer 5

I live in Houston, Texas an there is no way we could live on $36K. Our cost of living here is MUCH lower than yours.

I'd move someplace cheaper and or get more income. Perhaps both parents need to work? One can work nights the other days. Whatever is needed to avoid daycare costs - if that is your concern.

Personally, I can't see the appeal of living in a place like L.A. with the sky-high real estate, crime, traffic, etc. Especially trying to raise children.

Answer 6

You're living in an expensive place. Can you move somewhere cheaper? Can your wife work? You have to cut back on expenses or get another job. It's money in and money out.

Answer 7

dude then just make your expenses smaller, get a smaller house,cheaper car, reduce bills,e.t.c
life is too short to spend it just working