Sure, but ~600SF per domestic adult is more than enough for fantastic living. Don’t buy a house sized for 10 people if it’s just you and a SO.
Retirement investing...
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I'm not sure I fully agree with this, and I admit that this may be regional too. IME, folks are unwilling to sacrafice. We've all gotten too used to eating out, unlimited data plan cell phones, monthly subscriptions for non-essentials - like TV, and other things that were once luxuries. Those things have become standard. My grandfather (in the 50s and 60s) worked 2-3 jobs for a very long time to support his 2 kids. I know don't know a single young family where the father works more than one job.
I disagree.
That's a bit extreme. The issue is that many parents aren't willing to sacrifice a certain lifestyle to raise children.
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"Living within your means" - Is beyond comprehension for far too many folks. Happiness is often based on having everything right away.
How many children are you raising currently and what are there ages?
I am not sure I agree with the original comment either, given I just got done raising a couple and never took a govco dime. Having said that I don't agree with most of this. Unlimited cell phone plan is less adjusted for inflation than a black phone on the wall 40 years ago. Streaming TV is really peanuts. I agree with eating out - total waste of money. We have pretty much stopped - even though we can afford it. I eat out for work all the time (travelling) and its gotten discus ting - both quality and price.
Did your grandmother work out of the house also?
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The number of folks who "can't make ends meet" due to poor income, vs. the ones that can't make ends meet due to poor budgeting.
Anyone that believes the problem is solely unequal opportunity is fooling themselves.
Anyone that believes the problem is solely unequal opportunity is fooling themselves.
I grew up until about 10 Y.O. in a trailer in the woods. It was something like 55 feet long and 12 wide. We were 5.
Others here tell me we were rich, there's was only 10 wide.
IIRC my grandfather did so too. But. He only had a high school diploma and worked with his hands. Nothing wrong with that--nothing at all--but the pay back then was lower I think. Not all college degrees pay well, but some of them pay good enough, so it's not surprising that today many work just one job.
Pretty sure my parents were complaining about that when I was young.
I realize I don't have to pay for the daughter's education, but, there's some saying about a wife and a happy life that I forget. Am hoping next semester to not do a federal loan--it was 8.94% with a 4% origination fee for the first semester. If I could get out of this one, I would.
Sorry, but gotta call you out on that.
Yes - 8-10% unemployment. For a year or two around the Volcker crash. Then again in 2007-2009. Then again in 2020. People remember it fine.
Well they do forget and people have forgotten even about 2020. That said good point. Those peaks didn’t last super long thankfully. I should have said people forget relatively higher times - above historical mean - of unemployment during better times
Downturns hurt the newest / youngest people first. Lots of people here likely think of 1980 as being terrible because they got let go and couldn't find a job. But in 2007 they were likely peak of their career and did not get let go.
Wife and I both were let go in 2007 / 08. Had to move, didn't have any money, had two little kids. It was rough. 2020, my company let people go but not me. 2020 hence doesn't seem so bad to me. For those we let go - I am sure they feel different.
Lots of folks figure AI is going to replace a lot of people by 2030. Guess we find out.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Mortgage rates were bizarre - ask me how I know
4. Ages 20 through 9.
It's all peanuts, individually. All together, not so much.
Yes, when the kids were at school she worked.
Of course individuals don’t forget being let go. I remember it like yesterday. Absolutely shocking sickening stupid and it sucked. But what a motivator. Two businesses (not immediate on one) and a job in time (5-6 weeks) later we were saving money again. Actually never had to touch savings. Point being I was not going to be in that position again, That job I had 16 years and the last 10 it wouldn’t have bugged me if they laid me off. But like you didn’t happen.
So then you know how much it costs, and is why birth rates are so low - which will swamp us in the end.
I pay $120 a month for unlimited 3 phones (my phone is company paid). As I have posted before a black phone on the wall in 1960 adjusted for inflation was about $60 to $80. So yes I suppose families could forgo a phone. Compounded it would likely end up being something in a retirement account some day. Of course we could all ride bikes or walk to work also. Cell phone as luxury is a hollow argument IMHO. Revisionist history. No one said in 1960 that a black phone on the wall was some huge luxury.
So no, your grandfather worked 2 or 3 jobs, and grandmother took care of the kids. (my parents did same). Now both parents usually work and pay someone else to take care of their kids when young / after school, etc. I am not sure its any more efficient than the old way, or even less so - but I also don't think its easier. My wife stayed home with the kids, FWIW - but we only had 2 and when the second went to school full days she went back to work.
I think the whole notion that people are lazy now is revisionist history. Some people are lazy, some are not. Same as always.
Are you saying birth rates are low because kids are expensive? Birth rates are drop with increasing income levels.
She worked a job with the hours that she desired. It's no different than finding a second job with hours that don't conflict with the first job. So yes, she worked, she also stayed home to take care of the kids. They both effectively had 2 jobs (each).
That is exactly what I am saying. We would have had more but felt we could not afford it. Birth rates drop with urbanization / industrialization. That is well proven demographically. Rising household income means more adults in the household are working, equating to less children. You can track it by country. China has the worst birth rate in the world.
So same as today - both parents work, and both parents help with kids / around home. 2 jobs each.
You have a weird way of twisting things to meet your narrative.
Working two jobs, from 7A to 11P, is not the same as working a 9A-5P and helping out at home.
ETA: But it's OK. I don't feel the need to argue about this online, it's a beautiful Saturday and the day is calling. I hope you enjoy yours.
Working two jobs, from 7A to 11P, is not the same as working a 9A-5P and helping out at home.
ETA: But it's OK. I don't feel the need to argue about this online, it's a beautiful Saturday and the day is calling. I hope you enjoy yours.
