Purely in economic terms, sometimes that second job won't really get you any further ahead, anyway. I've know of more than one person who factored in their new work wardrobe, daycare, more convenience foods, and higher tax bracket and found that they had less money with the second job.
Those are all good points. Another one that a lot of people fail to recognize is that a husband of a stay-at-home wife is more likely to get more promotions and raises. My husband is a hard worker, and I don't take credit for the recognition he's gotten at work; however, I also realize that if he sometimes couldn't work late because he had to pick children up from daycare, or if he came in tired because he took a turn being up with a sick child at night, or any of those other things that husbands of working wives have to do sometimes, then he probably wouldn't be where he is today.
ReplyDeleteAbout 15 years ago I went to a women's retreat through the church we were attending, and one of the ladies gave a talk on this very subject. At the time, she calculated that if you had children (thus needing child care when both parents worked) you would need to earn more than $25,000 per year just to start getting SOME money for your labor. Under $25,000 and so much of your income would go to taxes, transportation, child care, wardrobe, meals, etc. that you would basically be working to maintain yourself, your "take home" would be whatever you made beyond $25,000. And keep in mind, this was quite a while ago.
ReplyDeleteCertainly there's a difference if you are doing work at home things to supplement your income. You are going to get more return from those ventures because your expenses are less. But it really doesn't make sense to get a second full-time income unless you have the experience/education to get a job with a generous salary.
I stay home. I am an empty nester. :) There is an excellent series that was done MANY years ago (we listened to it on cassette tape!) by (I believe) Adrian Rogers. He broke it down bit by bit, cost by cost, need by need. When it came right down to it, unless the working wife was a a brain surgeon or politition (you should laugh here) the couple ended up PAYING for the wife to work.
ReplyDeleteWe have lived on one income for MANY years. I homeschooled my son, who has since gone off into the Air Force and is preparing to marry his own bride who has chosen to leave the workforce (after 10 years in the military) and stay home as well.
My husand does not make a huge income, he is a Deputy and as you may suspect, underpaid for the job he does. Side jobs and the occassional overtime are a nice "every now and again" plus, but other than that we survive...and quite happily I might add. We do not have credit cards, we do not have car payments, we do not have payments on anything but our home. It takes careful planning and research, but buying used and taking care of what you have is Key. We have a small camper and take vacations a few times a year at State Parks. We do not spend money on lavish hotels or cruises...we prefer the outdoors anyhow. We are happy and it is guaranteed that at the end of a long hard day, no matter what has happened, his home is a refuge, with a meal and a rested wife to listen... :)
Blessing!
Kathy C.