How many are one income families?

Beeman · #1 03/10/07, 05:37 PM

How many out there are the old fashioned one income family? The basic model that we think of from the great generation. It seems that it's a rarity in todays world but sure seems worth the economic impact if there is one. When we began a family that was the way we went with me being the money earner and my wife taking care of the home and kids while I worked.

rannie · #2 03/10/07, 05:42 PM

we are a one income family and blessed to be so i homeschool the kids that are still home and we run our "little" farm while hubby is working. But it wasn't til 3yrs ago that it was possible. before then we both worked and kids went to school. no memories there to busy then to remember anything. We went by daily just crossing paths with each other. rannie

PinkBat · #3 03/10/07, 05:47 PM

Yes and no. While we always were an old fashioned family with me staying home, it was on my husband's military retirement and his income from his full-time job.
Now that we're empty-nesters and have no bills, he only works on a consulting basis part-time and gets to stay home and work in his garden and on the land.
We don't have the need for more and fancier things, hence there is no need for full-time employment. When he finally reaches retirement age, he'll quit the part-time job too.

Lizza · #4 03/10/07, 05:51 PM

We do. I worked part time for the first two years we were married. When I was 6 months pregnant with our first child I started staying at home full time with my hubby working for our income. It has been 14 years now and we added homeschooling along the way.

cheapskate · #5 03/10/07, 05:58 PM

Ours has been a one income home since we married. I work outside the home, my wife works to keep our home going and raise our children. I consider it my gift to her to do this and not go out in the workforce and put up with all that goes along with it. She enjoys her life very much. So do I. We have done without alot of material things over the years because of only one income, but we have a great family because my wife was able to be there to raise our children.

Daddymem · #6 03/10/07, 06:07 PM

Happily one income here-at least until the kids are off and running fully. Fortunately that income is white collar so it is a little easier with a higher than average pay.

rwinsouthla · #7 03/10/07, 07:55 PM

We are. 4 kids, 2 homeschooled, and a happy wife. Difficult sometimes, but definitely worth it.

Jenn · #8 03/10/07, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beeman

How many out there are the old fashioned one income family? The basic model that we think of from the great generation. It seems that it's a rarity in todays world but sure seems worth the economic impact if there is one. When we began a family that was the way we went with me being the money earner and my wife taking care of the home and kids while I worked.

Odd you think it is old fashioned. Our current situation of me not working is quite different from all my grandparents where mother often taught school when she wasn't too busy being a fulltime farmwife. (Lucky father always got to be a stay at home farmer/father/husband.) DH's mother also taught school once he was not too small. My mom- well probably she worked or went to college whenever she could but with 3 kids that wasn't until 6-7 years after the last of us was born. But truthfully I will work again part time once I find a job I will enjoy, and my temporary work at home building fence and supervising construction is already several hours a week.

firefly81 · #9 03/10/07, 08:19 PM

my husband is the only one working full time, i do some wedding work when ever it comes around, i used to work as a florist till my son was one and a half then i quit to stay home with him, i miss working but i would miss spending time with him more.

shadowwalker · #10 03/10/07, 08:30 PM

My dear wifey is the breadwinner here. I work on the gardens and greenhouse, chickens, and everyting in the house but the laundry. I am not good at that. I do work outside the house sometimes and have had real odd jobs. Two of which were satelite dish installer, and I was the guy that fills the plush toy machines, with cranes and such, at retail stores. I liked both jobs but the toy one was a scam, though not illegal.

fixer1958 · #11 03/10/07, 08:34 PM

My DW stayed home when the kids were little. When they started into school fulltime, she had a part time job and was always home when they were. I got them off to school and she was here when they got home.
I taught them to drive to the end of the driveway when they were 11 or 12 to catch the school bus.
It's a 1/2 mile and a little to isolated for them to walk in my opinion. To much weirdness out there.
They had the car to sit in if the weather was bad.
I had them call me when they got home if mom wasn't there yet.
I wasn't to worried about them getting into trouble because I knew one of them would rat the other out eventually if there was a problem. They love each other, but not that much.

Only one left at home to finish HS and on to other things.
Now is the time to get them situated into there own lives and to make some plans for ourselves for later on.
It all worked out. At times it was hard, but it's working out.

What doesn't kill you will make you stronger.
I should be pretty strong now. I would have liked to kept my hair though.

halfpint · #12 03/10/07, 08:44 PM

We have been a one income family for almost 15 years. I have home educated for all that time, and my last is now in 3rd grade so I still have a long way to go. By the time she graduates I'll probably be ready for retirement.

I actually think it's becoming less old-fashioned.
Dawn

ET1 SS · #13 03/10/07, 08:56 PM

Most of our marriage I was the income earner.

Since my retirement though, my wife has started working while I stay home. So we have her income and my pension.

In another 20 years she will get a SSA pension. Then we will both be on pension.

Ravenlost · #14 03/10/07, 09:11 PM

We are a one income family. I haven't been able to work for the last 7-8 years due to health issues. Before meeting hubby I was a divorced mom of two with just one income. I did that for 16 years.

oldgaredneck · #15 03/10/07, 09:14 PM

We are a one income family, just the wife and I - kids are grown.
She has a full time job just keeping me on the "straight and narrow" with all my disabilities and meds - my disability checks are the income, such as it is....

DW · #16 03/10/07, 09:36 PM

I am the breadwinner and hubby stays home. I am two yrs f/decent retirement...not sure what he will do then. Hubby works on big projects at home...I'm no carpenter.

doing it in NM · #17 03/10/07, 10:27 PM

We are a one income family. I work on and off doing HVAC for myself, take care of the outside part of the homestead while DW does most things inside, she raised our kids, cooks, bakes and crafts(little income from crafts). For us it works out well, she hates to shop so we are rather thrifty and until we got this place we are fixing up $1,500 or less per month did nicely.

Wendy · #18 03/10/07, 10:35 PM

One income family here too. I quit work when I was pregnant with the twins because I was too tired & sick to go to work.

Have been home ever since. THey will be 16 this June. I do make a little money from home selling soap & candles, eggs, produce, goats, & whatever else I can find to earn a little income while being home. I have no plans on going back to work even when the kids are all in school. I'll have the whole day to myself to do what I want then!

MicheleMomof4 · #19 03/10/07, 11:55 PM

Also a more traditional one income family here as well. I have never regretted it even though it has been hard at time. The Lord always provides though.

God Bless,
Michele

moongirl · #20 03/11/07, 03:01 AM

We are only one income. My Dh stays home with the kids. He has health issues so it is not always easy. But even if he did work day care and after school care etc... would make it only a break even situation. Although somedays he miss the "social" escape of having a job.