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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 2:14pm | IP Logged
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My dh related a conversation he had with some co-workers over lunch yesterday. One man he worked with said that his two kids had agreed to forgo Christmas presents in order to be able to go to Nebraska (from VA) to visit their new nephew.
To this my dh says "So, you're going to drive to Nebraska for Christmas?" The guy says "No, we are going to fly." At which point my husband says that Christmas at our house costs a lot less than flying four people to Nebraska. Stunned silence. A few utterances of disbelief. "You're kidding, right? With 7 kids!" and so on.
This is why the world is so amazed at one-income families. And this is why those of us committed to it can make it work.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 2:29pm | IP Logged
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We are one of very few one-income families in our moderate sized church, and the only homeschooling family  .
It is hard to live on a single income- ours is very difficult at the moment, we are constantly going into debt just over the basics!
Forums like this help me to appreciate the joy and blessing of being home with our children, even if it means alot less of the frills of life. But, I know for me it looking at it each month, realising that we do indeed need to pinch more than most of our friends, but that the reason (being able to be with the kids each day) makes it more than worth it!!
This said, the homeschoolers I do know here have incomes that are far and above ours- which is why coming here to people 'committed to making it work' helps me so much.
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 2:58pm | IP Logged
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There are many sacrifices we make so that I can stay home with the kids. Of course I sometimes wonder if we would really have that much more money even if I worked, too. (You know the list of second income suckers: work clothing, lunches, daycare, transportation.) The only thing I've ever really missed in our efforts to live on one income is my car.
I sold my car when my older daughter was nine-months-old and we were preparing to move out of state. She was so intense even as a baby that I didn't have the energy or desire to use the car very much to go out on my own. It just seemed like a waste of money to keep it. Within about a year, though, I really missed having my own car.
We've been living on one income ever since and getting a second vehicle has been the biggest item on the wish list behind a our own house (which we bought last summer). It seems like there is never enough money, though, just to build up any savings or pay off our debt (which went up when we moved). I have finally realized that dream may not happen for many, many, many years.
However, I have begun to think that it's for the best. Sure, there are activities that we'd like to do with our homeschooling group and such, but an extra car would mean extra gas, maintenance, insurance, and car seats, no to mention extra debt. Plus, when my husband has been on break from his school, I've noticed the house is messier because we've been too busy running; we spend more money on junk food; the kids have a harder time adjusting to unscheduled days; and there is not time or energy for schoolwork. I think it may be for the overall best to only have one car because it makes it easier for us to get by one income.
And I wouldn't trade being at home and being able to educate my own children for anything, not even a shiny new mini-van. 
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JenniferS
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 3:47pm | IP Logged
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When out first two were little, and again when I had four littles, we did have two incomes. We spent a lot more money, and our debts were higher. For us, two incomes was not a blessing. We still don't have much monetarily, but we don't have the debt we used to, either. And I think we are probably happier.
Jen
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Mary G
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 3:48pm | IP Logged
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I once read a book with the title something like, "Do What You Want and the MOney will Follow" -- all about finding the career/job that would make you most happy and not only would you be good at it (and thus successful financially) you would also be willing to forego things to make it all work.
Sounds like most of us here ... we are doing what we want, what we love and what we believe God wants us to do; and yes we're successful and yes we sacrifice and, more importantly, YES we are doing the GOOD!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 4:09pm | IP Logged
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What got to me was the shock that we didn't spend thousands of dollars on Christmas! Last year at the office Christmas party, one couple was talking about the snowboard they got for their teen and saying how the child didn't even deserve it. Well, the snowboard cost more than what we spend on all 7 kids combined!
The funniest part is that our kids don't even know how deprived there are! 
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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PDyer
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 5:12pm | IP Logged
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teachingmyown wrote:
| The funniest part is that our kids don't even know how deprived there are! |
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Oh yes! When asked, my son will say he wants books for Christmas. Those asking haven't bought them because (they've told me) 'books aren't exciting enough for Christmas'.
OK?? But that's...what he asked for...??? 
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Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
Life at Home
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Aug 30 2007 at 8:39pm | IP Logged
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Quote:
| 'books aren't exciting enough for Christmas' |
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They haven't been at my house when much desired books have shown up if they think that
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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lapazfarm
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I think it also helps that my kids don't go to school and have to see all day all of the stuff they don't have.
And they don't watch TV so they don't have commercials to tell them what they can't live without.
Honestly they have trouble making a Christmas list because they just don't know what's out there.
Some Christmases have been leaner than others (this year will be a lean year) but somehow we always manage to pull off just enough to make it special.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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guitarnan
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The son of a friend (age 10) mentioned to me last week that he had a Nintendo DS but people "mocked" him for not having a PSP ($220) so he got one of those, too.
!!!!!!
For the record, my ds (15) has a PSP...that he saved for and bought himself, as he's done with all the games he has purchased. We don't buy electronic game gizmos for our dc; if they want them they have to save up for them (and follow our rules on usage).
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Mare
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| Posted: Aug 31 2007 at 6:48am | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
Quote:
| 'books aren't exciting enough for Christmas' |
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They haven't been at my house when much desired books have shown up if they think that |
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Nor my house. I had four squealing little girls when they opened up books for Christmas. The sheer joy actually took dh and me by surprise.
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8kids4me
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In our house it's a tradition to spend Christmas morning opening presents, eating stollen, and then spending the rest of the day reading the books we've received!
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Cindy B, mama to 8 great kids, and 5 grandbabies!
http://www.magnolialane.wordpress.com
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PDyer
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| Posted: Aug 31 2007 at 8:03am | IP Logged
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We don't have a gaming system (yet). My son has said he doesn't want one at this point as his computer games are 'enough', and if he was to get one he'd like a Wii so he can move around while playing. I don't know how we'll handle the issue of buying it. Guess we'll figure that out when the time comes!
Another crackup: The same people who won't buy books for Christmas because they aren't exciting enough have stated we "should" buy the kids a gaming system. I'm told "he should have because everyone else has one and there's nothing wrong with them, you know". Once we have a gaming system, then they'll know what to buy the kids for Christmas.
I'm soooo confused.....
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Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
Life at Home
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SuzanneG
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Oh my.....Christmas costing more than 4 airplane tickets!!!!?????? Whoa! I'm so out of the mainstream culture when it comes to this stuff. That is so shocking to me!
lapazfarm wrote:
I think it also helps that my kids don't go to school and have to see all day all of the stuff they don't have. And they don't watch TV so they don't have commercials to tell them what they can't live without.
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Agree.  Although, I’m sure this will change as my dc start to get older, we’ll probably “get out” more. Maybe? Maybe not.
We've been blessed that the kids in our neighborhood that my dc do play with, don't have a lot of nonsense either.
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: How we manage on one income
