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Leocea
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| Posted: July 16 2007 at 10:02pm | IP Logged
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I am wondering, since reading the grocery budget thread, what the average income is for a large family. We both converted February 29, 2006.
After much intercessory prayer, and many rosaries, my husband agrees that we should have a larger family. So far, we have four children. (We spaced these with bc of various sorts over the 15 years we have been married) God is making us rethink the no birth control = a baby a year, since my youngest is 16 months, with no new baby in sight. I think he knew we were worried, lol. (Nothing against this, of course, I think he is just pointing out that all these years, we thought WE were controlling our babies)
My question is, how are we going to care for and feed these children? Now, God has always provided for us very well, even when we have made huge, stupid financial blunders. I am not doubting that he will continue to do so.
However, we live pretty much paycheck to paycheck, on a little under $40,000 a year on average. One year we made almost $50,000, and this year, we may make $43,000 or so. My husband is a laborer. Right now he works about 10-12 hours (or nights) per day to make ends meet, and sometimes the ends don't quite meet. :-)
We have some debt that we are working on, and I try to use Mary Hunt's princibles, as far as Debt-free living goes. I mostly cook from scratch, I mostly buy used whenever possible. We have used cars with no payments, larger deductibles to keep payments low. Our mortgage is under $200,000 and the houses in our area sell for over $300,000. We have used equity in the past , but will not do it again.
I am wondering if anyone else is in our position. We are definitely feeling led by God to be open to new life. I would just like to have enough to not worry so much every week. It stresses me out SO much to have to finagle the bills, even if my dh does brag that I am good at it. I'm concerned that with more children, I'll have less time and energy to deal with it! We do save some, and had an emergency fund, but we needed it for a heating pump emergency. We are working on getting it back up.
I know many others live on less than we do. We are not always the best stewards, either. I do try, though, and continue trying, to do the best we can.
My dh is 37, and now we wish he'd gone to college. The thing is, he was working for his father's business, and it was supposed to go to him when his dad retired. Instead, my dh started his own business for a few years with a friend. Well, after 9-11, things went down-hill, his friend started doing drugs, and we had to face the reality of him going out to work somewhere else. At his job now, some guys only make $13 an hour to start. Dh gets $19, since he has his CDL and lots of experience running a crew. We have so little family time as it is, and this job, believe it or not, is the shortest in hours that he has worked since his dad's business years ago. For the last three years before this, he got up at 2:50 am, and was home at 8 or 9 pm some days. I don't see any free time for new training or college. He has some regular side jobs that help out here or there.
This has gotten very long, I'm sorry!
I am just wondering if anyone wouldn't mind sharing what their dh does, in the hope that I could figure out something else for my dh. Right now, at almost 11 pm, he is hanging over a highway in DC, installing road signs. It scares us both, but it is what he needs to do to make that much. God has truly blessed me with a hard-working, dedicated man.
St. Joseph, please pray that he will come home safe.
If anything, please pray for my husband's continued safety.
In Christ,
Leocea
Leocea
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mrsgranola
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| Posted: July 16 2007 at 10:37pm | IP Logged
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Leocea, I will pray for your dh hanging over that highway!
I'm not very eloquent but I will add a couple thoughts here. I really think that it's a matter of having faith as well as guidance from the Church in discerning your approach to this. We've gone from dh being in the Navy at bare minimum wages to being pretty well off at the moment and everywhere in between since we were married 15 years ago.
I've seen people who make much less than we do now, make a good home for ten or more children. I hesitate to post an actual dollar amount on our yearly income because so much depends upon the cost of living in your area and your big financial picture (student loans? medical debt? supporting elderly parents?).
We are doing our best to dig out of debt completely except the mortgage a la Dave Ramsey right now. I highly recommend his materials and show. I was reading Mary Hunt since the early 90's as well and have incorporated much of these ideas into my brain over time. We don't always make the best decisions (big understatement) but we've learned from our mistakes over the years.
Money is secondary to the family planning decision for us. It's what most people say is the deciding factor but in most cases in the U.S., it really isn't, IMO*. It's my opinion that many folks use it as the reason when there are really underlying issues. I guess I'm a cynic in that regard.  That's what I see...
I'm expecting our 6th living child now. I have had 1 miscarriage and 1 born still full-term(Hannah) so this is my 8th pregnancy. Lots of folks think I went off my rocker a LONG time ago. I really think many expected us to stop having children after Hannah died even if they didn't say it to us. But where would I be without my little sillies that are now 8, almost 5 and 2? We would be missing out on those precious little souls!
So take my ramblings with a grain of salt but this is my line of thinking...
God bless!
JoAnna in NC
P.S. It is also very much a feeling of peace to know you are giving God your "Fiat" as Mary did.
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Mom to Jacob, Grace, Mary, Lucas, Emma, Carrie and Gianna
Parente Adventures
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folklaur
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| Posted: July 16 2007 at 10:41pm | IP Logged
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People hate to talk money. I don't personally, but so many people do . So I was going to PM you with my answer, and then I decided to just go ahead and post because I know sometimes people just lurka nd maybe the answer will help them too, right?
So!
Yes, I can relate. Now - both my dh and myself DID go to college. However, we both have our degrees in Anthropology/Archaeology. We were going to be Archaeologists. I'm serious  . Then we had a lovely baby girl - who came chock full of kidney & health problems. She spent the first few years of her life very very sick. So guess what? No traveling to exotic lands for us! 
My dh also had a Associates Degree in Tech Theater. Thank goodness. That is what he works now. He works fulltime as an QC tech in A/V, and also picks up side jobs as a Stagehand with the local Union. Until a few months ago he also had a job at church but we got a new priest and MANY layoffs, my dh among them. So that clobbered us big time, as that was a weekly steady 2nd (3rd, 4th?) job for us. Right now his main job pays $17/hr, but we get some overtime. Of course, sometimes, they send home everybody early on Friday so there is NO overtime - ugh!
We have 3 children now - one about to go to college, and we desperatly want to adopt. I can't have any more due to DVT's during pregnancy, and complications associated. This was very hard for me to accept, but we both have also always wanted to adopt. But it is SO expensive. We keep trying to think up a way to do a fundraiser or something, but we haven't gotten any great ideas yet.
We don't make much. We had been making between $40K-$45K for the last few years - this year is going to be MUCH less than that, I would say closer to $36K or $38K (I hope!!), but dh and I were just talking about him getting another job on the weekends, (SNIFF!!!) and I do mystery shopping, and I can start listing stuff on Ebay again (I make froopy hairbows for little girls) - very time consuming but does bring in a little extra money - good for Birthdays, etc.
I don't know, I don't ever feel like we are not okay. I mean, we don't usually have any money in savings, but we certainly have MORE than we need in our home, are bills are paid on time, etc. Our house is very SMALL - but we call it cozy. . Our mortgage is also under $200K -- but just under. We had a housing boom here last year and it is all but collapsing now,  .
I hope this helps a little. I think you can do it. Maybe I am an optimist?  I just look at some other people in other countries, or even THIS country a few decades ago, and I know we are living like kings. Right?
It's all good
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: July 16 2007 at 11:38pm | IP Logged
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When I got pregnant with our third.. my husband recieved a temporary promotion.. we were in a 2 bedroom apartment.. and with a third child could only stay there until the baby was a year old. To get a three bedroom would have gone up in cost at least $200 a month. Through my midwife (someone I wouldn't have met without already being pregnant) we were able to rent a 2 bedroom house (but without the number restrictions) with a nice patio and backyard for the SAME cost as the apartment.
When I was pregnant with #4 my husband was offered a job in a lower cost of living area that would include a bit of a promotion. We were able to actually buy our house because of the difference in cost of living.
We just had #7 and my dh has gotten a higher position in the same area with higher pay.
I'm really starting to believe it when people say that God provides when you need it.. not before you need it
The cool thing about being open to life with the choice of using NFP at need. You don't have to plan out your life. You're leaving it in God's hands.
You could have a child every year.. or you might not be blessed with more than one child every 5 or more years.. or never.
Sometimes you may hit a point where things get tight, and crazy and stressed and you think "enough! I can't take anymore" and then something happens (or doesn't) and things settle down and you realize that you don't need to use NFP for spacing.
But the biggest thing for me was to realize that I don't have to know what the "end plan" is.. I don't have to plan to have 2 kids or 8 or 16 they only come one at a time (barring twins or greater multiples) and so you just deal with them one at a time.. and some will be easier and some harder but we're at 7 on a salary that most people would think impossible.. and not only do we find it possible.. but neither of us find a need for NFP.
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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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shartlesville
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 12:16am | IP Logged
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My dh works for Schwans. He does not have a college degree. He is always worried about leaving Schwan's for whatever reason because he doesn't have a degree. Unfortunately he has never had time to go back to school to finish.
He has worked for Schwan's for 12 years, he started in July 1994 and made $25,000 the first year. The second year he made $38,000 and it went up from there. He worked on straight commission for 5 years during which time we were raising 5 children and I stayed home. He became a salaried manager before the two youngest were born but many of the commissioned route guys make more money than he does. I keep telling him to go back to routes so he can make more money.
Schwan's sells all kinds of frozen food products: pizza, ice cream, steaks, chicken, complete meals, veggies, novelties like sundae cones and ice cream sandwiches, and much more. Visit Schwan's website to see more of what they sell. They are always looking for people. You can log on to their hiring website to see if there are positions available in your area. Schwan's Jobs
The days are long, most guys work 8 AM - 9 PM, but after the training period you can work just 4 days per week if you want and almost all the guys have both Sat & Sun off, though there are a few who like to work Saturday.
During the training period you get a guarantee and then they gradually wean you on to straight commission. There is no limit to how much money you can make and there are lots of bonuses and incentives for "customer service managers" or CSM's.
Basically you drive the big trucks on your assigned route and sell to your customers. You see the same customers every two weeks, but there is no obligation for them to buy. You show new products and sell to your customers. The harder you try, the friendlier you are, the better you will do. You get out of it what you put into it.
My dh was NOT a salesman before he started working at Schwan's. He was a finance specialist in the Army and sat behind a desk. You don't have to be a great salesman to start working for Schwan's but you have to want to succeed.
You must be 21 or older. You do NOT normally need a CDL. You DO need a clean driving record and a valid license for the last 12 months. No felony convictions in the past 10 years.
They offer paid vacation, medical, dental, 401K, vision plan, and much more. It is a great company. If you have more questions, feel free to PM me or reply on the board. I will do my best to answer or I will have Cris respond.
Blessings,
Krisann
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Krisann
DH Cris;
DC John, Elizabeth, Lilyann ^i^, Emily, Kate, Julia, Sam, & Jack;
DGC Kira, Auston, Travis, & Sarah.
My Blog: Isla del Esperanza
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Macmom
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It sounds so stupid to a non-believer, but every baby really does bring his own loaf of bread (it's an old ethnic proverb!). But that doesn't mean we should not be prayerful and thoughtful in how many children we bring into the world. Kidlets may not need a college fund and every latest gadget, but they DO need a mom and a dad to spend time with them, love them, and form them.
We are expecting our 9th. (All living at home, the oldest is 15) We live a Dave Ramsey kind of lifestyle. We built our own house out of strawbales, but still had to get a mortgage. We drive used cars (but no debt!) No credit cards. Simple meals at home. Hand-me-downs or clothes from the resale store or ebay. Budget, budget, budget!
When we were married 16 years ago, dh was a teacher making $19,000. It seemed a princely sum at the time. We got pregnant right away. He finished grad school, his income increased. When we had baby #4, we just couldn't make it on a teacher's salary, so he went into administration. He is now the technology director for our local public school district, pulling in a shade less than $90, 000.
I think financial stress can be a legitimate reason to avoid pregnancy. Especially if poor dad never gets to be home with the kids because he is always working to make ends meet. Its not enough just to HAVE them, you need to be able to invest time with them. They deserve a mom and a dad. And the strain of being practically a single mom is also a serious reason to consider avoiding pregnancy.
That being said, it is a real sacrifice to use NFP when you would really LIKE to try to achieve another pregnancy, but God is telling you not to try. I think using NFP "with regret" is probably a good sign that your reasons aren't selfish. But that is between you, dh, and God.
God bless your dh for his hard work in providing for you. I hope he can find a way to do it and still have time to be present to his children! And how wonderful that he recognizes the creative financing you have to do! Keep up the good work, I'll pray for you!
Peace,
Macmom
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Martha
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 9:15am | IP Logged
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no degree with a desk/people management/training type job
$32,400 bring home, salaried (so no ot or anything like that)
dh hated his 1.5 years at college and it would take a lot to get him to go back (like a near death expereince or an apperition! ) and he'd hate every single minute of it.
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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time4tea
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 9:43am | IP Logged
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Macmom wrote:
| I think financial stress can be a legitimate reason to avoid pregnancy. Especially if poor dad never gets to be home with the kids because he is always working to make ends meet. Its not enough just to HAVE them, you need to be able to invest time with them. They deserve a mom and a dad. |
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Thank you so much for these insightful words. Financial stress is a huge problem for dh and I. We are currently expecting our 5th any time now, and I am stressed out over even buying waterproof diaper pants for the new baby, because our budget is so tight. The hard thing for us is, my dh is an engineer (has an MSEng. in Optical Physics) and we really should be able to "make it" just fine, but the cost of living in general - taxes, food, healthcare, gas for the car, gas/electric for heating and cooling the house, mortgage, clothes, car payment(we have one), car and household upkeep and repairs, etc., etc. have strained our budget to the max. Dh's parents insist that we are "rich" (I think it makes them feel good to tell themselves that, so that they can affirm that their ds is successful in his career, which he is even without the huge salary they think he gets!). A few years back, I opened a home-based business, thinking I could help out our finances. Well, it ended in disaster and left us over $10,000 in debt. We are still paying it off.......Sometimes it feels as if we are struggling just to keep pur heads above water. Sorry for rambling, but I understand that it does get quite stressful.
Leocea, I will keep your family in my prayers!
God bless!
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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asplendidtime
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 9:51am | IP Logged
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My dh trained to be a CNC Machinist, he's a Journeyman Machinist. He was an apprentice when we married, he did three years of night school, the first three years of our marriage. I don't recommend this however, the fourth year he had to seriously decompress, he was just so mentally exhausted. I was expecting our fourth baby, he was working 6 days/week, 56 hours/week + Nightschool. You can be a Machinist without getting the papers/school. We now make approximately $70K Canadian, we started out making more like $30K
Anyway, God did always provide. He always has. We've gradually learned ways to make-do with less, I have taken more of an interest in how I can save dh money when we go to the grocery store. He is really appreciative of this. We also have read/listen to Dave Ramsey and are working on our debt-snowball. We also made the change of not having an auto-payment, we wouldn't even consider this before, we though our car had to be "reliable". Well now we are driving a used van, bought it with cash and it is reliable. We almost never eat out, we take picnics with us, this is not as hard as you think, once you start practising it. You can develop some neat recipes. I also don't have a vehicle for my use, dh uses it for work, it has always been that way, we save a lot.
I do think that there are serious reasons to avoid. I don't know what those are, they are specific to everyone's life/circumstances. Dh and I are trying to weigh it in light of eternity, a baby is a person who shall live forever, only a child you provide for, for a relatively short period of time.
Last year we moved across country while I was 8 months pregnant, this was incredibly difficult. I ended up having to be induced early because of pre-mature aging of the placenta.  I can't tell you how guilty I felt that my baby could suffer because of my circumstances, lack of rest, being able to take care of myself, etc... KWIM?
Just some thoughts, for what they are worth.
__________________
Rebecca~Mama to
Noah 17,
Katie 16,
Mary 14,
Tim 13,
Jonah 12,
Josh 10,
Zoe 9,
Will 7,
Peter 6,
Laura-Mae 4,
Emily-Joy 2,
Genevieve & Gabriella 1
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Martha
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 10:22am | IP Logged
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Quote:
After much intercessory prayer, and many rosaries, my husband agrees that we should have a larger family. So far, we have four children. (We spaced these with bc of various sorts over the 15 years we have been married) God is making us rethink the no birth control = a baby a year, since my youngest is 16 months, with no new baby in sight. I think he knew we were worried, lol. (Nothing against this, of course, I think he is just pointing out that all these years, we thought WE were controlling our babies)
My question is, how are we going to care for and feed these children? Now, God has always provided for us very well, even when we have made huge, stupid financial blunders. I am not doubting that he will continue to do so. |
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hmm, after reading comments about it being okay to avoid pregnancy I just wanted to make a note on this.
Unless I'm mistaken, the OP isn't asking for validation to use NFP or anyone's thoughts on whether they should or shouldn't use it.
It sounds to me, like they have made their decision to trust God in this matter, but have some natural trepidation about it. All those fears we all get when we feel we're not completely in control of the wheel, so to speak. I could be wrong about the OP. Wouldn't be the first time.
Assuming I'm right...
Leocea -
The best thing you can do to help dh is watch spending and encourage him. What does HE want to do? If he regrets college, then maybe he could apply for scholarships and financial aid. (NO student loans though!) You'd be surprised how much he could get. Does he want a desk job? What kind of realistic goals would he like to reach in say 2 years? Decide on 2 goals together and then make a plan together to help each other reach it.
If he wants to get a degree, it's not too late. He won't be the only middle aged man there I assure you.
If he feels it's not worth the sacrifice at this time, then maybe he can consider a complete career change and do some kind of entry job or training in another area.
The important thing to remember is your dh is stressed and fearful too. He has the full weight of supporting the family on his shoulders! And however willing his back may be to bear that burden, having a wife to uplift and encourage (as in to give courage!) really does make it a lighter weight. My dh really needs to know his efforts aren't in vain and that I trust him.
anyhow, don't know that this made any sense, but it's my experience and .02
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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asplendidtime
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 10:36am | IP Logged
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time4tea wrote:
Thank you so much for these insightful words. Financial stress is a huge problem for dh and I. We are currently expecting our 5th any time now, and I am stressed out over even buying waterproof diaper pants for the new baby, because our budget is so tight. The hard thing for us is, my dh is an engineer (has an MSEng. in Optical Physics) and we really should be able to "make it" just fine, but the cost of living in general - taxes, food, healthcare, gas for the car, gas/electric for heating and cooling the house, mortgage, clothes, car payment(we have one), car and household upkeep and repairs, etc., etc. have strained our budget to the max. Dh's parents insist that we are "rich" (I think it makes them feel good to tell themselves that, so that they can affirm that their ds is successful in his career, which he is even without the huge salary they think he gets!). |
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Tea,
(((hugs))) I have been there, and we are there too. Cost of living is prohibitive here also. We had to "flee" our area of Ontario because of the failure of the auto-industry affected dh's job.
Dh's parents can't figure out why we can't afford to buy a home here (we're renting) because they think we are rich too.
Can you find a little wiggle room in the groceries? Do you buy big bags of dried beans, rice, etc...? Great source of protein, and very inexpensive. If I did this then switched days, between meat-days and bean-days, it helped.
I also made my own cloth diapers from old flannel blankest, receiving blankets, etc... I bought plastic pants too, from a thrift store, I just washed them real well and hung them in the sun.
__________________
Rebecca~Mama to
Noah 17,
Katie 16,
Mary 14,
Tim 13,
Jonah 12,
Josh 10,
Zoe 9,
Will 7,
Peter 6,
Laura-Mae 4,
Emily-Joy 2,
Genevieve & Gabriella 1
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LisaR
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 10:42am | IP Logged
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My dh has a Master's Degree which we paid for entirely with student loans. We both were saddled with student loan debt from our undergrads as well. We have never had credit card debt, and live very frugally. (at least I like to think so!)
We do not eat out. ever. I line dry 90% of our clothes year round. Our heat is set to 65 degrees and our AC to 82 (and even then it is turned on usually to battle humidity, not heat) I buy almost all of our clothes used, but good brands, and then resell them again (well, mine and the little girls!) on ebay. We owned only one car the first 11 years of marriage and dh bussed or biked to work. and so on.
HOWEVER, money is very very tight for us, and a CONSTANT strain. Dh works for a Catholic Diocese. We know without a doubt he is supposed to be in this job. He has worked for the Church in some way or another since age 20.
We always qualify for gov't aide like WIC and the medical cards. Occasionally it was hard to discern the call to another child when we knew realistically we would need to get back on gov't aide to do so. I had very high risk and high cost pregnancies and we could not pay the thousands out of pocket expenses. Now we know a reason for my difficult to conceive, and carry pregnancies. What do we do with this info?
It is very hard when your dh works hard, and still cannot pull off a comfortable salary. It is hard when others tell you to "trust in God" and it will all work out, but they are sitting from a very comfortable position comparatively.
We also have NO family assistance whatsover, from either side, and I have been surprised and yet it answered alot of questions for us as we came to the realization over the years that many of our acquaintances had family help for a down payment, clothes for the kids, help with a larger vehicle as more kids came along, and so on.
We still have 20,000 in debt loans to go- but we started with over 50,000 total in grad and undergrad and I feel proud of the progress we have made- all by ourselves!
feel free to pm me with questions or more specifics, this is a topic on my heart daily...
__________________
Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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MarilynW
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Great thread - I just had to get on it. It seems that money is now the big taboo subject today. I have a lot to say - and will return later - still hard for me to sit down 3 days postpartum . The whole topic is very relevant to us. Thanks for starting Leocea - and to all those with their very honest replies. I will be back....
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Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
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Red Cardigan
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time4tea wrote:
Thank you so much for these insightful words. Financial stress is a huge problem for dh and I. We are currently expecting our 5th any time now, and I am stressed out over even buying waterproof diaper pants for the new baby, because our budget is so tight.
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Tea, when I read something like this, I really, really wish there was some way to hold a "virtual baby shower" for you! It's hard enough to be pregnant without having these kinds of worries! 
I'll be praying for things to get better.
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Lisbet
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My husband recently changed jobs, he has a bachlors degree in Information Technologies. We were married directly out of high school, he worked part time during college, I stayed home with our growing family. He has been out of college a bit over 8 years now, I have have always been home. Baby #9 is due in a few weeks. He makes $70/year, to some that sounds like alot, to others it sounds like very little. We've ALWAYS had just enough. We have lean seasons, and some less lean seasons (I dare not say 'fat' ones!) But we've always had what we have needed. Our doubts over raising a large family are never over finances, it's just been too obvious to us that that area always works out somehow.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Rachel May
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 1:00pm | IP Logged
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Lisbet wrote:
| We've ALWAYS had just enough. We have lean seasons, and some less lean seasons (I dare not say 'fat' ones!) But we've always had what we have needed. Our doubts over raising a large family are never over finances, it's just been too obvious to us that that area always works out somehow. |
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YES! We always have our daily bread. 
Bill's a US Army Major with 12 years in. (The payscale is available online.) We have little debt, but we don't own a home and don't plan to until he retires in 8 years. The job pays well, but when it's dangerous, it's really dangerous which I won't say I don't worry about. Still, God is good.
(I will say that the tax return we get because we have a large family is VERY helpful.)
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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LisaR
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I really wish we could all sit down over coffee or tea and talk about this at length!!
I will say that for us it has been fairly frustrating most of the time. While we have no debt but student loans and a small car payment and a 900.00 house/tax payment, we are still doing really no better in many ways than we were when we first married 15 years ago. No debt, but no savings either. So when ds, age 8, needed emergency braces or else face a jaw breaking surgery (yes, we got three opinions, and it was not "cosmetic") we could not come up with the thousands to pay. Thankfully dh swallowed his pride and asked for a private consult with the Catholic ortho. He gave us a 35% discount, which did help some and for which we are grateful. Now with a ds 14 and starting High School, we realize that it is not going to be a pretty picture paying off our own student loan debt with a child in college himself.
Yes, we have made it this far, and we are hard workers and independant types who fix everything ourselves and are not prone to panic BUT this has been the one and biggest and almost only strain our marriage has had to and does face every day.
I do not want to sound flippant or selfish, but for once we wish for a breather-....
Do any of you ever feel like "making do" could be a full time job?? Honestly that is a struggle for me with homeschooling, I get caught up in the creative and necessary homemaking that I have to do and the school can get less attention at times
Hope to check in later. DH asked that I not post his specific salary for personal reasons due to the nature of this big list but I will say it is in the ballpark between 45,000 and 60,000.
it does really depend on your area. He has been encouraged and offered jobs in bigger Archdioceses for much more pay, but the housing was triple and even simple things like milk and gas was so much higher. We knew from sharing with others in his field that the grass is not always greener with a bigger paycheck if your home payment is that much bigger as well!
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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Philothea
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 1:46pm | IP Logged
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Can I piggyback here? I would be interested to hear the folks from higher cost-of-living areas weigh in on this. I'm pretty sure not many people in NoVA are raising six or seven kids on $35-40K. But can it be done comfortably in an area like this on under $100K? Assuming you own/rent the average $500-600K house, plus commuting costs, taxes, etc. I'm not talking about living lavishly -- I'm talking about making enough to feed, clothe and house that many kids and still pay the electric bill and buy gas every month.
What is the minimum salary you would think necessary to pull that off around here (without causing your DH to tear his hair out from the financial stress every month)?
Sorry if this is a hijack, it's just something DH and I have wondered about often as we discern God's will for our family.
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Martha
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| Posted: July 17 2007 at 2:19pm | IP Logged
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LisaR wrote:
BUT this has been the one and biggest and almost only strain our marriage has had to and does face every day.
I do not want to sound flippant or selfish, but for once we wish for a breather-....
Do any of you ever feel like "making do" could be a full time job?? |
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Yes. It can be exhausting. Worth it most certainly, but most humbling too. Painfully so at times.
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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asplendidtime
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We live in a HIGH cost area, groceries, housing etc... There is a terrible housing shortage here. We managed thanks be to God to find a home to rent for $1400/mo! Yikes! It is nothing special, I like it, but we were very blessed to find it.
I have 7 little ones, my oldest is 8, and we definitely can attest to God's faithfulness. There is no such thing as Aldi here unfortunately, very little produce is grown in the province, most of it is shipped from B.C. So it is a matter of making-do. We do everything we can to make it, and we've never gone hungry.
Our biggest concern with having more dc would be my own physical health.
P.S. Have you heard of Dave Ramsey?
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Rebecca~Mama to
Noah 17,
Katie 16,
Mary 14,
Tim 13,
Jonah 12,
Josh 10,
Zoe 9,
Will 7,
Peter 6,
Laura-Mae 4,
Emily-Joy 2,
Genevieve & Gabriella 1
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Average family income- dh jobs??
