Topic : Living on One Income

We have been married 16 years, 2 kids, one income.  I never use credit cards...layaway will do. I buy clothing in the off season, never a name brand. As long as it's clean, pressed and fits well, I'm thrilled.  I don't go to malls or use an ATM card.  When we get the paycheck, I purchase all of the food for the MONTH.  Never brand names,  the CHEAPEST tastes just as yummy! You get what you need when you have the money.  Same with toilet paper and cleaning supplies.  I never use the dryer on the kids clothes, as it will ruin them.  Hand-me-downs are just as bright as the day we bought them. We mow our own lawn, share a meal at a restaurant and never go to the concession stands at the dollar movies.  Hubby and I each have our own bank account...and NEVER dip into each others.  IWe are living the American Dream and not bothered by the way we save.  We go on one GREAT vacation a year, saving for it.  We have a great life because we watch what we spend.  We have everything we NEED, and then some.   

The reason I won't work outside the home has to do with knowing how we CAN be. If I worked, then we would SPEND my money as well and be in DEBT....with no way out.  That would be a disaster. One Income works for us. 

I HAVE BEEN WITH MY BOYFRIEND FOR OVER 3 YRS.  I LOVE HIM. HE IS A GOOD, KIND, DECENT, SWEET MAN.  I WOULD LOVE TO MARRY HIM.  I AM A RN WHO MAKES GOOD MONEY. MY JOB OFFERS INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT.   HE SELLS COMPUTER SOFTWARE OVER THE INTERNET. HIS SELLS ARE UNSTEADY AND HE HAS NO HEALTH BENEFITS, NO RETIREMENT, ETC.     

I WAS RAISED WITH OLD FASHIONED IDEALS THAT THE MAN IS THE "BREADWINNER" AND THE WOMAN IS THE "HELPER."  THIS IS WHAT I AM HAVING THE HARDEST PART WITH...THE FACT THAT i MAKE MORE MONEY THAN HE DOES.  EVEN WHEN I TYPE THIS DOWN IT SOUNDS SELFISH, BUT THESE ARE VALUES THAT HAVE BEEN INGRAINED AND PROGRAMMED INTO ME TO BELIEVE AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE GOING AWAY.  WE GET ALONG WELL AND ENJOY EACH OTHERS' COMPANY.     

I THINK THERE ARE TWO ISSUES HERE AND ONE IS WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AND I LOOSE MY HEALTH INSURANCE?  HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY.  HOW WE WILL MAKE IT? (FEAR) HE IS REALLY NOT WILLING RIGHT NOW TO GO OUT AND GET WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A 9-5 JOB WITH BENEFITS BECAUSE HE SAID HE MAKES MORE MONEY SELLING SOFTWARE ON THE COMPUTER. (WHICH HE PROBABLY DOES BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEDUCT TAXES, RETIREMENT, INSURANCE, ETC)  

I JUST DON'T WANT TO FEEL ANGRY OR RESENTFUL TOWARD HIM IF I'M PAYING MORE OF THE BILLS.  WE DID LIVE TOGETHER BEFORE AND HE WAS ON THE COMPUTER A LOT.  IT SEEMED TO ME FOR THE HOURS HE WAS ON THE COMPUTER HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAKING MORE MONEY.  RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T LIVE TOGETHER.  HE LIVES AT HOME WITH HIS MOTHER AND IS PUTTING ALL HIS MONEY HE MAKES INTO SAVINGS FOR A HOME FOR US.  HE HAS A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY SAVED ALREADY.  CURRENTLY,  I HAVE MY OWN APARTMENT.     

I GUESS I HAVE NEVER HAD TO INSURE A MAN AND IS IT UNNATURAL TO ME.  I REALIZE TIMES HAVE CHANGED.  I GUESS THE QUESTIONS IS...AM I WILLING TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES WITHOUT FEELING RESENTFUL OR AM I WILLING TO RISK LOOSING A GOOD, DECENT MAN WHO LOVES ME.  

I am a full time college student and a stay at home mom of a 3 year old and a one year old. My husband is a mechanic. We have a very low income coming in at the moment. It is very hard to go from having 2 incomes to one. We have figured out a great way to stretch our income. We don't buy name brand items, the store brand is fine. We recently bought a year membership to the zoo in our town, so if we go more than 3 times we have paid for it and can take the kids anytime we want. We have stopped going out to eat I cook all the meals and sometimes my husband will surprise me and take us out but it is not important as long as we are all together. I have also started saving now for our children's Christmas and birthdays. My best advice is to plan ahead it is the best way to save money. If you don't plan then you are more likely to spend more money. 

I have been a stay at home mom since my children were born, 13 years ago.  I'm pretty good with a buck, planning menus, and keeping costs down.  

However, I've been reading here about parents not buying name brand clothes.  Well, just wait until the kids are teens.  I do not want my children to EVER be embarrassed for the lifestyle their father and I chose for them.  I always buy them name brand.  I may buy on sale and online twice a year, but they have beautiful clothes and cool footwear.  They feel good about themselves. 

I just wanted to bring up this point.  My children both have solid high self-esteems, do well in sports and academics, but they still don't want to dress in something second hand or not cool.  I save for school clothes and it works.  Just remember what it was like to be a teen.  It may not be fair, but what you look like matters.  Just a thought. 

I am unemployed.  Right now the only thing I can do is Volunteer.  My husband works full time and is not a complainer.  I had applied for Social Security Disability, however was turned down twice!  It is now going to go before a Judge.......maybe next year!  The one thing that makes me quite unhappy about being unemployed is the fact that I'm unable to go buy things for myself without ASKING first.  I worked for a Police Department for 30 years, then retired.  After that I got a job at the Village as a "Greeter."  After a year, they had Budget cuts, and I haven't had anything since.   

I have Osteoarthritis, and in February of this year I had a Total Shoulder Replacement.  My husband has done so much for me during this time.   We do manage, though.  My husband has taught me the best way to shop for groceries, too.  We are saving more money now.  Both of us had quit smoking 4 years ago after I had Pneumonia.  This also SAVES ON MONEY!  So, things CAN WORK OUT IF YOU TRY.   We also get good advice from a Financial Advisor.