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I had 2 roommates when I made that salary, living in a neighborhood of apartments that families like yours would have been able to afford 50 years prior. I couldn't have afforded to live in even the cheapest, most dangerous neighborhoods in a studio apartment on my own. Even living with roommates, I could barely afford my car but needed it because I couldn't afford to move within walking distance or even public transit from work.
I'm not denying that it was difficult, but it was possible. It wouldn't be possible today.
None.
Sorry, but I don't understand your point, unless it is to say that it is harder for three roommates sharing living expenses to get by today than it was for one person to support a family of seven fifty years ago. If that is what you are saying, I disagree, however, unless you are living in a VERY expensive neighborhood on VERY poor wages. Six years ago, my 18-year-old son was able to live in a cheap apartment with one roommate on about $800 of income a month-- although he was able to take the bus or ride a bike (he had no car). But, YMMV, of course.
P.S. But, of course, he could not have afforded a car, too.
Around here, everyone drives new pickups and SUVs. The price of those vehicles are more than I paid for my first house. Throw in a mortgage, college loans, and private school tuition and it’s no wonder that it takes two incomes to keep up with the Jones.
OMG - so true. I marvel at those vehicles, and wonder how anyone can afford them. (I drive my cars until they die).
Then I see the coworker who makes the same kind of money I do. Her kids play every sport, complete with brand new equipment every time they get bored and move to another. They take expensive vacations every year, and splurge for "staycations" at local resorts to just relax. They've moved 3 times in the last 10 years, each time building a custom home, with all of the upgrades available. She's started talking about moving again, because she wants her kids to go to a different high school. Her husband bought a brand new car a year ago, and she drove into our parking lot last week with her new car. She admitted she didn't really "need" it, but wanted a new one. Probably set her back close to $40k.
In the same breath, she also complains that they are broke, have no money in savings, don't have a penny saved for retirement, and and have nothing put away for their kids' college.
The question posed by the OP is: why can't most families live on a single income anymore?
It's not about choice. Of course, the zombie tribes of "TV and cell phone and I'm smarter than you"ers THINK it is a choice, but any sensible adult who actually looks at data knows it is not a choice for most people.
My family COULD survive on one salary..we'd save nothing... but we choose not to because I like going on vacation and I want to retire someday. However, in my area there are many families who don't have that choice..they couldn't afford to live here without 2 incomes and any examination of their non-extravagant expenses proves that out.
Your contradicting yourself.
And your adding to the question by injecting standard of living which is exactly what these "zombie tribes" your referring to are talking about.
granted this article is over 4 years old, but the above bolded is not the usual.
Quote:
Originally Posted by katharsis
You bring up a sore point, My dad supported a family of seven (and my mom was a SAHM) on less than $100 a week in the mid-60's, but we lived in an inexpensive apartment in a working-poor neighborhood, we had mostly pasta, pot pies, and cheap cereal to eat, we wore secondhand clothes, we had one car, and our only recreation was TV and going to the local park. (A BIG treat was ice cream.) My parents probably could have qualified for some kind of welfare, but they had too much pride to apply for it.
So, I don't think anyone is saying that it was EASY to live on just one (relatively poor) salary, but it was possible.
P.S. And my mom used cloth diapers which she laundered herself.
Mine too.
I remember in 1972 at christmas, when we were transferred, we got our old winter clothes (that had been packed away since we had been living in fl), wrapped up for xmas gifts. I wanted a cheerleading outfit, and got pom poms made with colored paper and toilet paper roll handles, an old sweater my mom had sewn a big "V" on and a skirt.
We ate lots of noodles, soup, spahetti.
OMG - so true. I marvel at those vehicles, and wonder how anyone can afford them. (I drive my cars until they die).
Then I see the coworker who makes the same kind of money I do. Her kids play every sport, complete with brand new equipment every time they get bored and move to another. They take expensive vacations every year, and splurge for "staycations" at local resorts to just relax. They've moved 3 times in the last 10 years, each time building a custom home, with all of the upgrades available. She's started talking about moving again, because she wants her kids to go to a different high school. Her husband bought a brand new car a year ago, and she drove into our parking lot last week with her new car. She admitted she didn't really "need" it, but wanted a new one. Probably set her back close to $40k.
In the same breath, she also complains that they are broke, have no money in savings, don't have a penny saved for retirement, and and have nothing put away for their kids' college.
Cost of living is a major factor. I actually live in the same town I grew up in so I can see the difference in income levels it takes to sustain v years ago. My mother stayed home while we were younger (went back to work later on). When they bought the house we lived in they paid 70K and the taxes were 2K on that house. Today that house is worth 950K with taxes of 23K. That is not normal inflation. Using savings value by year 72K in 1978 equals 291,284 in 2019. THAT IS WHY families need 2 incomes to survive where I live. That's just the initial cost. Forget the property taxes that rose 21K per year in that time lol...
That sure didn't happen everywhere. A 70K house in the late 70s was about average in my area, now they may be worth 200/250 or so, not 950K. I would be willing to move for that amount of appreciation. These highly inflated values are a real problem for low and moderate income older homeowners in states which do not give significant tax breaks to seniors. They have to move.
Mine too.
I remember in 1972 at christmas, when we were transferred, we got our old winter clothes (that had been packed away since we had been living in fl), wrapped up for xmas gifts. I wanted a cheerleading outfit, and got pom poms made with colored paper and toilet paper roll handles, an old sweater my mom had sewn a big "V" on and a skirt.
We ate lots of noodles, soup, spahetti.
Why is it some families can survive on one salary?
Why is it some families choose to be duel income?
They may live in a low cost of living area with higher than average income.
They may have one spouse who is a very high earner.
They may be comfortable "surviving" but not preparing for their future, cutting emergency or retirement savings in order to do so. (If you cannot afford to save for retirement for BOTH spouses, I wouldn't say you can afford to live on one income but everyone has a different opinion.)
They may have older relatives who also live at home and help with expenses while demanding additional care.
They may have had help with a down payment on a home and therefore have more manageable housing expenses.
They may have a child with severe disabilities for whom employment is incompatible with their needs.
They may be one paycheck away from living in their car.
They may have other forms of assistance.
While I would prefer our incomes to duel (could probably sell tickets!), I would require a dual income to have a family because I do not live in a low cost of living area and I do not anticipate making $200K a year before I reach my 40s. I believe the onus is on us to save for our retirement early and often, and hoping for the best (or Social Security) is short sighted. If I have children, I would prefer that we all not share a 1 bedroom apartment, which is the most we would be able to afford on a single income. I would also prefer to buy, which also requires a second income. I would prefer to have a "buffer" in our incomes in case of health issues or other needs. I don't think any of this is extravagant, yet all requires a second in come to accomplish.
You need to learn about how economics work. Of course it ok for women to work, but when you flood the labor market you end up depressing wages. It's just a fact.
Actually it is not. Those women may make it so the man has to "only" work 40 hours instead of 55. AND, those women need work clothes, dry cleaning, a massage, a car and massive amounts of other things that create a larger market.
Left alone (unregulated) , the bullies and geniuses would take 100% of the cookies and leave crumbs for the rest. That's just the very point of the thread. Wages are depressed because we allow them to be...we accept people paying less than what it takes to survive...even tho the hidden costs mean WE pay for it anyway.
Similar to health care. People shout about "socialist" health care, but they prefer paying double the price for worse outcomes.
Same thing here.
When the one income family in the true middle class was happening, a family would likely have only one car...and stuff like that. They made less and consumed less, so the budget was balanced.
That isn't much of an option anymore as the middle class is effectively gone...when 40% or Americans (more in Florida - 46%) can't even make ends meet. This is a large WORKING percentage of the population which cannot buy a decent row or townhouse in the city and live that life.
Remember, most of the middle class we are talking about did either live in the cities...or in the very close burbs such as the Levittowns, etc. (which had cheap housing). Nothing like that any longer.
Basically we - as a nation - have decided to fund a Security and pay Double for health care and allow other predatory practices....instead of We The People.
Interesting how people yap when they hear about the Pharma Bro who raised the price of his Epipen to $500. They throw him in jail and cheer. I'd bet dollars to donuts a lot of those very same people argue against regulation of the health care industry and such.
Sorry, but I don't understand your point, unless it is to say that it is harder for three roommates sharing living expenses to get by today than it was for one person to support a family of seven fifty years ago. If that is what you are saying, I disagree, however, unless you are living in a VERY expensive neighborhood on VERY poor wages. Six years ago, my 18-year-old son was able to live in a cheap apartment with one roommate on about $800 of income a month-- although he was able to take the bus or ride a bike (he had no car). But, YMMV, of course.
P.S. But, of course, he could not have afforded a car, too.
I am pointing out what the salary you claim your father made (roughly $46000 in today's dollars) gets you today. It got your family 4 children in an apartment with one working parent. The most I could afford was a bedroom in a 3 bedroom apartment on the same income. I could not have afforded to support a spouse or even a single child, much less 4. Based on your example, YOU are saying it was easier (or roughly equal) to support a family of 6 on that wage than it is for 3 roommates to live together today.
Sure, I live in an expensive part of the country - I moved to where the jobs were - but I lived in a cheap neighborhood. Income of $800 a month? That is less than my portion of rent was.
I grew up in a much cheaper part of the country where many of my friends still live. Even a studio there costs more than $600 a month!
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