Great question! Yes, my husband's brother and his wife make 6 times our salary. My brother and his wife make 4 times our salary.

They would like to see us out of ministry only to provide more stability to our family. My BIL is quite outspoken about that. But for now our hearts are where we are and we do our best with what comes in.

Occasionally (like this summer) I struggle with a little jealously. My BIL and SIL have a French nanny, their kids are in golf lessons, tennis lessons, gymnastics, hockey, and soccer. The downhill ski and water ski and speak two languages fluently. They won their own cottage and live in a beautiful spacious house. Yet my dh has more education then his brother. These are the the choices that we make. Sometimes they seem noble, other times our choices seem selfish. My dd wants nothing more than to take gymnastics and ds wants to join and Archeology Club. We budget down to the dollar is there isn't a dollar left.

The other area where it's an issue is when we do things together. They'll take their kids out for meals and we'll bring a bagged lunch. They'll buy their kids lots of souvenirs, we don't buy anything. They think nothing about the admission costs, or the type of restaurant, but making ends meet each month is always on the surface of our minds.

We often get comments that our kids are so appreciative and grateful. We think it's because they don't get a lot so what they do get, they appreciate. My SIL gave us an old bike of theirs for our ds. He was so excited, he looked as though he had won the lottery. Yet when she went out and bought her ds a new bike to replace the one she gave us, he didn't even seem thankful. So, even though our kids have a lot less then their cousins, they are pretty nice kids. I hope that counts for something.

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My Bro makes less than us- but when it comes down to it- he has more money- he is a single guy with a great apartment (low rent with utilities included) and for the most part- he is tight with his cash. No issues here!

As for my IL side. Both DH's sisters families make a lot more money than what we do. The one has it all together makes almost triple what we bring home and the other sister makes more money than us- but has less money (they like to try to keep up with the Jones'- they are also the ones that lived with my in laws for half of the time I been with DH (12 years)). There is no issues anymore with the money difference- usually there is an issue when it comes to Christmas time and there was major issues when the 2nd time his SIL and BIL were living with his parents for 5 years when they both made more money than what we do- it was not just us- it was the entire family (besides his sister and brother in law).

My brother is an executive in the movie industry...and he makes so much $$$ (which is probably why it costs so much to go to the movies ). However, he is very generous with everyone...even pays for my ds's karate lessons. He also does really nice things for my parents.

Well, I find it interesting you even KNOW what your siblings make! We don't discuss it, but I can GATHER that we make more than my brother and his wife. It has not been an issue. I love my brother and his family, they love us.

My parents are retired and, obviously, have more than us. They have worked hard, saved hard. My inlaws, also retired, are not doing so well. It is obvious and they talk about it a lot. It does get in the way with them just because I don't want to hear how bad off you are when you refuse to get a job. Help yourself and stop waiting for everybody to take care of you. They are physically able to work, they just don't like to.

My siblings & I rarely talk about money and it doesn't affect our relationship at all.

My brother probably makes more than my hubby, but he hates having a "real" job and prefers to write and do a bit of consulting. He is only working because his wife lost her job, so I would say we have more than them. My sister is off travelling in Europe and squandering her inheiritance and I am very annoyed about it. Sometimes it is hard because my husband is the only one really making money in the family!

As for my inlaws, my husband probably makes more than his siblings, but it's not a big deal.

My Dh Most likely Makes more in a Year than his Family combined.( Mom Dad and Sis )

He has Worked Hard though - Hes Worked His Butt off to Be where he Wanted to Be By 30 - They have Taken Jobs that Basically Pay the Bills and they are Not overachievers per se - They Know he is a Hard Worker - and they Would Never even think of asking him for a Dime
I have made him Buy his Mom a few things she Needed and Once lend her money for a Fridge -
I Had him offer Since she would Never ask us for anything - Thankfully.


On My side - Dh Makes more than my Bro or sis and I am Guessing more than my parents did at his age.


The Only reason I Know My sisters salary is that - she is Proud of it - since she worked Since high school at the same place - and is now a Single mom -

Also My Bro used to work for my dad - and my mom has told me his Basic salary Before - since she wrote out his Checks -
No- one Knows our salary though -
Except about 10 Years ago - My Dhs mom saw his paycheck and she thought he made great money then!

I know! I don't know why people tell us. They'll say it in sentences like, "Now that we're making close to $220K, we've been looking into buying a cottage." Or "We make a $140,000, and we still have trouble saving up for retirement." Believe me, I'd rather not know.

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The only issue on either side of our families is w/ dh & his brother. They work at the same place, doing basically the same thing, but bro started about 2 yrs b/f dh and dh has advanced farther and is making more already. Bro is NOT happy about it, but also knows there's not much he can do about it b/c he's reached a point where he won't really advance anymore, yet dh will eventually go into mgmt.

They are so different, they are like night and day, and dh just has what it takes to move up and bro doesn't. DH is always willing to travel where they need him and do strange jobs and offers up his opinions on how to do things better and such, but his bro is just not like that. He will travel on occasion, is scared to do anything new, and rarely offers his opinions for improvements or change.

So anytime dh gets a promotion or raise for anything he is hesitant to mention it to his parents and such b/c they then go to his bro and ask why he didn't get it, which I know is horrible, but that's just how it goes. But I am proud of dh, he works hard and deserves what all that he's received at work.

Kathryn, I was not meaning to be short with you. I just can't imagine discussing salaries with my family or the inlaws. That is a private thing. Don't think the inlaws have not asked though! Who do you think they want to ask money from when they run out???