IS it possible 12 bucks an hour - Page 2

MaDuncan · 02-13-2007, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stacia

In Richmond VA! Wow he better hope for a raise! Well maybe Richmond isn't as bad as where I'm at in Northern Va. In some parts of the country you can live on that as long as you live modestly. But housing here alone in VA is more than that!

Richmond, VA is no Northern VA, trust me on that! Remember I am a No. Va chick

MaDuncan · 02-13-2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegNAbbysMom

The biggest question on my mind is... WHY does a 6 year old have a cell phone????

That being said, it doesn't sound like they spend money wisely so I can see why she thinks it's impossible. I am still working until DH's truck is paid off and we are debt free, then I will still have to make sacrifices to be a SAHM. It is doable if she really wants it and can discipline herself.

If I told you the reason she gave me that her six year old has a cell phone you would be outraged! So I am just going to agree with the face

writermommy4 · 02-13-2007, 09:48 AM

Okay, I know that I may be out of line, but why only work 40 hours a week? My husband has made less than twelve dollars an hour and he simply worked more hours. His average work week is sixty hours a week. He makes a good salary now. We are a family of soon to be six. I am a SAHM. I don't know if he'll ever work less than sixty hours a week unless he gets the big promotion he's waiting on. But if he lost his job now he'd get two or three jobs to support the family.
Just a little confused about that.
I won't even touch on the six year old with the cell phone!

MaDuncan · 02-13-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by writermommy4

Okay, I know that I may be out of line, but why only work 40 hours a week? My husband has made less than twelve dollars an hour and he simply worked more hours. His average work week is sixty hours a week. He makes a good salary now. We are a family of soon to be six. I am a SAHM. I don't know if he'll ever work less than sixty hours a week unless he gets the big promotion he's waiting on. But if he lost his job now he'd get two or three jobs to support the family.
Just a little confused about that.
I won't even touch on the six year old with the cell phone!

Long story short he hasnt worked in over a year and we are all very thankful that he has decided to work at least 40 hours a week. I dont want to get into her personal life too much, but it isbecause mentally and physcially he cant with a big mixture of he just plain doesnt want to.

momof2boys · 02-13-2007, 10:02 AM

I think it would be hard but maybe not impossible. Not to mention all the assistance they would more than likely qualify for. I know someone who takes full advantage and while I think they could both try a little harder to bring in money they have the attitude why bother when I can get help! Makes me mad.

Kim · 02-13-2007, 10:05 AM

Supporting a family of 6 on $25,000 would be very difficult even if you were highly comitted to it, and even harder if you weren't willing to sacrifice things like cell phones or work more than 40 hours per week. From what you've told me, I doubt they'd be able to make it. Other families, maybe.

MaDuncan · 02-13-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim

Supporting a family of 6 on $25,000 would be very difficult even if you were highly comitted to it, and even harder if you weren't willing to sacrifice things like cell phones or work more than 40 hours per week. From what you've told me, I doubt they'd be able to make it. Other families, maybe.

Oh yeah for sure they wouldnt be able to do it! But she said it was impossible for anyone! Her mother agrees. My SIL is mad because she doesnt want to get a job and I told her if being home was that important to her she would find a way to do it. Impossible for them, yes, but not impossible. I cant tell you the number of times I have offered to help her with coupons, but she wont use them, she would rather I just sent money to help her out. Which I wont do.

Cookie2 · 02-13-2007, 10:45 AM

Obviously there is more to the story. You mention he 'will only' work 40 hours a week. The 6-yr old has a cellphone and she has a car payment. SHE is moving in with her mother (I don't know where HE will be living). SHE has four children so I take it there are other dads involved. And, of course, he has tons of medical issues. Still, earning a gross of $24,000+ a year isn't shabby. It isn't great when you have four kids and a wife to support. However, considering his employment history and medical problems, not shabby either.

My biggest concern is that she is unwilling to work - at least parttime. She knows her husband has employment and medical problems. She knows there are four children who need be supported. A combination of bad luck and bad choices got them to where they are today. Without a better attitude, she is going to have a hard time getting over this.

And that her mom is enabling her doesn't bode well either. That might be the saddest part of the whole story.

Can a family of 6 get by on $24K a year? Absolutely, yes. When my BIL was disabled in a mining accident his family (him, wife and two children) survived on his disibility income while he went back to school for 'retraining'. It took two years and they didn't receive more that $15K in disability but during that time he not only finished his college degree, but he became a licensed insurance broker AND purchase three houses - one to live in and two to use as rentals. In a few years, they sold the rentals and purchased a much nicer house for themselves in a better part of town. He could have easily decided to wallow in his misfortune and if he had, they'd still be scrapping by on disability income. But he didn't. Trust me, when my BIL got disabled he wasn't a sterling member of society. He went into the situation with a lot of emotional baggage. But he's a complete inspiration to me now. I really admire all that he has accomplished.

My advice ... sit back while SIL whines and don't say a word. She doesn't want you to show her how to more frugal.

Kim · 02-13-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaDuncan

Oh yeah for sure they wouldnt be able to do it! But she said it was impossible for anyone! Her mother agrees. My SIL is mad because she doesnt want to get a job and I told her if being home was that important to her she would find a way to do it. Impossible for them, yes, but not impossible. I cant tell you the number of times I have offered to help her with coupons, but she wont use them, she would rather I just sent money to help her out. Which I wont do.

To be frugal, it takes comittment and a mindset that you CAN do it. If they already think they can't, then they're right!

sshallenbu · 02-13-2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookie2

... sit back while SIL whines and don't say a word. She doesn't want you to show her how to more frugal.

I agree. I had a friend once who liked nothing better than to be the "woe is me" type. Did she do anything to help her situation? No, she would go a out and buy her boys brand new gymboree clothes and refuse to get a job. We were both prego at the same time, both having boys. She gave me all of her 1st son's clothes (nice brand name clothes), saying she would allow her son to wear hand me downs. We've survived on less than 20,000 for a family of 4, it has been very very hard, electricity and cable has been cut off once or twice, but we've done it. There is now a light at the end of the tunnel (I hope it's not a train!!). Your SIL is set that it can't be done, so she won't do it.