My SIL has been saying that no it is impossible for her to ever live on just her dh working. He makes 12 an hour, works about 40 hours a week and will not work more than that. She has one car payment. SHe is moving in with her parents, so they wont have a house payment anymore.. but eventually will. They have 3 cell phones, her, her dh and their six year old No internet, not phone line. Her dh takes 7 medications a day, so that is quite pricey. ok so 25,000 a year, is it possible. and they owe on several medical bills. She has 4 kids. She said it is impossible, I say nothing is impossible, just depends on how bad you want it. She will be living soon in Richmond, VA, so that gives you an idea of the cost of living.

I raised 3 kids on $5.25 and less for years and for a few of those I raised a lazy husband lol--We didn't have a car payment . Always got a cheap one with taxes every year and parayed it made it to the next. So yes it can be done--its not fun though-- but they are making double that.

depends on were she lives--cost of living is much higher in some areas.

I think it would be hard but nothing is impossible. Would definitely be harder once they have a mortgage.

It is possible, but definitely more than rough. OF course, with a family of 4 with that salary, she could probably get some govt assistance. That really is a meager amount of money these days. Especially with prescriptions and medical bills. I'm having to side with your sister on this.

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Parker, Wyndser, and Carson....................Wyndser (in blue) with her cousin

We are raising a family of 5 on that.. soon to be 6. I'm a SAHM, we have 3 kids, 1 on the way, hubby works between 24-37 hrs a week. In Canada we get some child tax credits, etc.. so that helps out every month too. But it's doable for us. We don't live above our means.. we live in a large 3 bdrm. apartment. no car 'cause we live right smack in the middle of a very busy city, the only debt we have is hubby's college debt (which we are paying off monthly). We don't use credit cards either.. bills are always paid on time, food is always on the table, and we're not 'wanting' for anything.. I shop for name brand clothes, we go out for dinner, to the movies once in a while, have nice things, etc..

I think the big thing is to live within your means. Simple as that.. if you don't/can't/won't do that.. it's not possible. Period.

ETA: I calculated off.. we're about $35,000 Cdn. year.. sorry!!! But, about 5 yrs. ago, we were at that $25,000 mark in TOTAL and managed..

Thats actually what I make on a PT wage. It can be done, but it will be HARD and take lots of discipline. I pay alot of bills and do alot with my $150-$200 a week. I shop, but of course I use lots of coupons and shop lots of sales, stock up when I can, and get ahead as far as I can.

Why do they have 3 cell phones? Can they live with less? I'm quite sure she could get food stamps ect, with her salary. And why doesn't her dh work? Can he work at least PT to help her out?

Like I said, its doable, but it will be HARD and frustrating.

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan7.Samantha6,Cameron4

Back together!! Sept 28th Boston TDCenter!! Woohooooo!

I do agree that it really depends on what you are willing to do without. That being said with medical bills hanging over my head on that salary I'd probably be trying to find work just long enough to pay them off.

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!

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I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything, but I can do something. I must not fail to do the something that I can do. -Edward Hale

yes....very doable....we use to live on that ....and not to much more right now...I have stayed home to raise the girls...but when you live an hr from any good shopping places it is easy to not go on spending binges.....we have never had any gov. help and we actual live comfortable....home paid for ...vehicles are paid for..do I live in a mansion...no....but it is not a dump either...do we drive new vehicles...no....hubbys is aearly 90s truck and my Explorer is a '99.....bt where I live ...you would be soooo silly to buy a new vehicle...I live in a hollow...better known as a holler....lol.......we shop at Aldis and Sav-a-Lots...Krogers...getting their sales...get alot of food dtuff at Biglots ..Walmart

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CHOOSE TODAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE!!!

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.