Those with 4 or more kids, how much do you make.

[TheRatPack]

Okay, I have a simple enough question. For those with 4 or more kids, do you think that you make enough money? Please no mentioning of money stats....since it's kind of a touchy personal subject for many

Please feel free to elaborate as why you feel you are comfortable making that or not(again you don't have to mention numbers....etc)amount with the number of children you have....etc. Do you think that 2 children vs 4 children is a HUGE jump in financial standing? Do you clip more coupons? Take shortcuts with anything else to make it work? Are you a double working family?

Thanks!!!

 

[Bob Slydell]

Your poll isn't working, BTW This is a really personal question, so I don't know how many answers you're going to get.

 

[TheRatPack]

Hmmm, strange the poll worked for me earlier when I first posted it. I did however change it...just to open the discussion up more.

BTW, your name sounds so familiar. You're not in radio are you?

Edited to add, why is my poll and original post about 4 down from this one? What a strange thing to happen. So MODs, delete whichever one you will.....

 

[Michelle2]

We have 4 kids, and I am a SAHM. So being on one income is rough sometimes, but I am happy to be home with them.
When it comes to money though, we do have to budget, and I think everyone in the world would love to make more money, but we are happy.

 

[powellrj]

you should ask this on the budget board, they love these kind of polls!!

 

[Bob Slydell]

BTW, your name sounds so familiar. You're not in radio are you?

Ever see Office Space

 

[TheRatPack]

LOL, never mind I'm thinking of Bob Lubell...he's the radio owner or mgr of the station I listen to LOL

Hmmm, maybe the MOD could move it to the budget board? I hate to keep posting seeing how it already doubled itself here on the CB

 

[LisaNJ25]

We make alot less per year as a family of 6 than we did as a family of 4. We are managing buy it is hard. But I will say we do make under $50,000 a year. Hubby is a county employee.. that should say it all lol.

 

[Nancy]

I don't think actual dollar amounts play into how many kids you can afford. It is a matter of how you choose to use that money that should be the consideration. My thinking is 1 kid or 4...if you spend more money then you bring in you're in trouble. We don't go out a lot, we don't go to movies. I don't have to have the "best" of everything. Both DH and I work, both FT. We are comfortable, but not rolling in the dough. We will drive our cars till they drop before buying a new one. We bought some new furniture but we went to the warehouse place and not the big name place where you pay triple for their furniture. MY SIL and her DH have 1 less kid then us yet they buy only the best, always have brand new cars, always go out to eat..and she always complains about how broke they are. (and they make more money than DH and I do)

Edited...I don't have 4 kids, I have 3.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We have what should seem like a good income. I don't know where the money goes, though. Actually, I know--the mouse has a lot! If I get over that obsession we'll be in better shape.

We have 4 kids, but live in an expensive area (Montgomery County, MD) and I'm a SAHM) and we have one DD in college, one teen son (who eats a lot), a 12yo son (who plays a lot of baseball, which is expensive), and a 6yo (who isn't too expensive yet--we'll keep him).

We watch certain expenses, but we do eat out too much, drive decent vehicles (not fancy really expensive, but we do buy new, nice vans and drive them until they are not so new). We have a nice house, but we don't have designer furniture, etc. We have lots of pets, which are expensive.

There are ways that we could cut expenses, but there are others ways that we could most certainly be spending more.

 

[Divamomto3]

I just wanted to say that I wish I had 4 kids.
I have 3 kids. Each kid increases your expenditures for sure. More food, 4 kids to buy clothes and shoes for, 4 kids to save money for college, 4 plane tickets to Orlando.
However, you can always make it work. If your heart is set on 4, don't give up the dream. They'll only be little for so long. (Wow, when did we get all these cool new smilies?)

 

[Tiffann4k]

I don't think actual dollar amounts play into how many kids you can afford. It is a matter of how you choose to use that money that should be the consideration.

Bingo

Hubby and I are actually discussing #5 ..we are a 1 income family that makes less than 50K a year, but where we live the cost of living is cheaper. We "grow" our own food ( garden, chickens, ducks, quail, rabbit etc ) Plus my kids dont have the "latest and greatest" they were raised to actually want to play outside vs watching tv or playing video games. They dont wear designer clothes ( unless of course we find them at a second hand store or ebay..lol) they have leared to take care of their things and pass them down.

We dont drive new cars, we have a big 3K SQ FT house, dont get goverment assistance and we do just fine We learn to do without stuff that are just wants not needs.

When you have a large family you have to be more creative with things. Yes we have some debt but its not much

 

[OhMari]

I have 4 kids
2 in college and
2 in h.s.

Right now, my biggest expense is gas & diesel. I live in the midwest and in a small town. We have to drive to different cities for almost everything. So, I wish the gas and Diesel prices wouldn't be going up again. It really took a huge chunk of money out of our budget last year-summer.

I did make the rule though, if you go to Fond du Lac, which is 12 miles one way, you better have 5 things to do. Our family was notorious for going to Fond du Lac, at least 3-5 times a day for different things.

I was a SAHM for 12 years. I went back to work when my youngest was 4 1/2. Actually school, so I could get a better job. I started working full time when she was in 2nd grade. Now she is 16. Time really flies by fast. When they were little and I was home, I never even knew what a mall looked liked. I only knew the backdoor to JCPenney or Kohl's, or Oshkosh B-gosh Outlet in Oshkosh. (Those bib-overhauls were the sturdiest pants ever).

 

[TheRatPack]

LOL, well I've learned to conserve with 2. I clip coupons and usually save on average 20-30.00 every two weeks when we go grocery shopping. I buy the majority of my kids clothing from Target or Kohls clearance or from a lady that sells brand name items online really cheap, and big lots off eBay. Anyhow, I think it would be doable....it's just scary.

I also told my husband that if we were to get 2 more I would seek out more stable employment (maybe working at the school so I'd still have summers and evenings with them as daycare is usually my biggest headache when working full time). Anyhow....I only make around 8000.00 working part time, so although I contribute I could probably make a bit more working 5 days instead of 2 LOL (I just really like my 3 days of freedom to clean the house, clip coupons...etc).

Who knows....I guess it'll work out if it's meant to be. Thanks for the input

 

[summerrluvv]

Your poll isn't working, BTW This is a really personal question, so I don't know how many answers you're going to get.

I guess you haven't been to the budget board lately have you?

 

[Holly]

I think it is all relative. Depending on where you live, your lifestyle, etc.
We have 5 children and I am a sahm. We live in an expensive area and could live more comfortable somewhere else, but it just isn't to be. I budget everything, and recreation and vacations get factored into our regular household budget.
One thing that makes a big difference is college funds. Since dh and I plan on paying for a four year degree for each of our children, college funds are a big chunk of cash each month.

 

[Tiffann4k]

I forgot to add that I am a rabbit breeder so I do bring in a little income. This year so far I have made a little over $3,500. I breed some of the more "rare" breeds as well as show rabbits so just like dogs, if they have a good pedigree and good show record they go for a lot.

All of my $ that I make is going towards my tubal reversal surgery ( to be able to have more kids) and then it will go towards baby stuff (hopefully)