We can almost match this. 😅🤣
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My husband makes somewhere between 80-90k a year (a lot less after taxes). I stay home and homeschool, bake, sew clothes for myself (and the boys sometimes when we can't find what they need at the thrift store).
I know you are joking (I see the emojis) but all I said was that you couldn't do that on 30K. You stated above your husband makes 80-90K a year. That's about the income ChatGPT said was necessary, in its analysis. Is that what you meant by "match this"?
As an aside, I can relate to your frugality details. Reading it practically brings back memories. My wife also had an accounting background (she actually had a CPA license) so we were BOTH good with money -- that's a killer combo. Usually the wife, AND/OR the husband, spends more money than necessary, creating a drain on the household finances.
The major part of your story couldn't be easily duplicated though: saving up that $55K, allowing you to buy a fixer upper that cost $275K having only a $1000 monthly mortgage payment. Not everyone is handy enough to fix up a fixer-upper -- if you can even find one in your market. And in some places like Texas, the property taxes on a $275K property would be very high (definitely more than $2K), even if you manage to snag one by hook or by crook.
I do think it's a natural role for a wife to be concerned with the house and household -- the larder (household food supply), etc. Wives have been filling that role for centuries. Saving a dollar is the same thing as earning another dollar. (Actually saving a dollar is better -- you don't pay taxes on it, and it doesn't count towards your official "income"). The problem is, the man should be fully in control of the house and the finances. The wife can (should?) help with the accounting, bookkeeping, etc. but she shouldn't be the "first responsible party" a.k.a. the only one who worries about money/"the bills", nor should she be making all the important decisions for the household. I've seen this in many families, including Trad ones.
Men, don't fall into the stereotype of the big overgrown kid, irresponsible.
But a word to the wise, for any "accountant wives" out there -- when you're neck-deep in the financial details of your household on a daily basis, you start to get a bit "invested" and there's a strong temptation to want more personal control over your future, your fate -- that can be an issue, so you have to watch out for that.
Topic: Support family 1 income, but 1960s standard of living? (Read 646 times)