My hubby is a HVAC/R mechanic. Not a bad living, kept me home 18 years to raise my boys. Went in the military (army veteran 40% disabled) for training, been in the field over 25 years now. He works alot of hours to make a comfortable living (refrigeration is a 24/7 calling, if a walk in box or cold case goes down in a store or restuarant, you don’t want THAT food bill because you didn’t want to come out at 3 am to fix it LOL) however, he has never cracked even 80,000 per year, so I guess what I am saying is- if your priorities are straight, and you don’t live to keep up with the McMansion set, if you don’t buy your kids everything they ever wanted but provide for them everything they need, most folks would do ok. I am of the mindset that the reason it costs so damn much to live now as opposed to the 50’s and 60’s is that the feminazis wrongly convinced women they should go out and work. Women competing against men for limited jobs at that time. 2 income households became more the norm, so cost of living increased accordingly. Alot of women now want to stay home, care for ailing parents and kiddies but cant afford to, but their houses and cars sure are nice. I still stay home for the most part, work a little part time with a friend of mine, volunteer in several areas, and get to see my kids every day. Yeah its still tough, and I worry a bit about retirement, but, up until this generation of baby boomers, you pretty much worked til you died, and if that is our fate, I will do so proudly as long as I can, cause the sacrifice was worth it, I raised my kids, not some daycare center, and they are all doing great! Conservative,pro life, devout Catholics (one becoming a priest) and I can say I did my best with those you entrusted to me on Judgement day, even though they went to public schools most of the time. I did homeschool for a bit, but realized that it was better to teach my kids the truth and then send them out to spread it. ( you would not believe some of the stories LOL)
There are fewer and fewer people that know a trade, I don't know the first thing about business management, I don't own a tie, I can't sit still in a meeting, but I can find what makes the toilet not flush, or lights go out. (hopefully not the same thing). The fewer people that know a trade the more in demand my work will become, and the more I can charge for it.