[Alberta's Child]

Maybe nobody will come right out and say it, but I've seen quite a few cases where people who would never openly call for this are actually carrying it out. I know several families where one spouse has lost her job, and after many months of unsuccessfully seeking good, solid employment they've made a decision to have her stay home purely on financial grounds.

If you sit down and put a pencil to it, you'd be surprised how little net income a working couple receives from the second spouse. When you factor in the costs associated with the second spouse's employment (a second car, child care, a higher tax bracket, etc.) you often find that even many professionals who represent a second income in a married couple are basically working for less than minimum wage.

[Coldwater Creek]

EXACTLY!

[WildHighlander57]

The scenario of the second job not being worth it it after taxes, work related expenses, etc. assumes that that job doesn’t pay well.

There ARE better paying jobs available to those with technical or professional degrees.

[PapaBear3625]

If you sit down and put a pencil to it, you'd be surprised how little net income a working couple receives from the second spouse. When you factor in the costs associated with the second spouse's employment (a second car, child care, a higher tax bracket, etc.) you often find that even many professionals who represent a second income in a married couple are basically working for less than minimum wage.

Add to the "etc" having to get a cleaning service; eating out or using more "easy prepare" foods -- you may find the net contribution is negative.

[MortMan]

My lovely wife works (much) harder than I do - and we’ve been a single income (mine) family since marriage! We chose to sacrifice the luxuries, rather than the children.

Just one dad’s perspective...