They did it on one salary too. My dad was a cowboy in the 1960s, nobody does that for the money. We made a trip every year to my grandfather’s ranch in Colorado for Christmas. My mother would take us with her on the train to visit her family in Missouri once a year too. We got a new pickup every 4 or 5 years. They had the money if one of us needed to the doctor/ER. They also had medical insurance. We also went to the movies.
What happened?
Government, that's what happened.
We are in a similar situation. My dad worked, my mom stayed home. We weren't doing great, but we had what we needed.
Today we homeschool. I work. My wife stays home and teaches. We have been frugal to the max. I have no idea how my dad did it.
When I talk about it with friends, they just don't see that both parents needing to work (versus wanting to work) is a new thing.
Yep, and sure cell phones are cheap, but you only need one and you can’t eat it. Where I live grocery prices are insane.