[Myrnick]

It isn't just the cost of living. It is a crushing tax burden coupled with an insatiable desire to consume that drives most of my peers in two income households.

My wife was laid off from her job in June '03 and it was the best thing to happen to us. Money is tight but she would have never quit without being forced. As a result, my two- and four-year-old daughters have had their mommy around for nearly a year and a half. Not every day is a good day, but our family is better off emotionally (if not yet financially).

[Dan12180]

I was a mom who worked full time for many years. About 7 years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This in many ways was a big blessing to me and my family. The cancer and treatment were very tough but the change of life was wonderful. Money was very tight but there were many wonderful blessings. I was able to spend several years with my sons as they were maturing into gentle giants (6'-6'2", 200 to 240). Time with them and my husband has been one of the best things in my life. The highlights of my day are getting up with them in the morning and telling them I love them and getting a hug before they leave for school and work. Going out to lunch with my husband during the week (it may be fast food but it is still a date). I don't enjoy house work but I do it. I still miss the satisfaction of completing complex jobs at work (compared to never-ending house work).

We don't have new vehicles, fancy clothes, or expensive vacations but we have a very close family that I wouldn't change for the world.

[Calpernia]

I agree with the tax burden. That was included with my cost of living. I have no idea what you mean by the desire to consume though.

I work from the home so I can be with my children and my husband is struggling with two jobs plus moonlights. Not everyday is a good day either.

When we sit down to do our taxes every year, we NET about half our gross. There is no possible way to put more hours in.

[Koblenz]

It isn't just the cost of living. It is a crushing tax burden coupled with an insatiable desire to consume that drives most of my peers in two income households.

I think that both cost of living and taxes, and our more affluent lifestyle, "force" many families to rely on two incomes.

Taxes: I think the real killer here is becoming property taxes. Add state income tax and federal income tax, and we've got a crushing tax burden.

But it's not just taxes that separates us from the 1950s or 1960s. For better or worse, there are many necessities now that weren't necessities then. Many people mention things like DVD players or microwaves, but these are largely one time expenses. I look at recurring charges that exist now that didn't exist then.

TV: just about everyone has cable TV. Then there's premium cable, NetFlix, Tivo charges. Some people pay up to $200 a month just to watch TV. In the 1950s, the actual device was more expensive, but then it was always free to watch the three or four channels you got.

Internet: the internet may be free, but you've got to have an ISP, probably cable or DSL. Then you need virus protection. Plus whatever other internet access services you may have. 1950s folk had such great TV, they didn't need to worry about the internet.

Phone: long distance rates are cheaper, but most everyone has a cell phone, with snazzy ringtones and such. In the 1950s, you had one black rotary dial phone in your house.

Electric: who had central air in their house in the 1950s? Or computers, etc.

Car: now there's Onstar, which incurs a monthly fee.

Credit: anyone can get credit now. It's easy to abuse this privilege.

There are a lot of recurring fees that people have now that they didn't have in the 1950s.