More on Skirts

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

I assure you that people could live off of less. Every family has to have multiple vehicles, larger than necessary homes, electronics and many other things to be average middle class. The problem is that Americans are worldly. The NT saints sold all they had to follow Jesus, but Americans feel like they have to have everything the world has to offer. The bible says having food and raiment to therewith be content, but we have to have much more than that.

My grandparents raised 7 children in a 2 bedroom house and did it without welfare. When the kids wasn't in school they worked. Kids today don't work, but spend their time playing video games and goofing off. There is a reason all the middle class jobs are going over seas and it ain't just the governments fault. Meanwhile mom is out on the job trying to give her children all the things she never had while neglecting to give them what she did have (a mother that was there and a proper raising).

P

I take home roughly $2,000 a month. My rent is $790 alone. Add on utilities (electric, gas, water), a car payment, insurance, cell phone bill, and student loan payment, and I'm left with around $35 to $40 (on average) to get by on for two weeks. That means I have to make roughly $40 dollars cover gas money to get back and forth to work, child care, groceries, auto maintenance, any needs the kids might have, toiletries, etc.

Frankly, we'd sink without a second income. Because gas money alone is roughly $40 a week.

Oh, and we have only one vehicle.

People say, "Why don't you move? That rent is too expensive." Well, I could move, but I'd only save $200 bucks, and my kids would grow up in a meth infested neighborhood with gunshots going off all ours of the day and night.

So, the little lady works part time (almost full time). I pay the bills, and I cover my gas money. She pays for living expenses. Her job is within a mile and a half of our home, so she often walks or catches the bus.

The kids go to school, so during the school year they stay with a sitter for a little over two hours until one of us is home. That's only missing two hours a day with us. They do their homework during this time and play outside. So, they're basically doing what they'd be doing even if they were at home with us. So, no serious time lost.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I take home roughly $2,000 a month. My rent is $790 alone. Add on utilities (electric, gas, water), a car payment, insurance, cell phone bill, and student loan payment, and I'm left with around $35 to $40 (on average) to get by on for two weeks. That means I have to make roughly $40 dollars cover gas money to get back and forth to work, child care, groceries, auto maintenance, any needs the kids might have, toiletries, etc.

Frankly, we'd sink without a second income. Because gas money alone is roughly $40 a week.

Oh, and we have only one vehicle.

People say, "Why don't you move? That rent is too expensive." Well, I could move, but I'd only save $200 bucks, and my kids would grow up in a meth infested neighborhood with gunshots going off all ours of the day and night.

So, the little lady works part time (almost full time). I pay the bills, and I cover my gas money. She pays for living expenses. Her job is within a mile and a half of our home, so she often walks or catches the bus.

The kids go to school, so during the school year they stay with a sitter for a little over two hours until one of us is home. That's only missing two hours a day with us. They do their homework during this time and play outside. So, they're basically doing what they'd be doing even if they were at home with us. So, no serious time lost.

I raised seven kids as a single income parent (wife is a homemaker). I worked construction, 10 bucks an hour, seasonal layoffs, had some down time (some lasting several months at a stretch). Got a job making 10 bucks an hour, after 8 yrs was making 16 an hour. I calculated inflation, discovered I was actually making less than when I started.

Raised seven kids, several dogs, bought a home paid it off in three and a half years, bought a suburban, paid cash, bought a van paid cash, bought second suburban when first went kaput, paid cash again, bought a nice 4x4 F250 king cab made payments of 500 per month and paid it off in a couple years. Homeschooled the kids the whole time. Did not take welfare, food stamps, or govt assistance. Lived in neighborhoods you'd be afraid to be in after dark but we never locked our doors and often just had the screen door keeping the world out. Never had a problem with any break ins.

One neighbor went to prison for shooting his wife's boyfriend in the front yard about 3 lots down from us. Once I had to go visit a neighbor with the sheriff deputy and politely inform the guy if he entered my yard again and said cross words to my son he wouldnt make it home again. In a previous neighborhood had a neighbor go to jail after they found a body bagged up in freezer bags in his refrigerator.

Once we lived in a neighborhood (long ago) where literally half the residents were parolees or released felons, about 1/3 were Aryan Brotherhood and another 1/3 were Latin King subsets, plus two pimps, lots of drunks, assorted crack heads and crank heads (meth addicts). They all knew who to go see if they needed prayer, though.

Half my kids are adults now. None ever went to jail or had any trouble with the law or courts. They know more than ALL of the public school kids they've ever interacted with from well to do cousins to local riff raff. They turned out way better than I did at their age, that's a guaranteed fact. They actually have morals and don't give two hoots about "peer pressure", they tend to lead not follow. They can handle themselves in a church sanctuary, a ghetto alley, a boxing gym, or a family picnic at the park equally well. They are generally frugal with money (more than I was for sure), have investments in real estate, can butcher wild game, build shelter in the wild with no tools, prepare fancy multi course meals or live on wild plants. One daughter is a CNA, another can perform tactical combat casualty care just short of running an IV, older son codes in C, C++, Python, and assembly, has built microbots, all of the older ones can debate a JW or Baptist into oblivion right on the doorstep, they all know how to pray like the world depends on them, and they will literally do whatever they can to help anyone out even to their own detriment.

We are living proof that it doesn't take a lot of money and a perfect environment to raise a family that knows God and can serve their generation. It just takes a bit of faith and some of what we in Texas call "want to".

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I raised seven kids as a single income parent (wife is a homemaker). I worked construction, 10 bucks an hour, seasonal layoffs, had some down time (some lasting several months at a stretch). Got a job making 10 bucks an hour, after 8 yrs was making 16 an hour. I calculated inflation, discovered I was actually making less than when I started.

Raised seven kids, several dogs, bought a home paid it off in three and a half years, bought a suburban, paid cash, bought a van paid cash, bought second suburban when first went kaput, paid cash again, bought a nice 4x4 F250 king cab made payments of 500 per month and paid it off in a couple years. Homeschooled the kids the whole time. Did not take welfare, food stamps, or govt assistance. Lived in neighborhoods you'd be afraid to be in after dark but we never locked our doors and often just had the screen door keeping the world out. Never had a problem with any break ins.

One neighbor went to prison for shooting his wife's boyfriend in the front yard about 3 lots down from us. Once I had to go visit a neighbor with the sheriff deputy and politely inform the guy if he entered my yard again and said cross words to my son he wouldnt make it home again. In a previous neighborhood had a neighbor go to jail after they found a body bagged up in freezer bags in his refrigerator.

Once we lived in a neighborhood (long ago) where literally half the residents were parolees or released felons, about 1/3 were Aryan Brotherhood and another 1/3 were Latin King subsets, plus two pimps, lots of drunks, assorted crack heads and crank heads (meth addicts). They all knew who to go see if they needed prayer, though.

Half my kids are adults now. None ever went to jail or had any trouble with the law or courts. They know more than ALL of the public school kids they've ever interacted with from well to do cousins to local riff raff. They turned out way better than I did at their age, that's a guaranteed fact. They actually have morals and don't give two hoots about "peer pressure", they tend to lead not follow. They can handle themselves in a church sanctuary, a ghetto alley, a boxing gym, or a family picnic at the park equally well. They are generally frugal with money (more than I was for sure), have investments in real estate, can butcher wild game, build shelter in the wild with no tools, prepare fancy multi course meals or live on wild plants. One daughter is a CNA, another can perform tactical combat casualty care just short of running an IV, older son codes in C, C++, Python, and assembly, has built microbots, all of the older ones can debate a JW or Baptist into oblivion right on the doorstep, they all know how to pray like the world depends on them, and they will literally do whatever they can to help anyone out even to their own detriment.

We are living proof that it doesn't take a lot of money and a perfect environment to raise a family that knows God and can serve their generation. It just takes a bit of faith and some of what we in Texas call "want to".

God is a great provider!!!

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I raised seven kids as a single income parent (wife is a homemaker). I worked construction, 10 bucks an hour, seasonal layoffs, had some down time (some lasting several months at a stretch). Got a job making 10 bucks an hour, after 8 yrs was making 16 an hour. I calculated inflation, discovered I was actually making less than when I started.

Raised seven kids, several dogs, bought a home paid it off in three and a half years, bought a suburban, paid cash, bought a van paid cash, bought second suburban when first went kaput, paid cash again, bought a nice 4x4 F250 king cab made payments of 500 per month and paid it off in a couple years. Homeschooled the kids the whole time. Did not take welfare, food stamps, or govt assistance. Lived in neighborhoods you'd be afraid to be in after dark but we never locked our doors and often just had the screen door keeping the world out. Never had a problem with any break ins.

One neighbor went to prison for shooting his wife's boyfriend in the front yard about 3 lots down from us. Once I had to go visit a neighbor with the sheriff deputy and politely inform the guy if he entered my yard again and said cross words to my son he wouldnt make it home again. In a previous neighborhood had a neighbor go to jail after they found a body bagged up in freezer bags in his refrigerator.

Once we lived in a neighborhood (long ago) where literally half the residents were parolees or released felons, about 1/3 were Aryan Brotherhood and another 1/3 were Latin King subsets, plus two pimps, lots of drunks, assorted crack heads and crank heads (meth addicts). They all knew who to go see if they needed prayer, though.

Half my kids are adults now. None ever went to jail or had any trouble with the law or courts. They know more than ALL of the public school kids they've ever interacted with from well to do cousins to local riff raff. They turned out way better than I did at their age, that's a guaranteed fact. They actually have morals and don't give two hoots about "peer pressure", they tend to lead not follow. They can handle themselves in a church sanctuary, a ghetto alley, a boxing gym, or a family picnic at the park equally well. They are generally frugal with money (more than I was for sure), have investments in real estate, can butcher wild game, build shelter in the wild with no tools, prepare fancy multi course meals or live on wild plants. One daughter is a CNA, another can perform tactical combat casualty care just short of running an IV, older son codes in C, C++, Python, and assembly, has built microbots, all of the older ones can debate a JW or Baptist into oblivion right on the doorstep, they all know how to pray like the world depends on them, and they will literally do whatever they can to help anyone out even to their own detriment.

We are living proof that it doesn't take a lot of money and a perfect environment to raise a family that knows God and can serve their generation. It just takes a bit of faith and some of what we in Texas call "want to".

Wow.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I raised seven kids as a single income parent (wife is a homemaker). I worked construction, 10 bucks an hour, seasonal layoffs, had some down time (some lasting several months at a stretch). Got a job making 10 bucks an hour, after 8 yrs was making 16 an hour. I calculated inflation, discovered I was actually making less than when I started.

Raised seven kids, several dogs, bought a home paid it off in three and a half years, bought a suburban, paid cash, bought a van paid cash, bought second suburban when first went kaput, paid cash again, bought a nice 4x4 F250 king cab made payments of 500 per month and paid it off in a couple years. Homeschooled the kids the whole time. Did not take welfare, food stamps, or govt assistance. Lived in neighborhoods you'd be afraid to be in after dark but we never locked our doors and often just had the screen door keeping the world out. Never had a problem with any break ins.

One neighbor went to prison for shooting his wife's boyfriend in the front yard about 3 lots down from us. Once I had to go visit a neighbor with the sheriff deputy and politely inform the guy if he entered my yard again and said cross words to my son he wouldnt make it home again. In a previous neighborhood had a neighbor go to jail after they found a body bagged up in freezer bags in his refrigerator.

Once we lived in a neighborhood (long ago) where literally half the residents were parolees or released felons, about 1/3 were Aryan Brotherhood and another 1/3 were Latin King subsets, plus two pimps, lots of drunks, assorted crack heads and crank heads (meth addicts). They all knew who to go see if they needed prayer, though.

Half my kids are adults now. None ever went to jail or had any trouble with the law or courts. They know more than ALL of the public school kids they've ever interacted with from well to do cousins to local riff raff. They turned out way better than I did at their age, that's a guaranteed fact. They actually have morals and don't give two hoots about "peer pressure", they tend to lead not follow. They can handle themselves in a church sanctuary, a ghetto alley, a boxing gym, or a family picnic at the park equally well. They are generally frugal with money (more than I was for sure), have investments in real estate, can butcher wild game, build shelter in the wild with no tools, prepare fancy multi course meals or live on wild plants. One daughter is a CNA, another can perform tactical combat casualty care just short of running an IV, older son codes in C, C++, Python, and assembly, has built microbots, all of the older ones can debate a JW or Baptist into oblivion right on the doorstep, they all know how to pray like the world depends on them, and they will literally do whatever they can to help anyone out even to their own detriment.

We are living proof that it doesn't take a lot of money and a perfect environment to raise a family that knows God and can serve their generation. It just takes a bit of faith and some of what we in Texas call "want to".

Honestly, I wouldn't raise my kids near any of that kind of thing. I guess in our position, we sacrifice quite a bit with both of us working... to ensure our kids are raised in a relatively safe and descent neighborhood. I grew up in East Dayton, Ohio. It was basically the ghetto. Not returning to that. No way. I'm not going to allow my kids to know the fear I had while growing up with the sound of shooting people being killed every other week. I was shot at twice back when I was in high school. Most of my friends got mixed up in drugs and ended up dead or in jail. I almost got wrapped up in the mess a few times. But mom beat the hades out of me when I messed up. It was like being on lockdown quite a lot through my teenage years.

Nope. We've ensured that the kids are in a descent neighborhood, descent school, and live in a descent clean and functional home. It takes both of us working. It also teaches Addison that a woman can work, be a professional, and raise a family. The two are not mutually exclusive. And it teaches my son the value of partnership and the struggle to rise above what you knew to something greater.

My kids are pretty intelligent. My son is only ten and building small electric engines and circuit boards. He built a PC for his 10th birthday. Both are very computer literate. Addison is also rather bright. She's into art and music. She shows her intelligence through the crazy things she's come up with. And yes, my kids are also very moral, respectful, and God conscious.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Honestly, I wouldn't raise my kids near any of that kind of thing. I guess in our position, we sacrifice quite a bit with both of us working... to ensure our kids are raised in a relatively safe and descent neighborhood. I grew up in East Dayton, Ohio. It was basically the ghetto. Not returning to that. No way. I'm not going to allow my kids to know the fear I had while growing up with the sound of shooting people being killed every other week.

Nope. We've ensured that the kids are in a descent neighborhood, descent school, and live in a descent clean and functional home.

Oh you are living way beyond your means.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Oh you are living way beyond your means.

How so? With both of us working, we do well. And our kids aren't growing up in the meth infested ghettos of the wild-west. lol

We're in a solidly Middle Class neighborhood. I've lived in this neighborhood since I got out of the military. The issue is renting. I need to buy again. The average mortgage is only about $500 a month.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

How so? With both of us working, we do well. And our kids aren't growing up in the ghettos of the wild-west. lol

Your wife would be able to stay home with her children. If you lived in an area which was more affordable. Sounds like from your posting you created the situation which needs two incomes. Do you have debt?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Your wife would be able to stay home with her children. If you lived in an area which was more affordable. Sounds like from your posting you created the situation which needs two incomes. Do you have debt?

My wife wouldn't want to stay home in a meth infested ghetto. Duh. Kids at school, her at home...a lone. Alone in a crime ridden, meth infested ghetto. That's not anything either of us would feel comfortable with. No way. Oh, but we could them homeschool... and then both her and the kids are right there, in the heart of a crime ridden, meth infested ghetto. Nope. Not happenin' my man.

Besides, she's worked all her life. She's no barefoot and pregnant kind of lady. Her first husband was in the Air Force and had her living in Ely, UK. Had her doing the "house wife" thing. She hated it. After he lost his mind and became a violent, cheating, alcoholic they got a divorce and she toured Western Europe (Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands). She's educated, and got a job working at Solvay Automotive's Engineering Department. She had that job until she had Addison (my step). When Addison became old enough, Christina got board and got a job at St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic Charity that runs a clothing closet, homeless shelter, and serves struggling families through voucher programs for furniture and supplies. She has a passion for charity work. During the summers she has the kids volunteer with serving food to families in the pantry and with bundling clothes for distribution to various shelters. If she was a boring old house wife, I think I'd puke. lol

Here are some pictures of the little lady and our kids...