It takes 2 incomes to keep a family ahead of expences. Where it used to take only one, Why?
129885
Essentially it is because we are spending more.  We have become an expendible society.  Cars break we buy new a button breaks we buy a new shirt.  We do not make our own clothes now, we barely make our own food things cost more oil cost more, experience costs more.  The middle class has to try to keep up with the other middle class then in a recession it makes them poor and others rich depending on investments.  The goverments tax system also does not support the middle class only the lower income and the high end with exemptions.   There for our government, society, and economy do not support the middle class this has been this way for decades catch the phrase "rich get richer poor get poorer"  as well as the man shipping all our jobs overseas is laughing at the middle class all the way to the bank.  I hope to see our society actually vote a working middle class person in to office of several levels to turn arround the laws and tax breaks to help out the middle class.  I wait for that day.
305069
America isn't very single parent friendly. The cost of child care is often as much or more than you can make at a job.
227316
It is a growing trend that LDS have smaller families, mainly because the fact the price of living is going up and the hrly wage isn't.  So in order to survive both LDS and Catholics have to reduce the size of families due to cost.
341172
I'm a single mother, but I don't consider myself to be poverty stricken.  But I can tell you when all the financial burden is on one individual instead of two, it can create financial hardship.  Even if a single mother works and meets all of her obligations, clearly it's a job that was meant for a mother and father.   Just do an engine search and type in single mothers, there's plenty of resources and information about single mothers.
126726
None....they are both for income redistribution!
226123
my home life is more important to me then anything. i quit a $60,000 a year job to stay home with my children because it's what i felt was the right thing to do for my family. i think some people can't get their priorities straight cause they still haven't figured out that money can't buy love yet. \n\npeople wake up no matter how sucessful or rich you are, what good will it be when you have no family, husband or wife to share it all with? there can be an ideal balance between the 2 for survival, but most just chase the buck and forget about what really matters.
669111
Um I think you mean child support not pension. The person who does not have full custody does have to pay the other parent, regardless of gender.
484006
I have worked 2 jobs before and it actually lasted for quite some time.  The reason that I chose to quit was b/c I got a better paying job and was able to support me and my daughter with that income alone.  You do what you have to do in order to pay the bills, support your kids, eat and have  a home.
310607
ah, the utopian question.  in a society in which money doesnt exist, presumably everyone would do what they are best at/enjoy the most, and they would help each other out when they needed.  of course, most humans (and I would venture its close to ALL humans) are greedy, and the strive for money dominates their lives.  thus, the importance of a job is to be able to provide for yourself and your family in a flawed system where the dollar is the real god.
569459
People I've met that stay on welfare end up in a better financial situation then working full-time for minimum wage. Plus if you have children who need daycare, you end up working to pay the babysitter. It's a shame b/c continuing their education would get them a better job but either they don't think of it that way or they're lazy and don't want to try. This country definitely needs welfare reform AND disability reform. I've seen too many people take advantage of the system!
248745
Well, I don't think men always get the better end of the stick financially. They can try and out run their child support obligations, but those that do, usually don't have jobs, or getting paid lousy money to barely survive. Yes, they probably do get remarried easier, because they aren't toting around a half dozen kids, and actually have a chance of getting a life again. But they have a damned hard time, supporting...two families, which seems to be the way everyone wants it. The women CAN and do get remarried, all the time, those women usually work, because they've been single parents for awhile, so they get remarried, to another man who has a job, plus her ex eventually has to get a job, so child support starts pouring in...and who has more money than her then? What family can't make it on Three incomes? {hers, her new husband's and her ex's}\n  I'm sorry you made the mistake of not sticking it out in your marriage. I'm sorry if your ex has moved on, and not paying child support. Sometimes, we just have to live and learn in life. Until then, your going to have to get a job..and just do the best you can. And hope to make a better choice next go around.
85332
LIKE the question! I am not sure why when u call them on the way they are it isnt appreciated. Thats what they are trying to do get it for free....i say get 2 jobs and put yourself though school! This country wouldnt be in the kind of debt were in if we would all take charge of our own lives.......dont get me started LOL
108381
My definition of financially independent would be slightly different than yours.  My definition doesn't rely on a specific amount because costs of living vary tremendously from area to area.  So do people's spending habits.  After all, how do you explain P.Ditty having to pay over $7k per month to one woman for one child in child support?\n\nAt any rate, my definition: a person is financially independent when his/her passive income from investments exceeds their monthly expenses.\n\nIndependently wealthy?  When a person's passive income from investments allows him/her to do anything he/she wants at any time without having to ask or worry about how much it costs.
594938
Married couple`s allowance is no longer available unless either you or your partner were born before 1935.  It was phased out a couple of yeas ago, you`re out of luck!
387760
Usually when you get married you put the 2 incomes together.  But dont forget about your other expenses also, food, utilities, any credit cards, food, and all the little extras.  Being newly married is tough enough without financial problems...don't get in to deep to quick!  Good Luck!
302978
No, they decide the child support for the next 2 kids based on what's left after you pay for your first daughter.  The first family comes first.  So it's what you make after the 1st child support that determines how much the 2nd family child support will be.  Meaning your second set of children will suffer financially compared to the first child.
3934
Wow, I just discovered that I want to do the same and I  have no steady income and two school age children, My plan is to slowly save money (his money) and then move on.  It will not be easy but I have faith that the misery of it all will pass and you and I will be fine. Life is about change and as my famous artis Anita Baker once said in "I'd rather lose you than to lose my mind."  Good luck