partner in one of the largest 100 accounting firms in the country. I get what I would have thought 20 years ago a fabulous salary. My wife stays at home with our 6 boys. We moved out of a bad neighborhood out of fear for those boys and now live in a nicer place with 3x the monthly mortgage for about the same space.
For vacation, we drive 12 hours to our in-laws and pitch a tent for a week.
Most of our money goes for mortgage, food and clothes for the 6 boys. They do participate in year round sports, which might be considered a luxury, but we feel it is important.
If it wasn't for a year end bonus, we actually spend more money each month than I earn.
Sure...I could move farther out and have a 2 hour commute instead of a 45 minute one each way. We could eat less food and never order out. But the fact remains. Everyone else around us is a two income family and trying to meet expenses each month with one income in this area of the country just is not that easy.
I don't know how others that haven't been as fortunate as I do it.