I agree with you Jim. While I make in one year what my father used to make in 2 (or 3 and my mother was at home), we cannot afford that my wife stay at home. We couldn't stand for long and I don't consider that we live in luxury neither.

My guess is that inflation and taxes has raised more than the average salary. That would explain why most familly have both the parents working.

>My son and his wife had a new (first) baby a year ago and my daughter-in-law in not planning to work until the baby is at least in school. But they are finding it to be a REAL TOUGH JOB, even though he is earning a decent wage and they buy very little except food and a few clothes. They don't know if they can make it for 5 more years without having to declare bankruptcy (i.e. she will have to go to work, probably). It looks like two incomes is becoming more and more NECESSARY, at least if you want to stay out of the credit trap.