re: Dual income households, what's the cost/benefit of the lower earner's wage?

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What's the break even point as far as the amount someone needs to bring in to offset the added direct costs? And as far as costs, how do you determine direct AND indirect costs? (meaning: "because we both work we NEED a bigger house,TV, Prada purse, and yeti cooler") 

Would your kids be better Home Schooled?

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The answer to the last question is obviously "yes," as you well know....

We were doing some tax analysis last night, especially centered around that anti-middle class jump from 15 to 25% marginal rate. I would have to do some seriously creative financing to get us mostly in 15% rate even reducing work considerably and wife quitting job. But you still have to factor that 10% in diminished return.

The indirect costs are very real. You deserve that more expensive hotel room or wine because you've both been working so hard. You compensate for the lack of meaning by buying shite no one needs.

The direct costs are obvious. But I work from home so I could off-set a lot if we had kids. But then I'm bearing those costs. Too old for that--it's gonna take a team of that happens at this juncture.

I also have never understood the concept of procreating and then letting someone else rear your kids the majority of meaningful waking hours. So that's a cost you can't really monetize if you share those values.

Koheleth say, "What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?"

Eta: yay TD downvotes from double anonymous ftards! Wheeeee.