Any primary breadwinners in here?

[druidp]

::raises hand::

DH has a job as a bicycle mechanic - doesn't pay great, but they allow him tons of flexibility for our weird child schedules (one kid in K, one pre-pre-school age), plus he LOVES it and that's worth it.

My job is also awesome, and fortunately I get compensated very well. It helps that I kick ass at it.

Anyone else?

[Deleted]

I am, and likely always will be. We are both in IT, and when we married and had our first child we had equal salaries (which were very good). And then stress pushed an old brain injury over the edge and now H is barely employable and may go on disability.

Luckily we were always good about living within our means, so the only expense that I couldn't cover on my salary alone is daycare. DS is almost 5, and I am up for promotion soon so we'll still be okay I think.

IT gets a bad rap for work-life balance, but honestly my job is great. I love the work, get paid well, can work from home if I need to, and the hours are flexible. My employer also offers Emergency Backup Care which we use every year and have been lucky enough to always get the same person to watch our children.

[casirdms]

Yep .. DH doesn't even have a job, he's in school. He'll graduate in a couple months but still won't make as much as I do.

I kind of like holding it over his head sometimes.

[froggy76]

Me! DH repairs musical instruments and I'm an actuary. I make about 4x what he does. We both love our jobs and have great flexibility, so it's never been an issue.

[luvmagoldn]

Me - I work 3/4 time and make more than DH does full time. We both work in professional positions though so the disparity isn't huge.

He's always been great about it though. He likes to say I'm his Sugar Mama.

[Deleted]

We bring home the same amount but I work 37-40 hrs per week and dH has to work 55+ hour to bring in an equal amount.

[noonecareswhoiam]

I am. My DH is a public school teacher, so I make about twice what he does. It works for us, because his schedule is much more regular than mine, which can be a bit nutty with travel. The only kink is that I am the saver and he is the spender, so it's easy to fall into the your money/my money trap.

[ellipses84]

Me. DH switched careers 4 years ago (terrible timing!) He now has his dream job but not the paycheck to go with it. I have a demanding job with great pay and benefits, but the high stress is wearing me down. We are very 50-50 when it comes to parenting. I would prefer that he become the primary breadwinner within the next couple of years.

[Deleted]

I used to be when DH was in grad school. Not that he wasn't employed - he was, just being paid crap.

[kelseybelsey]

I am. My DH is a SAHD. I am generally happy with the arrangement.

[spankswife]

DH is a SAHD, and he rocks at it! We planned for it to be that way bc I have a great career with a great company, and DH can hop back in his field at any time. I feel like we have a great balance! Sometimes I wish I could be home, but honestly I think he does a better job at it. We both have a good niche.

[evynsmama]

I am although DH isn't too far behind me, his work hours are much more flexible than mine and sometimes he gets to stay home with her one day a week which I am jealous of, but it works for us and he is happy in what he does. Sometimes I get bummed when I realize I'll always have to work but, oh well that is reality and I generally enjoy what I do as well (HR)

[bugandbibs]

I am. Although MH might finally over take me this year. It's not really apples to apples though. I only work about 175 days/year and he works 250+ days plus overtime. He has always talked about liking having a sugar mama, but he's made a big point about how he should make more money this year. I think his ego was effected more than he or I thought.

[moonfrogx]

I am. I have a good, steady, well paying job. I would love to change careers - but after 12 years in this one, I can't change unless DH start's making more.

He is in a newer career that he loves and does well with, and is close to home (my job is not). If he ever gets promoted up a few levels, then I can pursue a dream career - maybe!

[theoriginalbean]

I am, too. I've always been a working mom, but C had the (slightly) bigger paycheck until he was laid off when our son was 6 months old. He looked for a job in our area and came up empty, so he started the business he had been thinking about for years. He's doing fine, but not making nearly what he used to. I have the bigger check and the benefits. I don't mind, but it's also the main reason that we haven't had another baby, so that part pretty much sucks donkey balls.

[raspberry]

I am - FI has been a SAHD for 8 months and is still looking, but there are zero IT jobs in this area right now. He's working on some side projects, but nothing is really bringing in any cash yet. I love my job and the only expense I can't cover is daycare, so it's working out okay that he's at home with the kids, and we decided to go ahead and add our last baby to our family.

[libbygrl109]

Me. DH lost his job just before DS was born. Up until that point, our salaries were almost even. He's a teacher, so getting back in has been difficult. We're doing OK, but like theoriginalbean, it sucks that the idea of having another child is pretty much a no-go.