career change, salary concern.

[deerocker]

i am a computer professional making about 80k. my wife is an elementary school teacher making about 50k. i do not love what i do. i am considering going back to school to teach high school math.

my main concern is raising a family (we want to have at least 1 child, prob 2) on a salary of 2 teachers. does anyone else do this?

i am at a self reflection point it seems. i want to teach but im also realizing the grass isnt always greener and maybe i can find ways to fulfill my desires and keep working in computers. who knows. thanks.

[Unregistered]

My husband was an Engineer that hated his job because kept him away from his family. He would have to spend time entertaining clients usually Friday nights and Saturday golf followed by evening dinners etc...
He would miss our children's games, award ceremonies because of job requirements. He tried to make it to everything but with much difficulty and stress.
One day we took a look at our budget and decided we could do it if we worked really hard. He quit his job took a year off to go back to school. We lived on my teaching salary and his army retirement for a year. It was hard but we managed (we didn't have any debt at the time this is also key). PAY everything off before you make a drastic move.
He has been teaching math for 5 years and enjoys being home on weekends, breaks and summers with our children.
If you want it, it can be done. Just know that your living conditions will change. You won't be rich in lifestyle you will be rich in family.

[Unregistered]

I was an electrical engineer who did precisely what you are contemplating. I'm single, so financially it wasn't as grave a blow, and it certainly is a far more interesting (and challenging) life.

However, don't bank on having all that extra free time right away. My first year I disappeared from the world entirely. I have never worked so long or so hard in my life. I'm told that it gets easier the second year, but you should just be prepared -- it's not all spring and summer break. Oh, and man oh man, you should see the amount of work I have to do over this summer. It's a working holiday, no doubt about it.

Whatever you choose, good luck and God bless!

[Unregistered]

My husband and I raised three children on my salary as an educator and his smaller salary as the pastor of a small church. We are retired now and have assets that put us in the top 20% of the US population. How did we do it? By being "green" before it was popular and very cheap and careful with our money. We paid very little interest and depreciated completely all goods before buying something new. (We kept cars for 10-12 years.) We vacationed in North America and Europe by planning our trips ourselves and going "native". We traveled on public transportation and stayed in B&B's and small hotels. You can do this but you will have to live an unAmerican live style. No debt, debt, debt. There are lots of good books about how it can be done. Check with Amazon.com.