> I couldn’t provide a family with the same lifestyle my parents gave me (a house, two cars, safe neighborhood, good school district, mother could stop working

> I couldn’t provide a family with the same lifestyle my parents gave me (a house, two cars, safe neighborhood, good school district, mother could stop working for several years to raise me), and they managed without college educations. It depends where you live. That's probably possible on £30k in the UK including various benefits, certainly on £50k, as long as you live somewhere sensible. What are the non-housing costs you need? In 2008 a couple with 2 kids spent, per week: Food and drink £103.53 Clothing and footwear £29.26 Household goods and services £27.11 Personal goods and services (inc health) £27.39 Transport £35.02 Social and cultural activities £90.08 £320 a week, or £1400 a month. That's £1800 a month after inflation [0] Housing costs say £650 a month for a mortgage [1] £2.5k a month, or a net of £30k, that's a single income of £42k a year [2] You'll also get £1800 in child benfit. If you have larger outgoings, say 30% more to £2400 a month plus housing, you're looking at a net of £36k, or gross of £52k [3] (Marginal tax £50k-£60k is 69% though so there's not much point earning more than that, until you're past 60k and it drops back to 51%) [0] https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/2008?amount=1400 https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/2008?amount=1400 [1] https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70111735.html https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70111... [2] https://listentotaxman.com/42000?plan=2 https://listentotaxman.com/42000?plan=2 [3] https://listentotaxman.com/52000?plan=2 https://listentotaxman.com/52000?plan=2