Can we afford this? Income / Investment / Equity

Well, if you say so...
I think that if you spend several hours every day with your children, you won't miss any developmental milestones. And if life isn't just 8 hours of kids, 8 hours of work, and 8 hours of eating/sleeping/hygiene, you approach the whole thing a bit more relaxed.
But if you can keep that up, then carry on...

I have the rhythm you mentioned. So far, I haven't missed a developmental milestone. And he still goes to grandma and grandpa about every third weekend, so we still have time as a couple and I can sleep through the night sometimes. It's exhausting and working 2 hours less would also be nicer, but it just isn't possible and I'm not entirely dissatisfied either.

...and if you stay at home longer than the parental allowance is paid, there are massive tax advantages.

Can you please tell me specifically which massive tax advantages there are? Thanks!

On the topic of daycare. There will always be different opinions about when to put your child in daycare. Not generally, but sometimes I have the feeling that people convince themselves it’s the right choice when they have to put their child in daycare for financial reasons.
But I have also observed myself that there are some mothers who don’t fully embrace their role as a mother, and/or miss working life so much that they want to go back to work quickly.

Now at 20 months he plays nicely with others (explains things, chats with children, consciously copies things, ...) and is very compassionate (the younger newcomers are comforted and bribed with toys). Many children in his group, who only joined at 2 years old, do not show this social behavior. But yes, a lot depends on the parents who have cared for the child so far. Unfortunately, many retreat at home. The usually numerous opportunities to get their child among peers are then rarely used.

True, another thing. I also read that in this book, children observe a lot, especially from peers and slightly older children.

Of course, we had met with others often before, and there is always something going on in the neighborhood park. But now spending several hours with others who are all the same age or a little older is something completely different.

Not generally, but sometimes I get the feeling people try to make themselves feel better when they have to put their child in daycare for financial reasons.
But I've also observed myself that there are some mothers who don't fully embrace their mother role, and/or miss working life so much that they want to return to work quickly.

What does "not fully embracing the mother role" mean to you? How do you determine that? Or were they perhaps mothers who do enjoy it, but simply don’t want to be playing mom all the time?
But OT. Let’s discuss this among ourselves instead.

About parental allowance. The average amount received by women in Germany is 740 euros. Since about 67 percent is paid, this corresponds to a previous net income of 1105 euros. The monthly loss of earnings is therefore 365 euros.

Instead of 1,500 euros gross, only 740 euros are taken into account for the progression in splitting. This further reduces the average tax rate in joint assessment. With 40,000 gross income of the spouse and only parental allowance for the woman, this results in an additional 84 euros net.

365 minus 84 equals 281 euros less net income. In return, there is an additional 190 euros in child benefit. In the end, an average family with parental allowance has hardly less than if both work.

When there is no longer any parental allowance, this also disappears from the progression. This results in the usual splitting advantages in joint assessment, which can be many thousands of euros net per year.

Just want to give you a little push again ...


what do you think the prices are that are at full capacity 120% of a construction company?
and what do you think the prices are with a weakening of the boom? THE construction companies have expanded capacities that now have to be covered by the small volume of orders ....and that's exactly when it's construction time!!!?everyone bright seems can build whenever he wants...


the smart ones build when no one builds

Why should the construction boom weaken? Two reasons come to mind: First, there are no more plots of land. In many communities, the land reserves are now gone. Then it doesn't help if I say now that I will build later. It simply won’t be possible. Secondly, building gets more expensive because interest rates rise or land becomes more expensive or because the government intervenes with regulations, e.g. with new building codes. This is a vicious circle because you are predicting a price drop in the event of a slowdown of the construction boom.

Considering the current interest rate level also on savings, the population development, the rental price trend, etc., now is probably the right time to build.

Saruss's arguments are of course also correct.