Can we afford this? Income / Investment / Equity

I’ll chime in briefly even though it’s not really on topic.

It used to be typical (at least in the GDR) that children were in daycare as soon as possible and in my opinion, this is also best for the children because the social environment brings the child much more than anyone alone at home can provide for 3 years.

I know a family through acquaintances where all the children stayed at home until school enrollment. In short, the children are absolutely "done," don’t know criticism or being told no, or general conflicts. Such children are supposed to provide for our pension...

It’s enough for me when I drop off my child early at daycare and overhear many conversations from parents; it really makes me sick when I think about my pension. The main thing is to push the responsibility of upbringing (starting with weaning off diapers) onto daycare!

Had to get that off my chest...

P.S. We drop off the child at 7:15 and pick them up around 15:30 and that’s good. I also don’t understand why some pick up their children at midday all the time, what are the other children supposed to think of that? Of course, there are cases where due to staff there are no other options, but in my opinion, this is the exception.

We have just gotten through this "dry spell," i.e. me as the sole breadwinner for a few months, and I must say, you barely notice it.

As an almost sole breadwinner, I can, yes must say: If we had nearly twice as much gross income ("two earners"), we would notice that very, very clearly in net income as well. It will probably always depend on the individual case...

I, personally, find 4 hours far too little; and then after such a day, a toddler is exhausted even with a nap, even if they are still awake for a long time (children try to get their much-needed time with their caregivers, no matter how tired they are) And here it is not the normal case, most start at the earliest from 2. And otherwise, you don't just follow the local conditions like a "lemming". However, there are plenty of studies and information on the topic (goooo...le) But you don't have to justify yourself at all, I already said that. Many cannot afford it, financially or "psychologically" (your mentioned demanding), so I have always written very clearly "I personally". from on the go

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


what do you think prices are like when a construction company is operating at 120% capacity?
and what do you think prices are like when the boom weakens? THE construction companies have expanded capacities that now have to be covered by the small order volume .... and that’s exactly when it’s building time!!!? any bright person can build whenever they want...


the bright ones build when nobody is building

Since I have been dealing with the topic on and off for years, ever since the first conversation in a model home park a few years ago, I can claim that prices haven’t skyrocketed exorbitantly in recent years. Hello, yes, there is natural inflation. It exists everywhere. And of course a house with controlled residential ventilation and KFW55 standard costs more than the Energy Saving Ordinance 2009.

Furthermore, we, like many others, will fix most of the loan. That means, in our case, that we will still have €30,000 remaining debt in 10 years and maybe €80,000 remaining debt in 20 years to repay. We will simply cover that from saved money.

The rate is comparable to rent for an apartment half the size.

Your hope for cheap houses in 10 years or favorable construction conditions, etc.—they probably won’t be fulfilled. The only thing that continuously skyrockets over the years are land prices. My parents have a house in an absolute dream location where there are no plots left at all today. We spent relatively a lot for our plot, but it is really a great location (and everything was sold out very quickly; even plots significantly less well located in our area but for the same price per sqm as our plot). Meanwhile, development is moving further and further outward into increasingly worse or more remote locations, and partly for really high prices. Every new development area moves further away from the city center, and if you build in 10 years, even if you build for less money, you will still pay more and more for increasingly worse plots that are farther out.

I, personally, think that 4 hours is way too little; and then after such a day, a toddler is already exhausted even with a nap, even if they are awake for a long time (children try to get their much-needed time with their attachment figures, no matter how tired

No, she has always been a late sleeper, even during the time at home. And how am I supposed to imagine that then, do you both work part-time? Or not at all? Or is only the mother defined as the attachment figure and you are only there in the evening?

As a near sole earner, I can, no, I must say: If we had almost twice as much gross income ("two earners"), we would definitely notice that very, very clearly in net terms as well. It will probably always depend on the individual case ...

But you don’t have twice as much. As far as I remember, you receive full pay during the employment ban and a large part of the full pay during maternity pay and parental allowance periods. And you also get tax advantages for the other spouse during these times, and if you stay at home longer than the parental allowance period, there are significant tax advantages.