I hate to be the one to argue with you but I will be that guy. Your grandmother stayed home with the kids most likely-no daycare costs. There was no internet, cell phones, or cable- subtract that from your monthly expenses. The family mostly likely had 1 car or a second cheap car that was paid for. People paid for their cars, not finance them. Take away your car(s) notes. Houses were smaller with usually only 1 bath- cut your house not in half. Debt was considered a bad thing and most did not have anything financed. Now after you gave up all the modern day “requirements”, you too could raise a family and buy a house on one income with no problem.