This Is Us : Money issues?

Howcome money was so tight for Jack and Rebecca?
He made 17k a year, that would be about 60k in today's dollars, and he was 36 when they had the kids. I don't think she was much younger.
Even if she didn't work that would be more than enough to save up a LOT over the years.
I just thought it was weird that they had to basically beg.

I'm not sure how much my dad made in the 80's, (but it wasn't a lot. He was a teacher & my mom worked part time after the kids were in school) but we were teenagers and some in college. We had a nice house and were considered upper middle class, but Jack was a construction worker, working on a money pit house and 3 kids about to be born all at once. Living in a 2 bedroom apt was tight. The were going to have all kinds of expenses to start off with. Who knows how much they saved up before that.

60k today is not bad, but with 3 kids all at the same time and buying a house that probably by todays standards would cost upwards 200k and a money pit to fix of 30-50k yes he would have to take out a loan and maybe he wouldn't qualify with a bank loan

We don't know how long he was at that job, at what income. But the big thing was-triplets. Do you know how much that was going to cost them? The home(as we saw), & 3 of everything, for growing children. Obviously she wasn't going to be able to work with 3 babies. And we know asking her mother to babysit, for her to work was not going to happen. They seemed fine when it was the two of them.

When was it ever said he was 36 when the triplets were born? Not doubting you. Just missed that little tidbit.

The triplets were born on Jack's 36th birthday. Rebecca sang Happy Birthday to him the day they were born. I forget how it showed he was 36. Rebecca was, presumably, 30 since she talked about I'm 29 and most of my friends already have kids in the Super Bowl episode where they were conceived. I am reasonably sure in the next 9 months, she'd have had a birthday.

If I remember correctly, didnt his boss raise him to 17k when he asked, so that would mean he wasnt making that before. Also we have no idea if they had any debt from before they were married, so maybe they couldnt save alot. Also it was said in the episode that Jack has to put 1st, last month rent down as well as a deposit. None of which they could get back, so they were out the money. They needed to put a down payment on the house (or had to buy it from the guy) so thats a big chunk of change, so really its not weird.

He said it was a 10% increase, so still, he was making more than 50k (in today's dollars) a year, and Rebecca was probably working at least for some time during their marriage.
Buying a house is definitely a big step financialy, I just thought it was weird that they basically had no savings because he was making pretty good money and it was just the 2 of them for a long time. Even the rent for the apartment was a problem.

Don't forget the car he had. He might have sunk money into that. Thus getting a cheaper one.

I agree that they should have had money saved up. If they didn't have the kids until he was 36 they definitely should have had plenty to start with.

I make under $30,000 a year and that is with me making more at the job I switched to a couple of years ago. And I have thousands in my savings account that me and my wife are using for a house we are buying in the country.

It's tv. If they weren't struggling it wouldn't be as entertaining. I suspect they said rent was $200 a month and his annual salary is raised to $17k for dramatic effect.

Hey, we already knew that Jack had a drinking problem. But, when he asked his dad for the money, his dad implied that Jack had a history of drinking and gambling.

The dad was not reporting on Jack s actual behavior. He was accusing him .

childless to three kids all at one go would cause money issues in and of itself

OP,

I was thinking the same thing. $17K in 1980 was a decent income. Not rich by any means, but solid middle class, and no need to go borrow money from his dad.