Weasley Economics

[historygrrl1]

No: HPFGUIDX 46288

> Me again:
> Considering the big deal made in the books about the Weasley's 
economic 
> situation, I reall doubt JKR would leave out an important point 
like "Oh, 
> Molly works too but it's still not enough."
> 

Maybe JKR she took it for granted that readers would understand that 
after 5+ years of letting her resume and qualifications go rusty, 
Molly would have difficulty pulling down a salary substantial enough 
to ease the economic burdens of a family with 5 children in school at 
once.  Or maybe she assumed that any family with so many children in 
school would be facing economic difficultiies regardless of the 
parents' combined earnings, and so she didn't bother to go in to the 
details.     

Alternatively, maybe she left it out because the books represent the 
kids POV, and, not being there when Molly is working for wages, the 
Weasely kids don't think of it much.  Or maybe Molly doesn't want to 
worry the kids, and so they don't know.  

Or maybe Molly values her unpaid work in her family's home enough 
that she genuinely feels that taking on a paid job would detract too 
much of her time and energy from that arena.  The Weasleys are poor, 
but they always somehow manage to scrape by.  In another 4 years, all 
the kids will be out of school.  Maybe she (and Arthur) see the 
economic difficulties as short term and liveable.  Molly and Arthur 
never complain.  In fact, most of the complaining is done by Ron.  
His other brothers don't seem to worry nearly as much.    

And maybe, in a way, JKR has already told us that Molly works.  In 
book 2, when Harry arrives at the Burrow, Molly is feeding chickens.  
Maybe Molly is saving on the housekeeping by raising food herself.  
Reducing the grocery bills by eating homegrown poultry would be a 
huge contribution to a family that size, even if it doesn't increase 
the supply of available cash.  And there must have been some reason 
Molly didn't go to the Quidditch World Cup with everyone else, even 
if it wasn't explained to us, the readers.    

So between the enormous amount of work that would go into laundry and 
cooking during the summers, knitting, raising chickens, and 
maintaining the house and garden year round, I think Molly makes HUGE 
contributions to her family's economic well-being regardless of her 
earnings.  And in a family that size with so many in school, it's 
hard to imagine how they could ever earn enough to be comfortable.


-Historygrrl1