Aussie mum with THIRTEEN children reveals how the family is surviving on one income – and the question she wishes people would stop asking

An Aussie couple with 13 children are considering pulling their kids out of school due to the rising cost of living. 

Malinda Lange and husband Erik, who is a window salesman, survive off his income to provide for their super-sized family.  

The couple from Dandenong, in southeast Melbourne, know their finances are stretched and have tried just about everything to make ends meet, but things are getting desperate.  

With nine of their children still at school, one in pre-school and another still at home, making the decision to end traditional education isn’t being taken lightly.  

‘It’s getting super tight with all the costs mounting up and we cut out everything possible and even sold some things to make it work,’ Malinda told Daily Mail Australia.  

‘Their school fees are currently about $38,000 a year so we considered homeschooling.’

While the couple managed to tighten their belts just enough to cover education for the short-term, Malinda is now terrified of the unexpected.

‘We are just coming out of the hole we dug during Covid and me getting sick after kidney failure,’ she said.

The family sold off what they could this year to pay for school fees 

‘Medical costs are the thing that worries me the most. It’s becoming a joke, and we also pay a fortune in tax.’ 

The family, who live in a rental, have got used to sharing everything – especially the four bedrooms.   

‘I hate that we have so many sharing bedrooms currently, but we want to better our financial position and travel more. I haven’t seen my brother since before Covid hit,’ Malinda said, adding that five of her sons currently share one bedroom.

‘Cooper, Lachlan and Tyler prefer not to have Joel and Harry in their room but the girls are fairly young so they don’t really mind sharing.’ 

Malinda said she is managing to keep on top of mounting bills with careful planning.  

‘We always meal plan and then shop at the fruit and veg shop, Aldi and Woolies. It takes a lot of time, but it keeps costs a lot lower and we usually spend around $500 a week,’ she said. 

Nine of the 13 kids are currently at school costing around $38,000 in fees per year

The family also allow $500 a year for each child for Christmas and birthday gifts 

‘A cheap meal that everyone loves doesn’t exist but most love spaghetti or tuna pasta bake so they are regulars on the menu.’ 

Malinda, who shares what its like to raise such a huge family on @yestheyareallours, admitted that branded clothing is her weakness, but it was one of the first things she cut back on as expenses skyrocketed. 

‘We rarely take the kids out and can’t afford the movies, theme parks or holidays. We go to free things in the community, but even those are being held less and less,’ she said.

But as stressful as the couple are finding the financial crisis, they have no regrets about their larger-than-life family – even if it wasn’t always the plan. 

‘I wanted four or six as I hate odd numbers, and Erik wanted eight. We don’t come from big families ourselves either,’ she said. 

And while there is no denying such a large family attracts attention when they are in public there is one comment they’re getting tired of. 

‘People tell us we need to get a TV and they think they are so funny and that they are the first to say it,’ Malinda said. 

‘But the fact is I have probably already heard it several times that day.’