In Czechia is there not a difference between research and teaching institutions? In the US we have things like community colleges and other colleges/universities where you can get your associates or bachelors, but not Masters / PhD. They have a focus on teaching their students, rather than doing research.
Although maybe that's what you're considering "mediocre colleges"
That's pretty similar to what my wife and I do. It helps that my income is enough to fund the mortgage + expenses, but if she wasn't working we wouldn't have as nearly as much "fun money"