Question: Help. I am the mother of a two year old daughter >and I just hate going to work these days. I don’t >feel like we can afford to have me stay home with >our daughter. our income is $145,000 per year, and >I earn almost half of that. I don’t think we can >get by on my husband’s salary. I am looking for >ideas and suggestions on how we can figure out >where the money is going and any ideas to help me >be able to stay home. thank you
Answer: I had my first child 6 years ago. I was employed as a social worker, carrying the benefits and making more money than my husband was. After 3 months of maternity leave, I went back to work. I lasted 6 months. There are a lot of hidden expenses with working. We spent more money on food, because we were going for convenience and time saving. Daycare took a large chunk of my income. Gas, lunches, nylons, drycleaning….it all adds up. We took my 401 K and paid off our car, and took the plunge of faith.
I can honestly say I do not regret it. I have a strong faith in God, and I feel that I made the right choice. In the time we have been a one income family, we have been GIVEN two vehicles (a minivan and a car), we qualified for a home loan with no closing costs that we would not have had we both been working, and we have never missed a beat! We actually do better now than when I was working. We have since had a second child, and I would not go back to work 9-5 unless it was under severe duress.
More importantly, I am home, with my children. I am able to enjoy their childhood, I am able to homeschool, I am able to be mommy…..which is all *I* wanted to be. My choice might not be for everybody…but if it is something someone wants, it CAN be done.
This is not to say it is not without its sacrifices. We dont go to movies, we dont go to dinner, we dont get sitters, we dont buy a lot of new stuff, and we eat LOTs of macaroni and cheese and chicken! And I do clean other people’s houses 1 day a week to suppliment our income. I did babysit for 5 out of the 6 years. But all in all, I do believe with a little sacrifice and a little budgeting, and a little ingenuity, you CAN stay home. In the case of the mom who is making 70,000.00, I can only say that we live on less than 1/2 of that. But….we live in a small but very nice home, and drive used cars with no debt. You have to figure out what it is that you want more…..and that is a real thing to sit down and do. Figure what you are willing to live with and figure out what you are willing to give up. Can you buy a smaller house? Downsize, get less expensive cars, or whatever? Is it an option?? My biggest thing was I was afraid I would have to deprive my children of things. Well, it hasnt happened, and sometimes, it is a good thing to deny them some of the things they want anyway! We live in a society obsessed with things. Look back at your childhood. Are your good memories about things, or about people, and times spent??
Anyway, sorry so long, but this is a subject near and dear to my heart.! Blessings to you, and I wish you happiness in any decision you ultimately make.
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