Becoming a stay at home mom

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2007
Becoming a stay at home mom
9
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 8:56am
Hello!
I am seeking advice about becoming a stay-at-home mom.. We just had our second child and I missed this opportunity with my first...
I am worried about giving up my career and financial problems... any advice?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 9:04am
my advice is go for it you'll have plenty of time to get rich when the kids start school! this time in your babys life isn't coming back besides you can probably start selling cosmetics or something from home if you feel your spous's income isn't covering all expences

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 10:01am

In my opinion, if your willing to sacrafice some "luxuries,"

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2006
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 10:32am

I think you'll be surprised at how much quitting work lowers your expenses. No commute, no buying a lunch, no particular dress requirement, etc. At the time I quit about 7 years ago, we really weren't sure what the repercussions would be but were surprised to find we could do it pretty easily.


As for your career, it kind of depends on what that is as to whether it will affect it. I just went back to work recently (medical field) and I found that staying home didn't affect my pay at all when I went back. I am a little behind on the management ladder, if that were what I wanted to do, but I don't mind that. It was all very worth it.


G/L!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-19-2006
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 10:33am

I know that the idea of leaving a career behind and cutting your income can be very scary. I worked for a large company for over 5 years when I finally left last June. It was a very scary thought since staying at home meant losing over $45,000 a year and having to really budget our remaining income. Its very important that you set up a budget though!!


My youngest child was 8 months old when I decided to stay at home and I am so glad that I did. I went back to work when my youngest 2 were both 8 weeks old and I really wish I could get that time back. It will be a sacrifice and there are probably going to be difficult times, but there is no greater joy than being home with my kids and knowing they are getting the best care possible.


Good luck with your decision and welcome to the board!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2007
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 11:05am
That has been the scariest thing... I am a teacher and will be leaving a 45,000 dollar income as well.. I had someone say to me, "Why did you go to school if you were just going to stay at home?" and that went all through me.. I thought do they even know what kind of impact staying at home as on the children? There is not a better job in the world!! :) I think that concerns like will it be easy to go back when i need to and things of that nature are concerning...
I also want to make sure that my kids have everything that they need.. I want them to be able to play soccer and things of that nature..
I think that every year we would say just one more year and here we are 3 years later! I think we just used it as a crutch and got comfortable..
How did you decide with confidence to stay at home?
Thanks for your advice..
It is well appreciated!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2006
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 11:07am

My advice is to ENJOY!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-19-2006
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 11:20am

Well the great news is that being a teacher your career will always be in high demand, so when you are ready to go back to work it should be pretty easy.


I can't say that I had total confidence in choosing to stay at home, but I just followed my heart. Just like the other post said, you can't imagine the money you save by staying home. We paid $667 a month in daycare alone for the youngest two (that was discounted since it was thru our church) and then paid another $75 a month for after school care for our oldest. Add in the expenses of lunch, gas to drive the one hour to and from work, clothes expenses, etc. and that is a HUGE

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2007
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 1:57pm

The decision to stay at home was the hardest one I ever had to make. For a while it was made for me. But I do have to admit that it's nice when dh gets up in the morning and goes to work and I just sit back and think "I am so lucky that I don't have to go to work all day today". I miss my job , but dh has agreed to watch the kids at night so I can work a few hours a night. I do commercial cleaning, so I can set my own hours and it is salary. It supplements our income, plus the kids and I get a break from each other. We actually sat down last weekend to do a budget and just for fun we did one based on me working full time. Believe it or not, we make more money when I work in the 20 hours a week in the evenings.

Good luck with your decision! The plus side, besides getting to stay at home with your children, you get to know the wonderful women on this board! Hope you stick around. I'm Tara, SAHM to Abbie (4), Lilli (2), and Bree (14 months).

Tara

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2007
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 2:02pm
Hello-
If you haven't already, make out a budget of everything you spend money on either based on the month or a pay period. Use Quicken or Excel or something to make it easy on yourself. Include stuff that pops up here and there too. That will allow you to see where you can reasonably cut back and determine whether staying at home will work. I went down to 12 to 24 hrs/week after my son was born and plan to quit all together with my second due this summer. We have adjusted to going PT well and I think we'll do ok without the second income because I know exactly what we spend and on what. It's rigid, but this way I don't worry.