Just found out i'm getting laid off work

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Just found out i'm getting laid off work
5
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 10:57am
Ugh. Not the best news but then again not the worst? I have had so many day care issues with my youngest - is this just gods way of telling me I need to be home with her and my son, for a while anyway? Can't help but think it is a sign, but how in the world can we ever do this on one income? Have looked at the budget over and over and I will HAVE to have income monthly to make ends meet. (mortgage, car payments, bills, etc) How do you ladies do it who are living on one small income????
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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2003
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 11:02am
I'm not a SAHM yet, will be beginning 8/2 (it's by choice though) and I keep asking myself and my husband the same thing. I don't see how in the world we're going to be able to survive. Major cutbacks and definite budgeting I hope.


Sorry to hear about being laid off. But like you said, maybe it's for the best and maybe this is a sign.



....sorry I have no words of wisdom, just wanted to let you know I'm in the same situation!! Scared and clueless yet excited and happy!!

~Tammy

mom to Synthia (11 years) and Zoe (10 months)

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2003
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 11:56am
I'm sorry to hear that you're getting laid off, but that's kinda how I knew it was time to stay home.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 2:29pm

I am sorry you are losing your job.
Hope things work out for you.

Lilypie Baby Days

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2003
Tue, 07-27-2004 - 6:06pm
I've been a SAHM on and off again for almost 10 years. I came to the conclusion that it really wasn't worth working anyway. By the time I finished paying for daycare for my two kids plus gas and food expenses, my paycheck was pretty much gone. Unless you make a significant amount of money or have free or really cheap childcare, working seems pointless unless you do it for the socialness of it. I don't know how some single parents do it.

So for myself, when I was working it was like living on one income anyway. My sister just quit her job for the same exact reason. She has 2 young boys at home and she figured she was actually paying MORE to work with all the extra expenses than if she just stayed home.

I'm the one who pays the bills so what I've devised two lists of reoccuring monthly expenses. My dh gets paid every two weeks and I pay the bills immediately after he gets paid, so I have one list for mid month expenses and one list for end of month expenses. Of course, one list had a lot more expenses than the other, so I balanced the lists so that they equal close to the same amount of expenses. Because it's difficult to change due dates on bills in order to balance these lists, I adjusted my mortgage. I make sure to save a percentage of the mortgage on the end of month list and pay the mortgage in full on the middle of month list. That way we weren't dead broke with one paycheck and then have a significant amount of extra money with the next paycheck. Whatever is left over after paying all the bills (which isn't much), we use mainly for gas and groceries. There is hardly enough left over for a lot of extra fun stuff, but it's kind of the price you pay for getting to stay home with the kids. My husband does do some occasional business on the side, which does help some.

I'm going back to school full time this fall to become an RN in a couple of years. I can't imagine what it's going to be like actually having two incomes again with no childcare expenses. I'm sure it will seem like we're rich after living so tightly all this time. Well good luck and I'm sure you can make this work.

Mocha

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-03-2004
Wed, 07-28-2004 - 10:04am
I am new to this board, but when I saw your post I had to put my 2 cents in. I too was laid off from work 2 years ago when I was 5 months pregnant with my youngest son. Being pregnant who was going to hire me? I had been praying for a way to stay at home with them and this happened. God sometimes works in ways we may not understand at the time, but looking back it was the best thing that could have ever happened for our family. I was able to collect unemployment. Not everyone agrees with that but you may be able to look into that. We had to cut down on cell phones, cable, extras with groceries and more. But the difference in my children was astounding! Our family is happier and healthier because I stay at home. Plus it seemed when money was tight God would always provide. Sometimes we only had $40 a week for groceries but we made it and never starved. Just continue to rely upon God and he will carry you through it. Thankfully now my husband got another wonderful job that I will be able to stay at home for a very long time if that is what I want.

Thanks just my 2 cents

Rachel

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