What do you sacrifice to stay at home?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-10-2005
What do you sacrifice to stay at home?
4
Tue, 06-28-2005 - 5:21pm

Hi,

I'm new here and sometimes struggle with being a sahm. First of all, I WANT to be with my kids and know that that is VERY important (I grew up in a single parent home). But, we can't afford to buy a home here in CA (just moved here from TX to be close to my family). I feel guilty that we don't own, but would feel awful sending my kids away each day. I often wonder if it's more important for them to have a home that we own. Make sense? DH is a professor and even without school loans we couldn't buy in an area with good schools.We don't drive SUV's, own a boat or dress expensively. We sacrifice owning a home, so I can raise our kids.

What do you sacrifice?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2003
Tue, 06-28-2005 - 5:47pm

we just recently bought a home, but to do so, we had to move to a different city, away from family & friends. Its not really far, but its about an hours drive. Where we lived was too expensive to buy. We also bought a townhouse, not a single home. They tend to be cheaper.

As far as day to day savings, I clip coupons, and only buy things that are on sale. I also try to buy the store brand vs the name brand products whenever possible. I also get my haircut less than I did before, and when I do cut it, I go to one of the cheap $5-7 type walk in places. I go home then, and highlight my own hair. That alone saves a lot of money!

We dont go on big vacations, but try to have weekend getaways, and go camping. We also dont get magazine subscriptions anymore.

Theres so many ways that you can change habits and end up saving money. Good luck to you!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2005
Tue, 06-28-2005 - 10:56pm

Hello, We sacrifice owning a home also. We only have one vehicle (Ford Focus) and my children attend public school. We buy our clothes from Wal-Mart, Target, Goodwill, secondhand stores and yard sales. I usually buy (as far as food) store brand, even diapers. We saccrifice alot, but it is so worth it to be home with my children. I can easily return to work in a heart beat and get all those things we don't have, but my children would be left with someone else and I would miss out on alot of things. So for now, God willing, I will be a SAHM until my kids are older.

Olivia

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&nbs
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
Tue, 06-28-2005 - 11:20pm

Well I don't think we sacrifice much. We do not own our home however but are very fortunate to have a great house at low lease price. Saving so much on Leasing is allowing us to save up for a home in a couple of years.


You know I truly believe children would trade in all the "stuff" to have at least one stay at home parent.


We live smartly I think. We try and only eat out once a month on a Tuesday because at most family restaurants kids eat free. We take in the early show for the movies, we volunteer at sports activities to make it free for our kids. Our children have the same opportunities and fun that people of more financial wealth...we just go about it a different way:)


Welcome to the board!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Wed, 06-29-2005 - 10:42am
Well, first of all, hi.
I think it is great that you stay at home.
There are many sacrifies you make for each descion made in life.
I sacrafice working around adults, but I rather be home with my boys then having drama in the workplace or stress related to a job and then bring home to my family.
I think each person is different and so are their reasons for working or staying home.
Again, welcome.

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