Becoming a stay at home mom is not so difficult as people think, even in these times. However it does require to give up some luxuries that are not necessities to life. For example that cup of Starbucks in the morning or the lunch trip to the deli. Friends and family may look at you like you have lost your mind when you tell them you are leaving your job in order to be a stay at home mom
A budget will become your best friend fast. Budgeting is key in making it work. Living on one income can be hard but with the right budget and life style changes it can work. Look at me, i am a prime example that it can be done. My family is not rich but we planned and budgeted right so that it is possible for me to be raising our children and not be at daycare. Realistically if you really wanted to stay home but wanted to go back to work at some point, you could always start back once the kids start school. This does not have to be a permanent thing but being there for there most important years will be so rewarding for you and baby.
1.Create a budget and decide what expenses are unnecessary. Start cutting back immediately. Pay off as much debt as possible, and start saving if you have not been already.
2.Research ways to save money on groceries, gifts, transportation, and utilities. This can include growing your own garden, making gifts, giving up a car, and taking efforts to conserve energy,
3.Calculate the money you would save by staying @ home. ex: lunch, gas, work clothes, dry cleaner, toll, daycare costs, and eating out (you should be able to cook now that your home,which saves tons)
4. Write a complete log of where all your money is going each month, this will help to find those missing dollars. Most people know how much they get paid and that there is not much left at the end of the month but as for where the money is being spent there clueless. Start reducing impulse shopping and always ask yourself is this something i need or just want to have.
*With these tools i am sure you will figure out if being a stay at home is possible for your family.
Example: Once i became a stay at home mom i cut out unnecessary shopping and bills. I cut down on TV (no HBO) Cut down on groceries by using coupons and looking for sales at different stores as well as making a weekly menu.
It is possible moms, Good Luck!
1 comment:
You're so right Arianna. I was the breadwinner of the family. I was with my job for 6 1/2 years. Once we had our daughter, I had to go back to work because we THOUGHT we couldn't afford it if I didn't work. We put our daughter in daycare part time but it was still a ridiculous amount of money.
My husband knew how upsetting it was for me to leave my daughter everyday to go to work, a place that was making me miserable. He started encouraging me to just leave my job. The hours were getting harder & harder to spend time with my family. So after a few months, we decided, after sitting down & seeing what we had to cut out spending wise & how much we could save every month, I left my job. It was the most exilarating experience ever. Knowing that I would be able to spend everyday with my princess & see all her developments.
It was the best decision I've ever made. I was able to hear my daughter's first words & see her first steps.
We really didn't sacrafice that much because we gained so much more!!!!! Those of you women out there who like to make your money & are scared to make the jump, JUST DO IT!!!!!! It's the most rewarding "job" you will ever have & your children are only that age once.
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