I am considering being a SAHM. Just to give me an idea, If YOU are a SAHM, how much $ does your husband make?

Question

I know that everyone's situation is different, but just want to see what other families live on. I don't have any kids now, but want to in about a year- and then I would like to stay home, but am wondering if we can make it on only my husband's salary. If I hear other people budgeting the same $ that we would be, that would make me at least a little hopeful!! Thanks so much!

Answer 1

I was a SAHM for 2 years with our son and my husband made around $35,000 as a police officer. You can do it, you just have to be mindful of what you spend or you could even pick up a hobby like selling things on eBay or doing daycare out of your house for extra spending money. Every little bit helps but if you can do it without worrying about money, props to you!

Answer 2

I became a SAHM a couple of years ago. It's definitely got its good points and bad points, but to me, it's well worth it. What you've got to do it make a list of what comes in and what needs to go back out in the way of money. See if some of the bills can be trimmed if the income looks like it's going to be tight. It can be done if you live frugally and to be SAHM is not just for the rich anymore.

OR

You could always work from home though too (when the school age arrives). I did that too for a while and it helped fund some extra activities here and there.

I personally wouldn't have it any other way BUT to be a SAHM. My child has a parent waiting for him when he comes in from school, never has to worry about having a house key, doesn't go to an after-school program run by questionable people, etc.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

Answer 3

My husband is a painter and I am a stay at home mom. We budget and at ceratin times of the year, like winter, we really struggle. If we have one lapse of pay, even by a couple of hours, our budget falls apart. We also have 2 children 5 and under and another one due any time. So our financial resources can be consumed rather quickly. My husband also pays about $600 a month in child support for his 12 year old son. If we didn't have that we would be in outstanding shape. ( not complaining about the child or the support, just showing that if you do not have that expense you will be evn better off. I don't want anyone responding to get their panties in a bunch). So while it's not always easy for us to afford the luxurious things in life we get by with the simple things.
We do not go out to the movies, we always rent. We juggle our bill schedule so that no more than 2 of our utility bills are due at the same time. We own our vehicle, we have no car payment. We budget our grocery bill and the extra money at the end of the month is where the snack foods and fruit rollups and all the extras come from. My husband does smoke, wish we could get rid of that. We do better than if I worked and paid 75% of pay to child care. It does take alot of sacrifice on your part as the mother because 9 times out 10 you are the one going without. No expensive hair salons, or nail boutiques. No designer clothes. We are considering a move from our home in Michigan to Ohio because that is where my whole family lives and I am really thinking about going back to school and getting a job. This third child may drain us completely. I hope that this helped. There is no set amount of money that will or won't work. It all depends on your level of committment and your budgeting skills.

Answer 4

You shouldn't be looking at this at all in terms of money. It is more important that you and your husband WANT to do this for your children. You have to be willing to make terrific amounts of sacrifices to be a SAHM, not just involving money. What you do is always think of the child first. You need to pare down your expenses to necessities, and just concentrate on the family. No more girls or boys nights out, you need to do budgeting and home cooking and baking to save money, no more fancy coffees bought from shops when the same amount of money can buy a pound of coffee, etc. There are zillions of ways to cut expenses - bare minimum of clothes; you don't need work clothes any more once you are home, so that saves a heck of a lot of money, both on clothes and dry cleaning. No cable or satellite tv, no fancy electronics, no toys - except for the child.
Frankly, it's all worth it. Nothing can buy the love and the specialness of having mom home, for the child and for the husband. Makes a happy, unified family.
My husband's income would have ranged from under 20k to 33k, sometimes working, sometimes not.

Answer 5

I would try living on his salary now in anticipation of being at home. Bank your salary so you'll have some savings built up. On average it takes about a year to adjust to living on one salary.

It's not just money but time you have to budget, what I took into consideration when I stayed home was how much daycare was, how much I'd bring home after, time away from home and prep time for getting the baby to the daycare/sitter (bottles, clothes), travel time and how much time we'd actually have with the baby once we got home, made dinner, etc.

What we cut out was subscriptions, started using the library instead of buying books, planned better grocery shopping trips, juggled credit cards to get lower % rates, switched to utility budget plans, refinanced the house when the rates dropped, changed car insurance coverage, phone plans. There was not really any big things we could cut out, it was all nickle and diming to spend less money.

Answer 6

It's going to depend on where you live, some places are more expensive then others. It also depends on what your fixed expenses are.

Rent
Gas
Heat/electric
Food (and adding in formula/diapers)
Doctor's visits
Medication
Credit card bills/loans
Etc...
Once you add up all your fixed expenses then you can decide if you can survive on your husband's income. Until then it's irrelevant what other people make since everyone's expenses are different. Remember to add in money for entertainment or eating out, clothes and other misc items as well. good luck

Answer 7

I'm a stay at home mom and my husband is in the military. We have 2 young kids. He doesn't make much as an E4 but we get by. Its hard but you just have to remember that once you have kids you can't spend alot of money on luxuries. Its mostly going to go to them.

Answer 8

Try this and see if you can afford to stay at home. Take all you bills, now and add 20% per child and compare that to your husbands income and see it it calculates to be enough plus a little extra for those unexpected emergencies and ER bills. don't forget about future costs like cars,insurances and collage. this should answer your question well.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Start saving money now if you want to have a child. I wouldn't be able to stay home on my fiance's salary. He makes 30K.

Not in Massachusetts anyway.

I would save, save, save...and decide now if you are going to stay home or go back to work.

Save save save. and you will have the financial freedom to decide on your terms when you go back to work.

Plan for a child...18 years...not just a baby.