How do full time moms afford not to work?

Question

I have 2 young kids aged 2 and 4 I have worked full time since they were tiny babies, they have always been cared for by a private day nursery. (Who are great) but I t has taken me some time and a job move but I have now realised they need me more than I need a job. I have never been able to grasp how people cope on only one income, and not a very good one at that. How will I cope without my wage?

Answer 1

I have 3 kids, and I'm a stay at home Mum, it is a struggle, and we can't afford every luxury, but my kids benefit from having me at home, working tax credit helps, and I'm always there for my kids, no dis-respect to working Mums, but I feel that being there for my kids, makes a HUGE difference to their lives!

Answer 2

It takes a lot of sacrifice. No extras. You need to be sure that you are able to handle all the changes that will occur. Sometimes you need to get a less expensive car or home. No more going out to eat or getting takeout.
I think that raising your kids is so much more important than a job if you can afford to do it. My husband and I have made it work for 12 years.
You could also get a part time job at times when your spouse is home so you won't need a babysitter. Or you could start your own business from home. There are many options for moms that want to be home with their kids. I have friends that sell Avon and Tupperware. I have a friend that sells Usborne Books and makes a great income doing home shows twice a week.
Just be sure it is what you want to do and you will make it work. Good Luck. I'm sure your children will thank you when they are older.

Answer 3

You will be suprised; you just will cope because you have to. But it will be worth it - a mothers love and attention is far more precious than money. More than likely a vast majority of your wage was going towards paying for private day nurserys- and these don't come cheap; without that to pay out for and with you at home and able to plan healthy family meals instead of convenience foods after a long day at work you will be suprised how much you can save; it's all swings and round abouts. Never doubt your decision to care for your children from home; that contact and time will make them grow up into confident and well-balanced individuals.

Answer 4

I am a stay at home mom of 3. Financially it doesn't make sense for me to pay daycare on 3 children. Two of my kids are in school but it is hard to find a job that lets you take the summer off. If you feel you need to stay home you will find the way financially. We cut back on lots of things when I quit working. You can still live life well without always having everything everyone else has. Just remember to do what is best for your family.

Answer 5

I don't know. My sister has a 3.5 year old son and a 6 month old daughter. They costed in a nanny (to ferry the boy to and from school) and the baby but it turned out to be far cheaper for her to stop working. Luckily her husband has a good job or I don't know how they could survive financially. I saw a programme on National Geographic about a family who has 16 kids amazing!

When we were kids my parents weren't very well off and neither were their friends (and parents from the surrounding areas) so they started a babysitting circle where they each did a certain number of hours every month so that their friends could still go out and have reliable sitters at no cost. Worth doing if you have enough friends.

Answer 6

Number one thing: hubby's income has to provide the basics and consist of some extra income that can be used for goal based plans such as fixing the home, parents night out, saving for family travel, family time fun, paying down debt, etc.

2. Budgeting appropriately and investigating waste clipboard and pen in hand. Energy waste, food waste, and even boxed up clothing and items a family does not use can be sold at rummage, taken to consignment, or donated for someone else to sell or use. A gift fund can built with a small amount of savings per week...any goal can be reached by saving because the opposite gets many nowhere.

3. Many families are guilty of food waste. Also consider a garden for both health and financial purpose. Consider that some seeds can be started in the house and the harvest can be stored for the winter. A garden tended and the harvest/preserving of food allows for more goals to be met *see paragraph one. All that is not used can be put at the end of the drive and sold or passed to a neighbor who isn't fortunate to have fresh produce. Pick fruits and vegetables at farms when in season such as blueberries, asparagus, peaches, apples, etc and preserve. A food saver, freezer, and good book on preserving foods is a must. If the oven is used bake tomorrows dinner or a cake as well or put the extra meal in the freezer used as a time-saver later on a busy day. Become frugal with left-overs...make soup with chicken broth, tomato juice, or beef stock as a base and should be a regular purchase.

Purchase sale, clearance, and consignment/second hand and rummage sales especially when it comes to clothing. Don't feel you aren't contributing ...a good rummage sale circulates cash that ends up being spent also, not to mention bargains for those who buy previously owned some of which is barely used. Sewing skills allows for creativity/alone-time and cuts cost a tad as well as makes gift-giving fun : )

Answer 7

Easy, by not buying everything of the best. By not buying everything your eyes see by living frugally . Most people when they have a job also have everything of the best, those are things you can live without, kids need their mom at home more than ever now. Not slagging other working mom's but if you have a husband who works , you can make it. I am sure the private nursery must cost you a fortune , there you will already have saved some cash there.Not criticising but it is true.

Answer 8

you no what sometimes its better off not to work depends are were you live ,im not saying everybody should go out and have kids just to do this ,
why don't you try going part time this way you can still spend time with you kids the ages that thay are it wont be long and thay will be starting school soon ,
i have a 3ry old boy and i gave up work to spend time with him but im lucky that i have my own business and can do alto of work if needed from home , maybe try getting a job that you can do from home , having the one income might be hard but you will manage go to your local social and ask there thay might be able to help you out on things like costs towards the day nursery its not going to hurt to ask and at least that way it will help .

Answer 9

Have three children and gave up work when I had my eldest. My husband and I don't drink, smoke or go out. We have to sacrifice a lot but I have always said I would never work while my kids are small and need me at home. I was a latch key kid and I have never wanted that for my kids. If you want to give up work and be a full time mom that much you and your partner will find a way. Use the benefit system that's what its there for.

Answer 10

They downsize everything. Get rid of all the extra bills that you do not need. You may have to live in a less expensive house. Could you sell yours and buy a small house with the equity? They have used cars with lots of miles on them. They downsize the cable subsciption, cell phones, internet service, movie plans, activities etc. They eat at home most of the time. Their kids wear hand me downs or off brand clothes. They sacrifice the extras, but they have more time to spend with each other and they have different priorities. The latest gadgets and toys aren't necessary. The kids really won't miss it. I mean really how many times at holidays have you said I should have just given them the box!

Answer 11

Let me start out by saying that my son is truely a gift from God.As I was not supposed to be able to have children and when I found out I was pregnant you can imagine what a surprise it was.I wasn't prepared for it financially but then I don't think most people are.My husband and I decided that since it wouldn't be cost effective for both of us to work that I would stay home with our child while he worked and give our son the kind of beginning in life that my husband and I never had.Being home with our son has given me the opportunity to raise him with all the love and guidance that I'm able to give to him.And as a result he is a very loving and happy little boy.But all this comes with sacrafices on our part.We do without most things that maybe most people take for granted.But that's ok because I think having both parents and being so much loved by us is all that Brandon really cares about.We pay our bills but then after that we're basically broke.It's a sacrafice but one that's going to give our son his whole life everything he needs to stand on solid ground.Later I can go back to work and make up for all we went without.So it's really no big deal.It just depends on how much your willing to give up to be with your children.Material things can always come later but creating character and self esteem and confidence in our children has to begin early in their life.So you may have to sell some stuff,give up going to the beauty salon,stay home more often and just be content with what you have.That's how you can cope without your wage.