Stay at home moms- how did you make it work financially?

Question

My husband and I are looking at possibly starting a family next year. We're not wealthy, by any means. I'd really like to be a stay at home mom. My husband is supportive of this, if we can find a way to make it work. (I plan on going back to work part to full time once our future child enters kindergarden).

I'm currently about 1/4 through my college degree, and will continue to take night classes once we have a child (The way we're planning, I'll be about 1/2 way through college when they are born). For clarification, I am almost in my mid twenties, not fresh out of high school. :) My husband works days, so he can be home with our future child in the evenings when I am at class.

To the stay at home moms who did it on a budget- how did you do it? Any good tips/ideas? What worked for you? How hard was it? (I don't want to spend each month worrying if we're going to be able to pay the water bill).

Thanks so much for your answers!!

Answer 1

It is hard financially what you are doing, but so well worth it when you get to be home with your babies.
Cutting back on things you don't need. Limit eating out and cook more dinners at home. Look up low-budget recipes and shop the sales with coupons.
Another thing I did was baby sat, 1 sometimes 2, but no more than 2 at a time. It was extra income plus I tried only to take children that were close to the age of my own.....that way you also receive the benefit of your child(ren) getting to have that interaction with other children. Don't know if this is an option for you, but it worked well for me.
Also I got into a few crafts and things, made homemade candles and knick knacks and found places to sell a few pieces and I also did some data entry for a medical company too that I could do from home on my own time, so during nap times and a few hours in the evening after the kids were settled in.
It wasn't a whole real big paycheck but all the extra money came in handy and I could still be a stay at home mom and provide a little source of income into the home.
Good Luck to you! :)

Answer 2

its great that your finishing school you should definitely stick with that, but I know how you feel me and my husband don't have much money and we have 2 kids that WE LOVE but honestly daycare we cant afford so i jsut recently started my home business, i still work but im doing it part time until i make enough (which they say takes 6-12 months) to quit my job and stay home to replace my now income. I really like it and it offers benefits and 401K. It has a monthly fee BUT every business has an investment whether internet or a bakery, ya know. this one is a very small monthly and the training shows me how to get everything else i need free!! so thats all i need to invest. its been worth it and they have a promise plan that if you work 10 hours a week (at least) of diligent effort you can definitely make 100K within 2-4 years! So now i have my husband who wasnt approving in the beginning waiting for me to let him stay home too!! well if you want more info just take a look at my site below, if not then definitely good luck and i know what its like not having money and having kids!! so i wish you the best!

Answer 3

OK, I just had A baby 6 months ago, I'm going to college also, I take nigh classes and on-line class, my husband makes 250 a week, and we are living great, we have everything we need, and some things that we want. how we do it? simple.. when i first got pregnant we start saving, I worked as mush as I could, and saved as much as we could, I start cooking from scratch, no more TV dinners or going out 2 eat(w do it once in awhile so we can have a break from the baby) also, baby stuff are really expensive so what did I do, I bought a lot of use stuff, bcz its not worth buying a nice dress for the baby worth 20 or $30, and just wear it twice or three times, but u can buy a nice one for $6 and that way u can save the money and get dippers. also Women Infant Children program helps A LOT, they give u formula and milk, cheese and a lot more when your pregnant, and after you ahave the baby.. if you can breast feed DO IT its a lot cheaper... If we made it u can make it if u have any ?'s E-mail me @ [e-mail]

Answer 4

I was lucky my husband makes enough money that it hasn't been difficult.. Sit down and look at your income and costs decide where you can trim costs (I.e. not eating out, refinancing home loan, credit cards to get a lower interest rate etc.)

Once you streamline the costs and income lookig at frivilous expenses and eliminating them it's amazing how much more money you have available.. Remember your personal costs will decrease once you leave the work force (i.e. gas and other travel expenses, clothing, meals while working etc.) Look at auto insurance costs sometimes you can get a discount based on the amount you travel.. Look at the need for automobiles if you are at home can you become a 1 car family instead of a 2 car family... Cell phones.. do you need one if you are at home... There are all sorts of ways to cut costs be creative...

It's great that your husband is supportive of the idea... My husband was/is also supportive and that makes a huge difference..

My husband and I have been a single income family since we married 10.5 years ago.. We had originally planned on me getting a job (I left mine to marry him and move to a different state) Our plan was for me to not work for the first 1-2 months upon arrival so I could get our children (ages 7 and 9 a the time) settled in school and used to the new routines in the new place... We found out within 2 weeks of the wedding that I was expecting our 3rd (SUPRISE!!!!! Dr's don't know everything they said I couldn't have another LOL).. With complications in the pregnancy and bedrest etc. I couldn't work while pregnant, during the pregnancy my husband and I talked and decided we could make it financially on one income..

I always wanted to be a stay at home mom... My mother was at home until my youngest sister was a junior in high school that's when a job oppurtunity came up that was too good o pass up, working for a close family friend who understood and supported her family came first even at the expense of her work... She was only 5 blocks from home while at her job and was able to manage things at home over the telephone or by leaving work at anytime she needed to.. See too good to pass up..

My husband wanted me to be a stay at home mom because his mother never was.. He felt he missed out on a lot..

Now that my kids are 19, 17 and 9 I have considered working part time (just for something to do while everyone is at school/work) I have a really really part time job doing medical transcription occassionally for a friends medical practice (Most often when he is short handed or during August and early September when there are a lot of school related physicals and thus extra paperwork) .. I am able to do the work during the day and late in the evening at home.. I also do any transcription for people working at the office so no one there knows each others private medical business...

If you can find a job you can do at home at your leasure to bring in a little extra money (This is not we depend on it money just extra sometimes money) it can help...

Answer 5

I am a hild care provider in my home. my home isnt big but I keep just one 2 yr old m-f 7-4 and I will soon keep another child. my husband works 2 jobs and still finds time to get 2 days off a week. He works 2days a week at his 2nd job which he goes straight to after his 1s job. I go to night school once a week also and my grandmother right now watch my daughter on the nights I am in school, since my husband works 2 jobs. He is off on the night I go to school but he needs a break too. On the weekends or after 4pm I run all the errands and make sure everything gets done. On the weekends I clean house and hang out with family and friends. I dont charge alot to keep children because day care providers are expensive and if your not then people will come to you. If you can sew you can put ads online that you can sew and people can pay you to fix thier cloths or fix whatever. If your good at handling more than one child go for it you need to find something you are good at that you can do at home. One you do that post ads online hang flyers make business cards pass them out. Make a portfolio. Calls wont come in right away but a few now and then but thats all you need to get your name on the market. Keep the business a secret and you wont have to pay taxes also if you want try to get on WIC. It helps out some and you can get a free car seat from your health dep. When you do decide go to huggies.com pampers.com gerber.com all name brands that babys use and get on thier mailing lists and member lists because they will send ou free stuff!

Answer 6

3 words.
budget, budget, budget. :-)
you must plan what everything costs, and set aside the monies for it, not to be touched under any circumstances. That way the little things in life, like water, food, and utilities, not to mention a roof over your head, are not nightmares.
The best way is to set all expense money aside, even a little for auto repair, and new clothing. that way nothing hits you hard.
Clip coupons...get seasonal items on sale. Eat out less.
It sounds like a lot to do, but if you do it in an organized way, it can actually give you a sense of pride that you don't pay full price for anything.
My son's dresser is on it's 4th color scheme as he has grown. I got it for 40 dollars in a consignment store. Old fashioned but real wood. That way, when I paint his room, everything matches and it looks 'meant' not 'yard sale'
You can do it.......
enjoy your family, and then get back into the swing of work when you are all ready...good luck, and happy times!

Answer 7

You must start living poorer than usual! You can cut the grocery bill by making your own meals from scratch! No more prepackaged meals! You'll never be able to eat out again! Make your clothes last as long a possible and go to the Good Will before WalMart!

Answer 8

I bought the Miserly Mom books, by Jonni McCoy when we had our first child and I wanted to stay home. She has some good ideas, many of which I already did.

I also started a home based business that has helped our family as well others. I can help others reach their goal to stay home, get out of debt...whatever their goal is. More importantly, we found healthier, safer household cleaning products, bath/shower products, etc, that do not have dangerous toxic chemicals.

If you would like more information, please contact me thru email.

I wish you the best.

Answer 9

First I would recommend that you finish your degree before you have children. It will be too easy to quit school for you if you don't wait. Babies and toddlers are demanding... and if you are tired and don't have time to study...... For instance, my first grandchild was very, very needy. His mom literally had to hold him while she washed dishes.

As to your question though. I was a stay at home mom. I was lucky in that my parents were very generous and bought our home for us. So we didn't have a house payment. But it could still be tight. As the parent you do without a lot of the little luxuries that you might want. You buy on sale. Take advantage of coupons. My daughter buys a lot of really nice stuff at Goodwill for her children. Garage sales. Second hand stores. etc.

Answer 10

I am a stay at home mom and I go to college online. I make money by being a Gold Canyon Candle demonstrator. It's wonderful you make 25% off the top of your sales. You can always get someone to book a party off of a party. I would love to talk to you more about it, just let me know if you are interrested!