How can I afford to be to an at home mommy?

Question

My husband and I really would rather me be at home with our 3 1/2 month old, but we are scared finacially to do so. Any suggestions for be an at home mom or even work pt from home? I would even work two 10/12 hrs days outside home to suppliment income. Suggestions? Advice?

Answer 1

mostly what we did was really downsize our lives... gave up one of our cars, moved to a smaller place, rarely eat out or do any entertaining that costs (kept internet for school/work, so it's easy to find local free events), use mostly hand me down and 2nd hand store clothes for us and our daughter...

basically there are no extras, we live extremely tight... but I'd rather get one haircut a year (that my mom gifts me for my birthday), have the hasle of taking my husband to work on days I need to use the car, and all the other things to make ends meat - and still be home w/ my daughter... she's 4 yrs old now and she's never needed a child care provider. I've baby sat in our home to supplement, on and off, and for a few months earlier this year I worked a retail job several nights a week - so 20 minutes after my husband got home from work, I left for work (plus some saturdays).

It is possible to do, it's a matter of how much do you want to give up. I'm happy I did it, I have no regrets... I'll continue to do it too. Kids are only in their formative years for a little while... we'll have time for financial security and all those benefits later, this is more important to me right now.

Answer 2

I am kind of in the same situation. My daughter is almost 9 months old and i have been a stay at home mom the hole time. I would much rather me be at home then some stranger that i dont know. My husband has recently had to take a huge pay cut to help out a family member get his buisness going. So i totally understand the money issues. I would just say to take up a hobby, get really good at it an turn it into something you can do that people will pay for. Like one of my friends arranges flowers for peoples weddings. Another friend goes to wal mart Buy patterns and materials and makes little baby clothes and sales them at yard sales or on ebay. Then some do scrap booking for people. Also another friend opened up her own cooking buisness from her home. I dont know how it will be taxes wise because i havent done anything like that before. But these are all great ways to work on your own time and still get some extra money in. At first im sure you wont make money because you will be learning and all but aftwerwards you will make money.

Answer 3

I had to work with my first child because I was single. Now, I am remarried and have my 4 yr old and a 4 mo. old and I get to stay at home. We just really cut corners and tried to stick to a budget. My husbands income is very good as was mine but still, it is an adjustment when you lose income. We lost around $3600 a month when I quit working and it was a change but we are managing fine. I was terrified at first, an absolute nervous wreck, clipping coupons, stockpiling change,etc. But, with some adjusting, it was easier than I thought. See about a WIC program . I think they have pretty high income requirements. You may qualify with just your husband's income and they give you formula, milk, juice, peanut butter,cereal, etc. If you qualify with one income, it is a good program. Be leary of home based business operations. You can investigate them online and alot of them are cons or bogus programs that require a large amount of "start up money". How would you feel about maybe keeping another child in your home ? Depending on where you live, you could earn $100 a week. I have a friend that cleans 2 houses 2 days a week for about 6 hrs each time and makes $250 a week. She does it to be able to stay home and supplement her husbands income.

Answer 4

My daughter is 6 months old and I also just moved, so I have not been working sence she was born. It has been hard but my husband has put me through a at home transcription school and I am almost finished. So I will be working from home soon, in the mean time it has been hard finacially. We would rather have me home with our daughter than some strangers watching her, and not knowing what is happening while I am not there. So good luck and do what you feel is right.

Answer 5

First I have to say You would be surprised at what you save being home. We don't eat out as much I didn't realize how much I was spending on extras, gas, and child care.
How about Direct sales? I didn't think it was for me I sort of fell in to it by accident. I love Mary Kay I have been using it for years about 10 now. Three years ago my consultant who also worked with me at the Large Financial Institution we both worked at the time shared the information with me at the time I blew her off and didn't give it any thought a year later I wanted to be home with my children I decided what did I have to lose I would just do it for the product discount and I was surprised at what I found. I love it. The flexibility to works as little or as much as I want, the friendships and personal growth is so hard to explain. It is hard being home with little ones even if you have friends and play dates extra you need "me" time I love being able to be someone other then "mom" and make money doing it:) If not MK look into some of the other out there.

Answer 6

My son is 9 mos old and I've had success being a Rep with Silpada Designs jewelry. I set my own schedule and I run my business how I want to. There is definately money to be made here. I mostly work on the weekends for 3-4 hours at a time so my husband stays home with our son and we skip the babysitter thing. You earn cash on the spot and free jewelry. They have a huge support team and incentive trips for excelling. Oh, and it's fun! Check out the website below for more info.

www.mysilpada.com/jennifer.furse

Answer 7

I think UPS has a position that is a "work from home" job. Also, you can google some "work from home" jobs" or you could go on unemployment for 6mos and maybe by then you'd be ready to put your child in day care and get out there and get a job again.

Maybe set up a small day care in your home... people charge $100 a kid per week for their in-home daycare from what I've seen, some more and some less. You do the math.

Answer 8

Do you have the temperment to watch other children in your home? Do you really enjoy children and have the ability to love them and treat them as you would your own? This is a great way to have others in the house with your children, make some money and be home with your daughter.
I am a single mom with 2 boys that works for a family with 2 boys. They bring the children to my house in the morning and in the afternoon, I pick the oldest up from school and take them to their home. I help the family with a little laundry and I make them dinner...then I go home. I have been home with my 20 month old from day 1.... this is a great income for us and I am able to be with my baby.

Answer 9

Cut back the fat in your budget, take a few days of work, go from there, then see if you can afford to cut out that work too. Simply write it all down (your expenses either way, vs. your income either way) and see what makes sense. I am a SAHM, have been for almost 2 years- not because we're rich, because we're CAREFUL with our $, and forgoe a lot of stuff other people 'have' to have, like designer labels, frequent vacations, new cars.

Answer 10

I stayed home with my kids and it is definately is worth it. Think about the cost of working outside the home and you may find that it actually costs more to work than to stay home. When you add daycare, eating lunch out, gas to and from work, wardrobe requirements, etc, a lot of working moms only "make" minumum wage.

There are many who are able to work at home, but there are also a lot of scams out there. Be careful in your search for work-at-home jobs, especially if they require you to set up your own business of sorts.