From the 15th to the end of the month, it felt like we could do whatever we wanted and still have money left over (when living on two incomes). I’m a nurse in my late 40s and married. It was a transition for us, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Find out if it's possible, and if it's really what you want the most! The sacrifices are well worth the blessings you get by being a stay at home mom. by Jamie Jeffers | Parenting Tips, Saving Money | 22 comments. I started a blog and worked my BUTT off to get it to make $1000 a month in just 6 months. I love the part of the test period to see if you can do this. (Obviously you can’t use all of it, because there are expenses associated with going to work. The SAHM Budget Test: How to Afford to Be a Stay-at-Home Mom. I get to see every new thing that he learns, I change every diaper (I see this as a perk! Recently I made the decision to be a SAH momma too. Follow local museums and other attractions on Facebook so you’ll be alerted when they’re having discount or free days. We want to be able to do more for our two children (my stepchildren), and we’re also planning to have one of our own, but it’s just really hard right now, and we shouldn’t have to put a hold on trying to have a child of our own all because we’re struggling. Our family was about to pay off over $20,000 in credit card debt. Chances are, if you’re reading this post, you are considering becoming a stay at home mom, but aren’t sure if it is financially possible for your family. How to afford to be a SAHM? Sometimes you can still have what you want you just need to think about it differently. Now I’m trying to decide if I want to move to Durham or Raleigh. It meant resolving to live in an RV for a few months while we worked to build up my husband’s credit score so we could buy a home, and it meant living as cheaply as possible to make our dollars stretch as far as they possibly could. If those don’t fit your schedule, you can still consider babysitting or pet sitting. Then the number one thing – getting our food budget under control. I’m sharing your story! The argument is over: You absolutely, positively cannot afford to be a full-time stay-at-home mom. Your dad is absolutely right – money means literally nothing in life. When you see this, if you have the freezer space – stock up! It’s true you have to make sacrifices if you want to stay at home with the kids. . That’s incredible! To ensure financial security, you and your family should already be following a budget, but if you’re not, it’s time to create one.. A budget will help you see exactly how much money you have coming in every month (it’s a good idea to create a “mock budget” before you quit your job. 15 signs your spouse is thinking of divorce—and what to do about it No need to delve into arguments about personal choice or what is good for children or families. Where there is a will, there is often a way. Everything is going to be ok. You just have to take baby steps until you get there. STOP GOING OUT TO EAT. Y. es, and I was giving up my income to do so. It definitely takes some sacrifice. We did absolutely insane things to make it possible for our family. It may not be easy, but it is definitely doable if being at home is truly something you want to do. We’d love to pay cash for something else and sell what we have but can’t without still owing an arm and a leg. My husband works on a survey crew and LOVES what he does. Then i worked part time until they were older. Our third baby was born in late June. What’s your take on that? Wish I could have had the strength to ignore the peer and family pressure and stayed home also. Which will save me thousands of dollars for better coverage! As I held him, one thought ran through my head over and over. If everyone was the same, life would be boring. Mine is quite similar with a few exceptions. We use these for dipping in our soups, for making French bread pizzas, and for just making plain old sandwiches. I’m so happy to hear things are really coming together for your family! Your email is safe and stays with us. Like my dad says, Money means nothing in life. I’m trying not to panic, but we are already in a bind. A week after the celebration, I gave birth to our second boy. What prompts me to look at this topic is a recent C NN Money article “Moms: “I can’t afford to work.” We were able to still go out on occasion with the help of gift cards from our Discover card points and gifts from relatives. Another adoption?? Thanks for the comment! I have so much respect for you all. Joyful Savings recently posted this article you might enjoy: Hacks You’ll Absolutely Love! Learn how to afford being a stay at home mom. If this is something you really want to do, I recommend taking a breastfeeding class to learn everything you can. They’re only tiny once. May 27, 2018 by Denise Stirk. Great advice – especially about working from home to make up the difference. “How to afford to be a stay at home mom” is a question many moms ask themselves. I have some work from home part time prospects but again, I’m just scared. My husband and I have three children together and we are both late 40’s. … We are trying everything to make it possible for me to stay home! He isn’t making a six-figure income. This is a great post! But, oh how we became very suddenly frugal by necessity (and have continued live a frugal lifestyle we love)! Shop around for cheaper car insurance. Taking that initial step is just so huge and scary. I started exploring your site and well, I am grateful for the discovery. I’m so happy I came across your story. I left my great job as a nurse when our son was 18 months to stay home. Be honest with yourself. How To Afford Being A Stay At Home Mom: The 6 Steps You Need to Take. . Love the tips I really want to cut cable but my better half does not want to give up his sports. We used to pay $200 a month for cable TV and ooooh how I wish I could have that money back!! I shutter to think where we’d be without nurses. Very well put together Jamie! You’re no different and I’m definitely not a better parent because I stay at home. Financial fear. If you want to afford being a stay at home mom, you need to be financially organized. We cleaned the headlight covers to make them look brand new with one of these restoration kits. Hi Kylie! We just built a house but thanks to a different financing option,we have a pretty low payment. So it was with my journey toward becoming a stay-at-home mom. Their French bread loaves are usually only $1 which is already an amazing deal, but you can often find them for only 75 cents or even less! Also, I’ve had to come up with ways to stretch our budget and we keep luxuries (such as eating out, shopping sprees, and expensive vacations) to a minimum, but that doesn’t mean we don’t get quality family time in. We overdraw our bank account every other week. My husband is a surveyor as well, and we both work full time but can’t seem to catch a break with all of our bills and every day to day expenses. If you can only just barely afford the mortgage or the car payment, then you can’t really afford it. When my husband and I committed to paying off our outstanding debt … You can do those things while watching your own children. I can honestly say that decision we made a year ago was the BEST decision we have ever made for our family and our marriage. Our oldest “C” is moderately autistic, next is “D” who has sensory ans speech issuea and youngest “S” is well quite the chatterbox; making up for anything his two sibs are lacking. Usertesting.com is a legitimate site that may help you make up to $100 extra a month. Also, keep in mind that things do have a way of working themselves out, even if it looks like there will be a small gap on paper. ), and renegotiating our cell phone plan. We moved 7 hours from our hometown for a job that paid a few cents LESS per hour. Hi Cammy, I’m sorry you didn’t get to stay at home with your kids and now wish you had. [clickToTweet tweet=”Hope for Moms who want to learn how to afford being a stay at home mom. By the time I was pregnant with our third child, we knew it was time to get serious about making my dream a reality. I am lucky to have an amazing husband who supports us and makes this possible. Also, take advantage of any extra income you can make. Make a budget. Absolutely! Like I said it’s been worth not making a giant salary to get to be with my kids. Kim was a pro event planner for over 7 years before she became a full-time blogger. I appreciate any help you can provide. He was a complete surprise and our living situation couldn’t have been much worse. I have been a SAHM for the last 6 years. If you have a mortgage see if you can switch to a biweekly payment. I hear from women all the time who desperately want to stay home with their babies while they are … Thank you for such an encouraging article! And I’m a single mom. A totally free printable daily schedule that you can customize to meet your family's needs. Some people don’t want to afford it. Your kids are going to grow up whether you’re there or not. It’s just takes a little more effort. If I can afford being a stay at home mom, then you can too. 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