The stay at home mom forum article will discuss calculating the costs of staying at home, is that second income really worth it and emotional and financial reason why it is not.
Is that second income really worth all that hard work? It is really worth all the hours away from the family? Do you want to be a stay at home mom, but don't think you can afford it? Well, think again. Let's look at what that second income is actually costing you:
Emotionally:
1. Guilt: of leaving the child in someone else's care
2. Anger: that you cannot take time off from work when your child is sick
3. Sadness: when you learn your child did something new and fun and you weren't around to see it
4. Stress: of trying to meet too many demands on your time and not enough time to relax
Financially:
1. Car: the extra gas, auto insurance and mileage on the car and the second car itself
2. Work: the fundraisers and gifts that you feel obligated to buy, the social gathering you feel obligated to attend, and the clothing attire you must purchase to look presentable.
3. Taxes: FICA and state taxes taken out each pay period as well as the higher income tax bracket at the end of the year.
4. Childcare: the cost of a babysitter, as well as anything you are asked to purchase while your children are in the care of the sitter
5. Miscellaneous expenses: union dues, uniforms, out of pocket work expenses
Once all the above financial obligations come into play, one can conclude that the average $11 an hour worker is either breaking even, in the negative or working 40 hours a week for a mere $50 per week. If after you have written down all of the above expenses in the terms of actual numbers, you find that you are working for only $50 a week, but that $200 a month is necessary to keep your family afloat, consider one of the following:
1. a part-time job while the kids are in school
2. a home-based business
3. cutting corners by:
a. getting rid of the cable guy
b. saying good-bye to the insect terminator
c. stopping the gardener from coming by
d. using coupons when purchasing groceries
e. ending the weekly trips to your favorite fast food place
f. buying second hand and garage sale items
g. trying to purchase shoes when they are on sale or clearance
h. ending that weekly manicure or hair cut
i. starting a vegetable garden in your own backyard
j. accepting hand me downs from family members
k. sewing the tears in clothes instead of giving them away
l. making large meals and freezing them into family servings
m. making your husband's lunch instead of him buying it every day
