Working to provide vs SAHM?

Jurnee - posted on 08/15/2011

If you go to full time work, did you consider in the cost of daycare for your child? I would first look really hard at your budget and see if you cant find ways to trim it. Working full time and raising kids isn't easy. Aside from daycare, also factor in the cost of your commute and work clothes, lunches, the nites when yore too tired to cook and order out. Sometimes working is not always the best financial move. Good luck to you, whatever you decide

Bonnie - posted on 08/15/2011

I agree with the daycare idea. I started doing daycare a few months ago. I look after 2 kids, some weeks here and there 3 kids. Plus my own. I work full time hours during the day Monday to Friday. The money isn't that great, but yes, it allows you to be home with your kids and there for them when they need you. Then perhaps you can get a part time job on weekends elsewhere if you need to.

Krista - posted on 08/15/2011

Sara makes a good point. Could you perhaps take in another kid or two? That way, you'd be working full-time, but would have your daughter there as well.

Nikki - posted on 08/15/2011

I was in the same situation, so I completely up-hauled our lifestyle. Similar to Sara's suggestions I looked for ways to save money. I went back to work and it just didn't work for us at all. My hubby looked for a better job, which he was luckily able to get, not a great deal more money but more stable. I changed to modern cloth nappies and I love them, we used to eat out all the times, so I started cooking from scratch, shopping around for everything rather than purchasing things that were convenient. I started buying most of my daughters clothes a year in advance in the next size up when all the end of season sales are on. Make my own cleaning products, keep an eye on my electricity usage, there's lots of other little things but I can't remember them right now.

It's become quite addictive, learning new ways to save money, and I can happily say that although our income has not increased dramatically our saving have!

Good Day! - posted on 08/14/2011

Maybe you've already done this, but go through your budget with a fine tooth comb and see what you can cut out or at least reduce. Some ideas: cable, cell phone plans, Internet, eating out, snack/junk foods, gas. Could you grow some of your own vegetables to save on produce? Could you hunt for meat? Cook more from scratch? Line dry your clothes? Have a big garage sale? Also, have you ever considered cloth diapers?

If you really don't want to get a full time job, living without some 'luxuries' may be worth it.

Or, could you keep another child in your home during the week? That way you could be home with your daughter while making a little extra money.

Katherine - posted on 08/14/2011

Kelly has a point here. You are going to be spending a ton in daycare alone. That will kind of negate the money for diapers. And who WILL do the housework? Cook the meals? Do you do all of this already? You don't want to burn yourself out.

Kelly - posted on 08/14/2011

If you can find a job that you love, I would say "go for it" because you will enjoy the break from your little one, but if you are miserable at work, you are going to spend the whole time wondering what she is doing and hating yourself. You have to ask if that little bit of extra cash is worth it.

I have worked full time as a mom, and while it was very stressful for our family (and ultimately not what we needed) it had it's advantages too. I was a GREAT mom during those evening hours with my son--I had so little time with him that I needed to be at my best. On the down side, he lacked discipline because who wants to spend the only hour a day you have with your kid telling her "no!".

You also must consider who will be watching your little one while you are working--will you have a nanny or use a day center. We chose a nanny to maximize time with J, but I often felt that she was more attuned to him than I was.

There is also the housekeeping to consider--you can't do it all alone. Is your husband willing to help in that regard or will you be hiring in housekeeping. You mentioned that the reason you want to work it to make ends meet, not just for extra $$, so will it be worth it after you pay the housekeep and the child care--I mean, you don't want to spend 8 hours a day wondering about your little one and feeling guilty for and extra $800/month after your work related expenses. If you have a job you love, though, it wouldn't be so bad to be doing something fun all day for an extra $800/month.

Casey - posted on 08/14/2011

The problem is i do have two part time jobs that can only offer me a certain amount of hours a day so i do both in one day on 3 or 4 days a week. But i live in a small country town so we dont have any night clubs and only a couple of pubs. I am looking for jobs but am struggling to find something suitable that pays enough to pay day care and the bills etc

Katherine - posted on 08/14/2011

It is hard. I felt the same way when I had to work part time. I have 2 kids and one was little, well they both were.

But I consider work my respite. Always have. I only worked a few days a week, like Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Like Krista said maybe you can find something at night while she's asleep. There are a lot of direct care jobs out there. Go on Craigslist and check it out.

Krista - posted on 08/14/2011

It's really only something that you can decide. On one hand, yes you WILL have less time with her.

But on the other hand, you'll make a real effort to squeeze as much out of those hours as possible.

Plus, you won't have money woes hanging over your head and stressing you out.

Is it possible for you to try it out, and then go back to part-time if you're finding it too difficult? Or, could you look into a second part-time job that has night shifts, so that you would only have to go to work while she's asleep? Even if you just did something like coat check at a club, two nights a week, that extra bit of money would go a long way towards diapers.