If you are a SAHM or work part time...

TriciaChick · March 2009

Do you do it because it is easy on your DH's income? I work part time (10-15 hours a week) and lately it seems like we have to watch EVERY penny. Is this normal when you are SAH or working part time? Or do you feel like your DH should make enough where it is "pretty comfortable." DH is a police officer so we are definatly not rich but definatly get by.

Zoe0520 · March 2009

I SAH and it's tight but not crazy tight. We don't have a lot of extra cash to just do whatever with. But we have enough for our basic needs and the occasional indulgence if we plan for it. I wish DH made more but having me home w/ the kids is what we want so we make it work.

penguingrrl · March 2009

I do it because I wasn't earning what daycare was going to cost. We're extremely tight because DH is a funded graduate student, meaning his schools costs are paid and he has a stipend to live on, but it's a very low income in a very high cost of living area. I was going to work p/t around his hours, but his hours are very long and unpredictable, so that isn't really an option for us (we tried it and it was a disaster that ended when his adviser commented that he seemed to be drifting). Most people I know who SAH are pretty tight financially.

WBs_Bride · March 2009

No, I work p/t because I definitely need to work. I made more than DH when I worked f/t, so I could take a cut and we are still able to afford it. I went down to p/t after having baby #2. I just wanted to be there for my kids as much as I could and still afford our house.

JetMechBride · March 2009

I am a SAHM because I'm in school full time, but we watch every penny very carefully. It's hard to do with one income but it can be done! My DH is not rich at all, but we make enough to get by. I'm careful about what I buy, I cut coupons and we don't splurge on things. But we are living carefully because we want to build a home soon and we are also saving money for that.

It's surprising to see what you can get by on and how much money is wasted on things you really don't need. I don't shop as much as I used to when we had two incomes and I really don't miss it as much as I thought I would. And I feel like I'm learning about what we can get by on, so when we do have two incomes again, we'll have more money in savings and can take our trips to Disney World or to Italy (hopefully!!).

JulieRNbride · March 2009

Tricia,

I work part time and we live in Chesterfield too! Hello from a neighbor.

Julie

tanzer13 · March 2009

I SAH but also work part time as a Gymboree teacher and also babysit for another little girl. Money is very tight for us and I do what I can to make extra. But #1 it is VERY important for me to be home with our children so we do what we need to do to get by and #2 when I was working full time before DS daycare would have taken about 90% of my paycheck! So that is not worth it to me!

rumpunch21 · March 2009

Sorry but I had to LOL.. my DH is a police officer also and we definitely can NOT get by on his salary alone. I am hopefully going Part Time after #2 is born, but I can not be a SAHM on his salary in the Bay Area. He'd have to work so much overtime that we'd never see him - and that's not fair to him, me or DD especially.

TriciaChick · March 2009

Julie Hi neightbor!! How old is your DC?;)

To everyone else...I am glad I am not the only one who really has to watch what they spend. It can be so frusterating at times but I think the pay off is worth it.

JOEBunny · March 2009

We are not tight. I can go out for lunch a couple of times a week, buy what I want for the most part. Not spending $200 on jeans, but I wasn't like that when I worked either. We save about 25% of DH's income, which is nice if something were to come up, like unemployement or whatever. If we had to live on the edge, I would probably work and have DH stay home or both of us would work.

JulieRNbride · March 2009

Tricia,

I have two boys, they are 5 1/2 and almost three....my DH is a teacher, and I am a nurse. We have lived in Chesterfield since 2002.

Amanda&Chris · March 2009

We aren't rich or anything, but MH makes enough to cover our expenses, shopping, eating out, and putting money in savings.

TriciaChick · March 2009

Julie,

How do you like that age difference? That is about what age my 2 boys will be apart. Well I have to sign off for now but if you ever want to chat feel free to email me. Greeneyz98@sbcglobal.net.

kylara111 · March 2009

We're doing okay. DH and I both made good money when we both worked full-time and basically could buy whatever we wanted, go on vacation without blinking an eye, etc. We certainly can't do that anymore but we're still fine.

Oh, and there are several reasons I work. I want to contribute financially. I want to have money of my own without relying on DH. I worked darn hard to have the career I have so I don't want to give it up completely. I also want something to do outside of the house not involving my girls.

poohbear6681 · March 2009

I WAH PT around DH schedule. I work early in the morning & DH work 2nd shift. The cost of daycare & not wanting DS put in it, we decided I would just work PT at home to make what we need. We definitely are not rich, we just made smarter choice to live mostly off his income. (We have 2 older paid off vehicles. That right there saves on monthly car payments, & insurance). We are not saving much right now though. Hopefully when DS is a little bit older, we can put away more in savings when I go back FT.?

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