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Question from a Working Mommy

AppleMommaAppleMomma member
in Stay at Home Moms
For those of you who were working mommies before, how hard was it to adjust to a one income situation? I'm talking to DH, this evening, about me leaving my job. We both know he makes enough to take care of the 3 of us, and if we have more kids we'll be fine too. The only thing I worry about is mentally realizing that there is only 1 income and we can't go out to lunch or get breakfast out on the weekends like we used to. I honestly want to do this, I know I wouldn't be sitting idle at home with LO all day. I feel this is the best Christmas present I can give LO.
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Re: Question from a Working Mommy

  • spartansuzispartansuzi
    I was really concerned about this and its one of the reasons I teach yoga part time (aside from enjoying it) and work part time from home- I wanted money for "extras" like your mentioning. However, after some of the budgeting mentioned in the post below (see the "SAHMs- Advice on Finance" post)- a lot of my extra income ends up going into savings because we spend less with me staying at home then we did when I was working.
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  • Skyler&PaisleySkyler&Paisley

    Repurpose your previous coffee, lunch and wardrobe budget from working outside of the home.  There is a lot of money there for most people.  Work from home part time if possible, it helps mentally and monetarily.  Watch for a change [took about a year in our case] in DH's attitude about being the sole bread winner.  He may feel that financial decisions are more his than yours as a couple...  It also matters as to which one of you is the saver vs. the spender in your family.  We don't all do things exactly alike, although several couple try to tell me this and then confide later that they argue about how money is being spent. 

    Best of luck to you.

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  • cateyecateye

    A lot of people will put one income into savings for several months to get used to the one income experience.  And like the pp said, there will also be areas that you save money, such as childcare, gas, work clothes, eating out (lunch, don't feel like cooking), etc.  Definitely write up a budget, though, and see what you have to work with. 

    You can also make certain compromises.  For instance, if you liked eating breakfast out, you can make a nice breakfast at home. . .or go out to breakfast just once a week or once a month (depending on your budget). 

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  • J+OJ+O
    It was a hard transition at first, but now... it's hard to believe we felt we needed two incomes in the past.  It's very easy now.  And when I do go back to working when DS in in school, it will be like Christmas around here! :)~  Okay, maybe not Christmas, but there will be a lot of money for saving and doing fun things! 
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