So I've been back at work for about 4 months now and LO is 6 months. I am so tired!! I work full time and can hardly keep up with laundry, dishes and everything else! I feel like I don?t get enough time with LO. DH tries to help as much as he can but he works full time too. I've been looking into our budget and thinking about getting rid of our SUV so we don?t have a car payment and buying something outright with the difference off the sale. I'm willing to make sacrifices with our lifestyle. I would love the freedom of my own schedule but I know I would miss my "work family" and I have a well-paying job for not having a degree. I?m in such a dilemma! Anyone else quit their job? Are you happier? I don?t know why I'm so scared to quit!
Re: Becoming a SAHM
I go back to work in April and I although I love love love being a SAHM right now, I love teaching high school and love working. I know I will miss being with her too, but I have summers off
On a side note, DH was so upset yesterday that he didn't get to see DD on the swings for the first time and he had to work late and missed his time with her at night. I started thinking how hard it's going to be in April and wished that I could work part time, but I can't. Is that a possibility for you? I really think it would be a happy medium for us. It seems that you like your job.
Can you work part time? Maybe that would give you a taste of more time with your LO.
I feel you on not getting anything done ever. We are both full time and DH is in school so he is studying for 3+ hours a night. It sucks!
I quit to become a SAHM very unexpectedly after DS1 was born. It was a major financial struggle for awhile. But, with all things, you learn through mistakes, and you make changes. We are very comfortable now.
I love this SAHM gig WAY more than any other job I've ever had. I've never had a job that I loved, so it makes sense that staying home with the boys would be something that I love.
Think about your priorities... If you have the flexibility to sell a car, just sell it. See how long you can live without a second car. Bank your extra cash. Really, truly define a need for yourselves. We got rid of our second car. DH commutes an hour both ways to work M-F. If I go anywhere, I walk with the kids. And, we do not live "close" to anything but a couple parks. The library is a 2 mile walk, the grocery store is 1.25 miles. I live in a community with a ton of SAHMs, so we all get together on playdates. Those are just as important for the kids as they are for moms.
Good luck making a decision!!
I "retired" (officially, it was called retirement...I know how silly that sounds) from my job about a month before DD was born. We started talking about it when I first got pregnant, but I couldn't do it. I was TERRIFIED! I made more than DH, and couldn't see us making it work on just his salary. We started budgeting out the wazoo, and I saw that we could make it work...AND not have to put our LO in daycare and let someone else have all the fun with her!
The thing that really helped us most was using the envelope budget system to see what we had and where it was going. We have Android phones, and there's an app called EEBA, it's a lifesaver! It syncs purchases and budget info between our phones, so we both know what's where.
In the end, it would be awesome to have more money. But, in no way would I go back to work and miss out on being here with her. I realize it's not the right decision for everyone, but it is for us.
https://www.gailvazoxlade.com/resources/interactive_budget_worksheet.html
This was and is an awesome help to DH and I. We used it to see if and when I would have to go back to work. We use is now that we are on a limited budget and it has helped tons. It uses jars but it is the envelope method if you have heard of that.
I am Canadian so I get a year with 55% of my last years wages but it's still a huge hit $$ wise. I love being home with DD and I love the fact that I get to see her grow and change but by using this budget we have figured out what DH and I have to do to give our family what we need and deserve.
I hope this helps. It's a start on seeing if you can even afford to be a SAHM.
GL FWIW