Do you think I could afford being a stay-at-home mom?

1. 1 hour ago
I actually have my degree and am getting my masters soon. I'm a teacher. But where I live, teachers don't get paid very much... and it's so hard to stay up late grading papers, supervising week-long field trips out of state, etc. when you have a family at home to care for. That's why I'm debating. I'm just not sure... And thanks a lot to the person who called me that insulting name. Very immature...

2. My husband and I make around $120k annually combined and even then, it's hard to make that work sometimes. I couldn't live off of it, but I think it's totally doable, especially if you cut coupons and really budget yourself.

3. Wrong question: Can your kid afford you NOT to stay at home?

4. There are jobs that allows you to work from home.

5. Keep working while your husband works and goes to school. Once he finishes, and makes at least double that.... then yes, I think you can afford to be a stay-at-home mom. Note: If you or any of the future kids have health issues, then he'll need to make tripple that to stay afloat and still save for your joint retirement.

6. Depends which you value more, money or kids.

7. If ur ok with, "We'll manage", then ok But if you want your standard of living to be high, then dont quit ur job!

8. Lots of people make do on less. Sit down and write out a budget as if your husband's was the only income. That should help you figure it out.

9. You can but you really are not going to do things nice like buy a house or go on vacations. My wife and I were in the same boat. She took 6 months off to be with the baby. Then she got so bored that she got her Masdter's degree and started working again. So try it out and you will get very tired of being poor and being home all the time. The best case scenario would be to stay at home with the baby and then take night classes to get that degree or masters.

10. Want children is the natural things and essential other than earning? Managing fund means, manage within the income, spending there is not limit. So in my opinion u must be a stay at home mom and try then ur wish will be fulfiled

11. i think it would be pretty hard. with everything being so expensive these days. $35,000 is ok for someone who lives by themselves and no kids, not much expenses, but to support a family, it would be rough. if you're considering becoming a stay at home mum, maybe you should find a part time job, at least 2 days a week, or if you have a hobby or something like that which you can make money from by working from home, then do that. other wise, i'd start saving from now, until you have kids, so that you can at least have some money to fall back on, for rainy days and such.

12. Before giving up an income look at ways to supliment it. Check into work closer to home or work from inside the home. I'm a writer who works from home. I email my stories & articles out & get paid via direct deposit... no handshakes needed. I have friends who are very, very sucessful in things such as Lia Sohia Jewelrey, Tastfully Simple, Avon, and etc. Look into these too. There is a big business in that. Visit www.WAHM.com that's a work at home mom site. There's some good stuff there.

13. That would be entirely up to you.....what other bills do you all have?? What are you willing to live without?? I feel sure you can, but if you do there will be definitely luxuries you will do without......I do not know how much your rent will be of if you own your own home already.....if you have a house payment, you will have to factor that in.....but that all of that is entirely up to you and your future husband........ Good luck

14. OK, this is a question all mothers have to deal with...and their is no "right " answer. What you can expect is when you start having children, you are going to find they are very expensive...lol So you might not be able to get by on just his job. What you can think about doing is, get some education in the teaching field, then you can work in the school system while your children are going to school...you will be off when they are, and that helps a lot. Their are other jobs besides teaching...office, bus driver...etc You can start out in the pre school and work up as your children grow.....good luck.

15. Work as much as you possibly can, and live extremely cheap, until you do decide to have children. At that point, consider how much it will cost to work. Obviously, you will have childcare costs, which are more expensive for younger children; but also think about your home life: a welcoming, restorative home is a real blessing in life, and can heal a million wounds. If you stay home to care for your children, at least until they start school, you have the chance to be more hands-on with them, and also to create a good home and a stress-less environment (which is also a chance to save money). Encourage your husband to advance in his career, and offer your support in any way possible. You may want to look into moving a little further out to save money, but keep in mind commute times. Also, consider going back to work part time after your children start school, or running a small home business -- it will make life a little more hectic, but you'll have extra money coming in and still have the time to be with your kids at home. But by that time, you'll be a master at managing chaos! Best of luck!

16. I think you both can make it work with you to stay home when you have kids. When you are a mother, your kids need a mother to be home, to bond with them, to raise them as well. Don't be one of those feminist who just cares about their career instead of raising a family or who put their kids in a kiddie-jail where strangers are taking your place by spending time with them. Do what it takes to take care of your kids, they are yours and his responsibility, not total strangers. Even if he has to take a second job. Don't have kids if you are not willing to raise them yourself.

17. Sit down and do the math. Likely if your in an expensive area.... No sadly it's going to be nearly impossible. My fiances mom has a house, makes 25,000 a year but has a lot of debt on credit cards, because she cannot afford the emergencies. My parents make 50,000 and we only have a 100,000 dollar house, and we can barely make the bills for it. So sit down, do the math, but with kids you have to have extra money, they go through clothes really fast diapers are expensive and youll see all your money right out the window before you know it.

18. Im for stay at home moms but heres an idea. Why not tutor privately when you can. You could make your own hours and bring in a little extra income in your own home. Once the babies are past the infant or toddler stage you could advertise to tutor privately.

19. $35k annually with a baby might be hard and nearly impossible especially in a city with a high cost of living. you might want to look into options of getting a part time job, or a job where you can work from home. i believe being with your child is more important than earning more money, but you need to have enough money to live a comfortable life especially with the unexpected costs that occur with children.

20. its your life its to personal...just take care of your family and husband..goodluck