-
Step 1
CHILD CARE. One of the most significant and obvious ways you will save money as a SAHM is no longer having to pay for child care. Child care expenses take up a large portion of many families budgets. Saving the $100-$200 per week that you would have spent on child care can amount to considerable savings.
-
Step 2
GAS. Gas is another area where you can really save money by becoming a stay at home mom because you will no longer have the commute to and from work. Depending on the price of gas and the length of your commute, this is another area that could mean major savings for your family.
-
Step 3
WORK CLOTHES. This is one area that many people don’t think about saving money. When you work outside the home, many jobs require you to dress professionally or at least wear business casual attire. Now that you will be a SAHM, there is no longer a need to purchase special clothes for work.
-
Step 4
EATING OUT. When you work outside the home there are bound to be days when you get home late from the office or have a hard day and just don’t feel like coming home to make dinner. In these cases, you are more likely to grab take out on the way home. When you are a SAHM, you have more time to prepare meals. Although you may still be tired, you are more likely to eat at home and in turn you can save money.
-
Step 5
TAXES. Consider how much less you may be paying in taxes if only one parent worked. A single paycheck may lower you from the 25% to the 15% tax bracket meaning your spouse would be bringing home more of his paycheck.
Comments
aew4 said
on 12/15/2008 nice tips! not to mention the extra cash you can bring in by freelance writing ;) 5 stars and a recommendation
ermabombeck said
on 12/14/2008 When you factor all costs, sometimes working is not as profitable as it seems- 5 stars.
agwynn3083 said
on 12/10/2008 very nice article. My husband and I have been trying to come up with ways so I can be at home more with our newborn
maryellen1001 said
on 12/10/2008 Great article!
rumblebug said
on 12/8/2008 We are definitely able to pay less in taxes with me staying home...and the emotional payout of raising your own kids? Immeasurable! Thank you for the reality check on the Cost of Working!