tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post3127731626062335690..comments2023-05-10T03:53:43.934-05:00Comments on Mommy Stays Home: I Am About $500 Short Per Month From Coming HomeLorriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17396124827853586912noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-78017608353491965352009-01-18T14:07:00.000-06:002009-01-18T14:07:00.000-06:00The problem w/gas/electric AVERAGE budget is you s...The problem w/gas/electric AVERAGE budget is you still HAVE to pay what you used, but weren't billed for. Typically you are billed the next year. It will be tacked onto your budget. Check the bottom of your bills it will say how much your budget is behind. <BR/><BR/>It does NOT save any money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-49277012782480376762008-11-22T00:36:00.000-06:002008-11-22T00:36:00.000-06:00Great job! I am a sahm as well and have to live f...Great job! I am a sahm as well and have to live frugally to "make it". While others are paring down debt and sacrificing their children in daycare where they are always sick and the parents themselves both run down, we are debt free with 2 paid off vehicles, just bought our first house and have one child in private school! People wonder how we make it (hubby works for a church) and budgeting, cutting out the extras and discipline is the answer. We learned a LOT by taking Dave Ramsey's financial class and learning those principles. I love staying home and wouldn't have it any other way. I'm blessed to have such a supportive husband. <BR/><BR/>Hey and check into vonage. We never pay more than $30 a month on our phone bill and that includes long distance! I also got rid of my cell phone plan and just have a tracfone pay as you go for emergencies (which I RARELY use so it lasts a while).Called To Be Uncommonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00275641898026621654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-57767367709757689162008-11-15T21:37:00.000-06:002008-11-15T21:37:00.000-06:00I can so relate to what you say about the assumpti...I can so relate to what you say about the assumptions that people make about your husband's salary when they find out you stay home. And also the part about turning the desire to save money into a "job" of sorts. This is a GREAT post. Thanks for sharing! :-)Marcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18265483075223570536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-90572397059625903442008-11-15T15:24:00.000-06:002008-11-15T15:24:00.000-06:00You forget a big work expense-- taxes! That extra ...You forget a big work expense-- taxes! That extra $30,000 a year can bump you up into a higher tax bracket!<BR/><BR/>Not to mention that you can do a little babysitting, tutoring, crafting, or elancing from home to help bring in a bit more if you really need it.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03450692883978734764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-444538070525780122008-11-14T15:16:00.000-06:002008-11-14T15:16:00.000-06:00What a great post.8 years ago my husband & I d...What a great post.<BR/><BR/>8 years ago my husband & I decided that I should stay home and be mom to our kids. At that time we only had one. When he was fist born, I did go back to work but couldn't handle the fact that someone else was raising my son. I knew in my heart that God wanted me to stay home.<BR/><BR/>So my family went from have an annual income of 56,000 plus a company car (including 100% paid for gas, mechanical work, insurance, etc.) to 19,000. It was indeed a stretch!<BR/><BR/>God took us to a very low point where we had to search our hearts to see what was really a need versus a want. Your post was right on about that. Some of what we thought we couldn't live without, well, we are still alive today. <BR/><BR/>Since making that decision, I have felt such peace and blessings. Our socks have been blessed off by the Lord. On paper the numbers didn't work but the money was always there when the bills came due.<BR/><BR/>Now we are up to a 23,000 annual salary and we are just as happy. Material possessions don't buy happiness but having kids and a family that live for the Lord does.<BR/><BR/>If I had to do it over again, I would in a heartbeat. Thanks for the post.Plain and Simplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15302574593690073478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-77271775330450186172008-11-14T14:56:00.000-06:002008-11-14T14:56:00.000-06:00Great post, so many people think you have to be ro...Great post, so many people think you have to be rolling in it to be a stay at home mom. That is not true. I have been one when we made just a little over 20,000 a year. So it is doable. It is usually a question of what we are willing to do without.Donna(mom24boyz)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06893314713352399022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-54535667091813370402008-11-14T14:37:00.000-06:002008-11-14T14:37:00.000-06:00We have lived on my dh's teacher's salary for 9 ye...We have lived on my dh's teacher's salary for 9 years now. It certainly isn't easy, but I agree that if you really want it then you will make the sacrifices to get it.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16958981528207127681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-26768572543894816202008-11-13T19:37:00.000-06:002008-11-13T19:37:00.000-06:00I LOVED this post! I currently stay at home but w...I LOVED this post! I currently stay at home but will probably have to go back to work next year. My husband is a teacher and I now know that it IS possible to stay home but we have quite a lot of debt that we are going to have to pay off before it's possible! Thank you for writing about this topic though!Delighted Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13730231456383932683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-12508218405998607712008-11-13T14:04:00.000-06:002008-11-13T14:04:00.000-06:00When we were really poor and had littles I babysat...When we were really poor and had littles I babysat another child part time and that was what made up the diference in our budget. Even after cutting everything we were still short so I needed to find a way to increase income but still be at home. But when my husband's salary increased enough I quit babysitting.<BR/>KattmaxxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-7600488382586024732008-11-13T10:15:00.000-06:002008-11-13T10:15:00.000-06:00Great post! I'm hear for the first time from WFMW...Great post! <BR/><BR/>I'm hear for the first time from WFMW, but from my point of view (for what it's worth as someone who isn't one of your "regulars" yet) the coupons and deal alerts are only so valuable without insight as to how to apply them optimally! <BR/><BR/>I'm a naturally frugal gal, and I love hearing how other moms are saving money and applying frugal principles to their lives. Thanks for sharing!Steph at Problem Solvin' Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18195884439651922555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-83206896888746932102008-11-12T11:49:00.000-06:002008-11-12T11:49:00.000-06:00We figured our expenses for my working after I was...We figured our expenses for my working after I was forced with the option of working full time or quiting (I was part time). I chose to stay home and we haven't looked back. <BR/>We didn't realize how much we were spending for me to work, not to mention not having time for each other. Now our home is a home, not just where we stay and our finances are almost the same as they were prior to my leaving my job. <BR/> We have only cut out a few things that we don't miss at all... processed foods (which are more expensive, but were faster to prepare), less driving... I plan my shopping trips with the little ones preschool, and less eating out... now I have more time to prepare for meals and we enjoy them more.<BR/>I encourage anyone who thinks their income is necessary to put it on paper and see for sure... You might be surprised! You could be missing out on so much...our kids and your family!Suzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05645952143928909454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-4328346321715899452008-11-12T09:09:00.000-06:002008-11-12T09:09:00.000-06:00Thank you for this post. I have recently debated ...Thank you for this post. I have recently debated on whether or not I should go back to work. It's hard, but I still think we are better off with me as a SAHM. Thank you for the encouragement.<BR/><BR/>Hugs,<BR/>MelindaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09494644390444505744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-22362808809395036752008-11-12T08:14:00.000-06:002008-11-12T08:14:00.000-06:00Thank you for writing this. I don't have kids yet...Thank you for writing this. I don't have kids yet, but I am turning in my notice next week so I can focus on home. My husband just told me that I can be a better homemaker and save more money if I am at home and concentrating on it. It's refreshing that there are still some SAH Moms out there!Andrea Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15443533655792685924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-84059003951355922592008-11-12T07:43:00.000-06:002008-11-12T07:43:00.000-06:00We took a real leap of faith about 6 years ago and...We took a real leap of faith about 6 years ago and started our single income family in the red each month. It was hard. Really, really hard. God did provide everything we needed. Some of my "wants" are still wants. It may be a long time or never before I finally get "Grown-up" bedroom furniture that matches and isn't someone's throw-aways. That's all right. In the meantime, I've been blessed with more than I NEED and 3 beautiful children and one on the way. <BR/>Dave Ramsey has some great ideas and tools for budgeting and living debt free. We are debt free, except for our house. My van drives so much better since we sent in the last payment! <BR/>Also consider what you may save if your income bumps your family into a higher tax bracket. We did some research and found that my piddly private school teacher salary of $20,000 only netted us about $5,000 per year. That was without childcare expense.<BR/>Go for it! Staying home is worth the sacrifice.Fatimahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10441655211819602032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-58456695070933385432008-11-12T07:36:00.000-06:002008-11-12T07:36:00.000-06:00PS: I forgot to add - I would willingly give up al...PS: I forgot to add - I would willingly give up all that and more to stay at home with my son. <BR/>Disposable diapers, my cell phone, restaurants, etc... this list could continue on and on...Nettie Beardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07780458164473461019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-50266823504502249832008-11-12T07:32:00.000-06:002008-11-12T07:32:00.000-06:00What a great blog. However, I think I may have fo...What a great blog. However, I think I may have forgotten to mention one major thing: My husband lacks the conviction that I should stay at home. Please don't think of ill of him because in his eyes we have the "perfect" setup: <BR/>1 - His mother, who lives on the next block, will be our sitter (I go back to work next week - without a miracle). Who better to watch his kids? In his mind, she did an awesome job raising him and will do the same for our son.<BR/>2 - I literally walk to work. The office I work at is across the street. I come home for lunch, and now will be able to also pump, and to feed our son on my lunch break.<BR/>3 - My job provides our insurance. We got our courtesy notice from the hospital notifying us that our son's recent delivery bill is near $15K. That alone is enough for him to want me to keep working for that insurance.<BR/>For him, all of these reasons do seem to make our situation 'perfect' for me to keep working. So not only am I $500 short, I need God to work a miracle in my husband. I know ALL things happen for a reason, and ALL things work together... I HAVE to keep my faith that God IS in full control here and this whole situation WILL work in a way that will bring glory to Him.<BR/>Thank you so much for this post. Your passion and willingness to help speaks so much to me.Nettie Beardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07780458164473461019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-90987253724731096842008-11-11T21:58:00.000-06:002008-11-11T21:58:00.000-06:00Love, love, love your encouraging posts. Don't st...Love, love, love your encouraging posts. Don't stop--it is one of your gifts.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05187707886478667966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3292365816154128314.post-32736028061034508522008-11-11T21:08:00.000-06:002008-11-11T21:08:00.000-06:00This is an important part of deciding to stay at h...This is an important part of deciding to stay at home. People compare having a salary to not having one and assume they can't do it but they don't consider the added expenses that come with working and how much they really can add up - not to mention expenses they can live without if they'd rather be at home. (I just posted about this same topic and I plugged your trash bill post!)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10630083267750648883noreply@blogger.com