Reply to SAHM vs. WOHM, the cost difference is $16,500 help me decide

Forum Index » Expectant and Postpartum Moms

Reply to "SAHM vs. WOHM, the cost difference is $16,500 help me decide"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So my husband and I crunched some numbers last night.

Assuming that I find home daycare in North Arlington for $325/week, I will make about $16,500 take home pay at my current job.  This includes all the tax changes that will occur and health benefits.  It does not include my company's 401K matching.  I'm guessing that might be a 4K/year benefit.

I worry about:
1. relying on one income, even though DH's job is very stable and company is well managed
2. [b]not being able to get back in the work force if I want/need to [/b]- and if i do, having a worse job than i do now(I'm 29.)  Current job is fine, not great, not bad - just a good job.
3. going nuts being at home 24/7 talking baby talk (i know a few batty SAHMs)
4. All the things I should be worrying about but I can think about right now.

Financially we would be okay, though our retirement savings would decrease.
[/quote]

This should be your biggest concern.  The difference is not $16,500, it's the difference of all of the money and retirement savings you will not be making over the course of your entire career.  You may find it very hard to find a job if you decide or need to return to work, and even if you can, you may find yourself making a lot less money than when you left.  Do you have enough savings to cover expenses, health insurance, etc. if your DH is laid off and can't find a new job for a while, or if one of you becomes disabled?  Will you still be able to fund your retirement, and college savings (if that's a priority for you), with the understanding that money you put in later will have less time to grow than money you put in now?  What if you get divorced?  (I know I know, but it really does happen sometimes to people who never expected it.)

I'm not trying to be negative about this decision -- you may very well have the resources to handle it.   But I think you are looking at this the wrong way.  It's not just a dollars and cents calculation based on your current situation.  You need to take the long view and think about the effect this will have truly for the rest of your life, if things go the way you are planning/hoping, but also -- and perhaps more importantly -- if they do not.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics