We have one child now, so for my income ($55k) it doesn't yet make sense for me to stay home. (Day care = $1500/month) But if we have a second one in day care, then to me it wouldn't make sense to work. The cost of two kids in day care combined with all the stress that comes with having both parents work would make it worthwhile for me to stay home (my wife makes more than me, hence I'd stay home)

I stayed home with DS for one year for this reason. I was a private school teacher and would have come out only slightly ahead after taxes (and probably even or worse when work-related expenses like wordrobe, commuting costs, etc. were factored in.)

I was lucky to find a job the following year that both paid more and had partially subsidized childcare. It was a great decision for us, but I know it does not always work out that way.

If you stay home primarily because it makes more financial sense, was your income less, more, or about the same as the cost (and associated cost) of childcare? Were there other reasons that tipped the scale as well?