DCUM Forum

Anonymous

01/20/2026 21:14 Subject: Re:SAHM’s who used to work - what salary did you leave behind?

I’m about leave the workforce. 175k or so plus benefits.

Anonymous

01/20/2026 21:08 Subject: SAHM’s who used to work - what salary did you leave behind?

Anonymous wrote:Do you take any steps to protect yourself financially, like a postnup? How do you get comfortable that you're not saving in your own name anymore, for example, no more 401k contributions, and possibly, no more control over how future income is saved and invested because you don't have a paycheck? Asking because I'm hung up on these issues and still working.

Why would you not have control over future income savings and investments? I wouldn't be married to someone who didn't allow 50/50 with that, no matter who brings in what income.
I've been a SAHP for 25+ years (married for 35+) and I manage the finances. We joke spouse would have no idea how to access our money. We make financial decisions together when younger, now we discuss major ones, but are on the same page so I manage them all. When I quit my job to become a full time parent (without a paycheck) I didn't have to ask for money, it's all OURS

THIS, same here

In my parents' marriage, my mom stayed home, and the only money she got was the cash in an envelope at the beginning of every month. No credit cards. No visibility to my dad's earnings, investments, savings, debt, etc. That is why I asked the original question, and the primary reason why I can't quit, even though DH makes 7 figures.

Anonymous

01/20/2026 20:45 Subject: SAHM’s who used to work - what salary did you leave behind?

I still work, at 49. My husband and I both make the same salary and are in the same Indy and job type at nonprofits. I don’t begrudge any women their right to stay home— choices are what our mothers fought for- but for me, working for a good cause was always more important than the paycheck. We don’t outsource anything, kids in public schools, and through luck and good investments in real estate and the stock market, we are in a strong position. There are no easy answers, ladies, but we can support each other in making our own choices. Hopefully all these big law partners will spare some pro bono time for the immigrants and activist who are under seige right now.

Anonymous

01/20/2026 20:29 Subject: SAHM’s who used to work - what salary did you leave behind?

Anonymous wrote:For those who left careers to be an SAHM -

What salary / comp did you walk away from?

Are you happy with your decision financially? Would you do it again with what you know now?

I was in medical training so not a high salary and I don't regret it. However, wouldn't recommend it to young women. Times have changed, juggling home and career is easier now with good dual income, there are more resources and less judgement. Marriages are more fragile now so you can't 100% rely on your partner to stay in it for long term. Also everything is more expensive.

Anonymous

01/20/2026 20:27 Subject: SAHM’s who used to work - what salary did you leave behind?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just left my biglaw job to stay at home. I was making $560k. My husband makes much more than I do and we have a lot of savings, so it wasn’t a big deal financially, but I still have a lot of angst about it. I actually love(d) my job, and it makes me sad that it will be very difficult to find a path back.

Do you take any steps to protect yourself financially, like a postnup? How do you get comfortable that you're not saving in your own name anymore, for example, no more 401k contributions, and possibly, no more control over how future income is saved and invested because you don't have a paycheck? Asking because I'm hung up on these issues and still working.

Why in the world would you do that. You make more than enough to hire full-time live in help.

DP: Everyone is different, but I personally would hate full time live in help. I'm way to private for that. I can barely tolerate a cleaning crew once every two weeks, and iIm anxious the whole time they are here.

Anonymous

01/20/2026 20:22 Subject: SAHM’s who used to work - what salary did you leave behind?

Anonymous wrote:Do you take any steps to protect yourself financially, like a postnup? How do you get comfortable that you're not saving in your own name anymore, for example, no more 401k contributions, and possibly, no more control over how future income is saved and invested because you don't have a paycheck? Asking because I'm hung up on these issues and still working.

Why would you not have control over future income savings and investments? I wouldn't be married to someone who didn't allow 50/50 with that, no matter who brings in what income.
I've been a SAHP for 25+ years (married for 35+) and I manage the finances. We joke spouse would have no idea how to access our money. We make financial decisions together when younger, now we discuss major ones, but are on the same page so I manage them all. When I quit my job to become a full time parent (without a paycheck) I didn't have to ask for money, it's all OURS

THIS, same here

Same. Married 25 years, and I manage all of our financial accounts. We just had a conversation this week that he needs to learn how to access the accounts -- he keeps losing the password to his own, and has to ask me, let alone knowing mine. Yes, I saved a ton before we had our first kid, so my own 401K rollover accounts, plus my other brokerage accounts are very healthy and a decent percentage of our net worth.

Also to the top PP, if it worries you, as a couple you can still invest in an IRA for you as a non-earning spouse, as well as non-tax advantaged savings and investment vehicles in your name.

Anonymous

01/20/2026 17:35 Subject: SAHM’s who used to work - what salary did you leave behind?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just left my biglaw job to stay at home. I was making $560k. My husband makes much more than I do and we have a lot of savings, so it wasn’t a big deal financially, but I still have a lot of angst about it. I actually love(d) my job, and it makes me sad that it will be very difficult to find a path back.

Do you take any steps to protect yourself financially, like a postnup? How do you get comfortable that you're not saving in your own name anymore, for example, no more 401k contributions, and possibly, no more control over how future income is saved and invested because you don't have a paycheck? Asking because I'm hung up on these issues and still working.

PP here. We got married on the later side, so I had amassed a decent amount of savings prior to marriage. Since he makes so much more money than me, he suggested that I keep my premarital savings in a separate account and just let it compound without touching it. Premarital savings that aren't commingled are separate property in the case of divorce, so that would be a decent cushion if anything were to happen. He has also been contributing to an IRA for me the whole time we've been married, and I've always made the maximum allowable contribution to my 401k. We also have substantial savings and investments that accrued during the marriage, so I would get a chunk of that in the case of divorce. We are both pretty financially conservative, so we have a high savings rate and no arguments over that. He has always been in charge of all of our investing, since that's his job, although I have access to all of the accounts of course. If we were to divorce, I should have enough in savings that I wouldn't need to go back to work, although I'd have to downgrade my lifestyle a little.