Concerns of a Stay-at-Home Parent

Starting a family can be an expensive endeavor. The cost of have children averages around $15,000 annually, give or take for lower or higher income families. With such a huge price tag, many wonder if staying at home with the children is possible, especially when the income brought in is not a great amount. Can the family survive off of just one family members earnings? And truth is, yes, it can be financially possible in a lot of cases, and your organizational skills will play a big role.

When decided whether or not to be a stay at home parent, there are many factors to look at. You must consider bills, cost of living, and amount you will be able to save. Family emergencies may happen, and you must ask yourself whether or not you will have funds to cover the expenses to get home. Other unseen financial responsibilities include medical emergencies in your own home, or major appliances in your house having a problem. If something breaks, will you have the means to fix or replace it? Make sure to thoroughly examine your financial situation, ensuring you will not run into any problems if and when you do decide to become a stay at home parent.

Planning and organizing will likely become a necessity if you want to stay home. Consider the amount set aside for food each month and use that amount for grocery lists and menu planning. For grocery list planning, create a menu using the same base foods, which enables you to spend less at the grocery store, and also eliminates foods wasting away in the refrigerator. Leave a space on your menu once a month for eating out, if you want, and remember you can always change up meals if you prefer something else on the menu on a certain night. Menu planning is definitely a money saver, and should be exercised when funds are tight.

Family activities are a must, as no one wants to spend every day in the house. Consider investing in something that will pay for itself over time, such as a pair of bikes and a bike trailer for the kids. Although the initial cost of such items may be high, item such as these can be used for long periods of time, thus being well worth it in the end. Outdoor activities are very beneficial physically as well, so that doubles the advantages of investing in equipment.

Bills are inevitable, but the number of them and the amount you pay monthly can be controlled. Start by listing the essentials, including heat, water, and electricity. From there, start to branch out with other important amenities, such as phone, internet, cable. Set a limit for bills, and realize when you have reached it. And keep in mind that some things are not necessary, not matter how important the item may seem to others. A cell phone, for example, may be a nice commodity, but is it really needed? Make yourself draw the line in order to keep bills to a minimum.

Expenses not included in the bills or grocery categories are easy to forget, but just as important and be quite costly. Gas, for example, usually costs a fair amount and is necessary to get around. Disposable diapers for the baby can also be quite expensive, and again are needed. New clothing will need to be purchased every so often, as well as shoes and winter accessories. Beauty items, shampoo and conditioner, soap, dish soap, and laundry detergent also fall into this category. Make a list of this extra costs to add with the grocery and bills, and make sure the total amount for all three is going to be within your budget.

If money is going to be extremely tight, but you still have the intention to stay at home no matter what the costs, consider changing your title from stay at home parent to work at home parent. Look into opening a home daycare, for example, which could substantially add to your families income. Writing is another choice for work at home parents, depending on the amount you write and the quality of your writing, you can write to earn a few extra dollars a month or write to make a living. If you are crafty, you can sell your crafts through a website, or create your own business online. There are lots of opportunities if you put your talents to work, and working from home can make a lot of difference financially for your family.

Staying at home with your children is a wonderful experience, a once in a lifetime chance for your family. But this special experience comes at a price, that being things your family needs or wants. Making the decision to stay at home with your children can be a tough one, and wanting to stay home with your children and not having enough funds to do so may be upsetting. There will be situations when it is financially impossible for some, but many families manage to have a stay at home parent even with the lost income. With a little bit of organization and determination, staying at home with your children can most definitely be accomplished.