Paying to Work, is it for You?

Many woman when they decide to have kids, have a huge decision to make. Can they stay at home or should they go back to work. For some this decision is simple, if they love their career, they are often happy to go back to work after leave. For others the decision doesn't come so easily.

But there are many things to consider. Before you say we must have two sources of income to survive, factor in the costs of having a two parents working. The most obvious expense is childcare. For children under one year of age the cost of full time child care is several hundred more then the cost of a single child over one. This expense is doubled with you have two children, tripled if you have three, although some day cares may offer you a discount if you have multiple children attending.

Another expense is clothing to go back to work. Many woman have a change in body type after having one child, and this change is often more pronounced when you have many. A new wardrobe may be necessary, even if its only for transitional reasons. Perhaps you will be able to fit back into your previous work clothes, but you will need something to wear in the meantime. Clothing can get very expensive, even when shopping second hand or on-line and sale prices.

Another hidden expense that is constantly ongoing is the cost of gas and maintaining a second vehicle. With ever rising gas prices and the repairs such as oil changes and spark plugs that need to be changed every so often, a second vehicle isn't always a feasible option. If there is no second vehicle options are a bus ride, which still costs money daily, a couple dollars a day still adds up. Taxis are extremely expensive. Although carpooling is an option you should always expect to be asked to chip in for the expenses on their vehicle.

There are other hidden costs of working. Things such as lunch prices, often times people get together to eat lunch, a worker may feel like this is something they should do, or may not want to miss out. Even if your bring your own lunch, you still pay extra for those lunch supplies, and many people buy coffee and breakfast or snacks on their way to work as well. Travel expenses. Often times companies send out their employees on business trips and while they pay for a good portion of the expenses, a parent may feel the need to buy souvenirs and or presents for the family left behind, not to mention the price of missing family time.

Mothers who work out of the home often say they miss much of their children's lives. And while having two incomes is great, when you add up exactly how much money is spent so that you can have a two person income, often times there isn't much left over from the second souse. Rather then continuing to hold on to a job where you have to pay to work, consider other options. Such as working from home, or daycare provider if you love children. It is very possible to live on one salary you just have to strive to make it work.