https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 09:42:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107959 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:51:02 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1107959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ha, I have been thinking about this, maybe to do a post on it? One big one I have noticed is clothes. My kid just doesn't need a ton. He wears diapers around the house and had one or two "nice" outfits, usually supplied by his grandparents. No shoes necessary, even when he starts to walk he will only need one. Same goes for me. I wear the same old crap every day! I may not be as attractive to my hubby, but I can promise you that paying for extra clothes would make me even less attractive in his eyes, lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107956 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:50:23 +0000 owlmom 1107956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a SAHM, and our most significant changes have been:<br /> Natural decreases - gasoline (I had over an hour commute to work each way), clothing, eating out<br /> Self-imposed decreases - a lot of discretionary spending on things we "want" but don't actually need (our household income was cut in half when I quit working), gym membership<br /> Increases - groceries (but only slightly, and we're still ahead on food overall since we eat out less), museum/zoo/pool memberships<br /> Our utilities have stayed pretty much the same - we have two large dogs, so we kept our house at a comfortable temperature even when I worked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107949 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:48:18 +0000 Cherrybee 1107949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Increase: milk. </p> <p>I must drink about 10 coffees a day!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107935 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:45:21 +0000 pinkcupcake 1107935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us, the big decrease was child care, but now that LO is older, we spend about $100 per month on enrichment classes </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107922 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:42:19 +0000 lawbee11 1107922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a pretty long commute, so the amount we spend on gas would go down dramatically. But I am currently on insurance through my employer and DH is on insurance through his, so the cost of insurance would go way up for us if I had to be on his. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107921 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:42:11 +0000 DillonLion 1107921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Decrease<br /> Daycare<br /> Eating out</p> <p>Increase<br /> Gas (we commute together now, if one of us stayed home we would use our second car more often)<br /> Groceries </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107917 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:40:05 +0000 mrs. bird 1107917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: oh that makes sense. I drive a Pacifica &amp; the stupid thing (er, maybe I'm the stupid one for buying it) gets 14 mpg, so my running around doing stuff all day adds up fast! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107910 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:37:21 +0000 looch 1107910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: I had an expensive monthly train pass when I was working. I switched to daily tickets when I wasn't working, that's largely why. I also walked a LOT more.</p> <p>Also, on the days I wasn't taking the train, my husband was driving me a bit, which increased our gas expenditures. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107904 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:36:11 +0000 mrs. bird 1107904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I'm surprised your transportation expenses went down, when I had a job where I drove there &amp; stayed all day I used my car a lot less than I do as a nanny now basically doing SAHM stuff. I guess it depends on how much you are out &amp; about, we are out a LOT. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107893 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:31:28 +0000 hilsy85 1107893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>decrease: clothes for me, eating out, transportation, childcare<br /> increase: utilities, grocery bill, clothes/things for LO (too much online shopping time!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107889 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:30:39 +0000 looch 1107889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Decreases:<br /> Transportation (car, public)<br /> Car Maintenance<br /> Clothing allowance</p> <p>Food for us was a wash, because I still had to eat breakfast and lunch, just at home, not out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-line-items-are-increased-or-decreased-by-one-parent-sah#post-1107887 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:29:11 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1107887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Off the top of my head, I think these line items would change for us, but I'm sure there are some I haven't thought of.</p> <p>Decrease:<br /> Daycare<br /> Eating out </p> <p>Increase:<br /> Utilities</p> <p>What cuts or additions did/could you make if one parent stays home? </p>