https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:13:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings/page/2#post-527816 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:33:44 +0000 LindsayInNY 527816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No way. We have worked far too hard to build up our savings and I worked far too hard education-wise to not work. Even a year out could really set me back in my career. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings/page/2#post-527687 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:39:11 +0000 Mrs. Stroller 527687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I would really want to, but would not do it. I would try to cut my days and hours back so that we could continue to save, and I could spend more time at home though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings/page/2#post-527683 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:37:37 +0000 ladyfingers 527683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. I feel uncomfortable enough already with the amount we have in savings, and it's enough to cover a few major repairs or a couple of months of expenses if something were to happen to one of our jobs. We're actively working on putting more into there and I can't imagine how nuts and scared I'd be if we had nothing and had to start from scratch. I'd also be worried about finding something after a year. </p> <p>But my 5-year-goal is to be a WAHM :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527652 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:24:02 +0000 tororojo 527652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would consider it, but not if it's going to deplete all of your savings. I think it's worth evaluating your spending and cutting costs to help offset the dent from you not working, and if you're able to mostly compensate and rely on savings as an emergency fund, not monthly income, it would be worth it to me. That's what we're doing, actually--I'm not planning to work again until at least next fall, and even then it would probably be part-time during the hours that DH is home from work. So we are planning to be way more frugal in upcoming months and trying to start now! I hope it works out for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527631 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:14:07 +0000 hummusgirl 527631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't. For me the peace of mind of having significant savings is worth going back to work. I'd take a 6 month leave, go back to work for a few months and then reassess the situation once you know for sure how you feel about being a working mom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527556 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:40:49 +0000 Silva 527556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't do it- we have a lot of goals for our future that depend on our savings, plus not having something to fall back on if there was an emergency is too scary for me.<br /> We won't be able to add to our savings while I am a SAHM (we will live paycheck to paycheck), but since we have already saved up a substantial amount I'm comfortable with doing that temporarily (about 18 months or so). </p> <p>Try looking into some other options, and consider talking to your employer to see if they can be flexible with your hours or allowing you to work from home occasionally? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527532 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:26:16 +0000 teamjse 527532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I could do it, living without a savings is scary even though I know a lot of people do it. I just couldn't do it now that I know what financial security feels like. DH's salary covers our expenses and still allow us to save, but I decided to go back to work when LO was only 2 months old. As horrible as it sounds, I really needed that time away. What I did do is modify my hours, I work from 7 to 12 (very lucky to have awesome bosses). When I get home, I truly devote all of my time to the LO. So, I feel like I have the best of both sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527457 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:55:11 +0000 Dandelion 527457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. My husband can cover bills, but if he couldn't, I would help out. The money in our savings is for a down payment on a house and emergencies. If it were gone, and we couldn't get a house just or take care of a crisis, just because I wanted to not work, I would feel awful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527375 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:30:15 +0000 Foodnerd81 527375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't do it if it meant dipping into savings a lot. But if it meant simply not saving for the year and coming out equal at the end, I would. So if you can cut back to that point it would be an option, but more likely I'd start looking for another job with better hours. There's no way I could be away for 12 hours a day with an infant either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527317 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:14:19 +0000 loveletter 527317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! In fact, this is kind of our situation. My husband's income doesn't cover all the bills, plus we are adopting (which is crazy expenisve), so we're not anticipating having any savings once we are placed with our baby. I will be quitting my full-time job once the baby is here, and we're hoping we can make ends meet between my husband's job and my small business (photography) that I will be able to do from home. It's scary and a leap of faith, but I can't stand the thought of being away from our little one for most of the day and me being a SAHM is really important to both of us. </p> <p>We've cut a lot of things from our budget already - no cable, much smaller cell phone plan, bought used, cheaper cars so we don't have a car payment, started shopping at Aldi, using "the envelope system" for our expenses, making things like cleaning supplies and laundry detergent instead of buying them, etc.</p> <p>I read a book that really helped - it's called "Miserly Moms" and is written by a woman in a similar situation, in fact, I think before she became a SAHM, she brought in 60% of the income. I've already been able to implement a lot of her suggestions that have saved us money, . She also talks about the cost of working, and it's amazing some of the expenses that will be gone once you're not working... gas money, wardrobe expenses, eating out, convenienve foods, etc.</p> <p>Good luck.. I hope you are able to stay home with your little one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527237 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:52:51 +0000 runsyellowlites 527237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! I would cut back where I could and just live frugally.... This comes from someone who also left a well paying position (for my area and field) that she loved b/c the schedule was just not good for my family. It wasn't an easy decision as I was the sole provider for DS at the time, but it was most definitely the right one. I know that if worst came to worst I could go back or find other work and rebuild my savings, money comes &amp; goes, once my kiddos are grown that's it.</p> <p>I'm also kind of in this spot now since I'm a wahm (super part time for my moms ministry) and DH's income alone doesn't cover all our monthly needs. He's picked up ot to cover the loss of me bringing in more. We have a pretty tight budget and add to savings VERY VERY slowly (sometimes not at all), but I'm able to homeschool DS and am home to care for a bf P. It's tight, but works. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527224 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:46:45 +0000 littlek 527224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You may want to think about going back to work for say 3 months. And if you hate it, you can then be a SAHM. It's awful leaving your LO at first and I dreaded the end of my maternity leave but now that he's in daycare (keep in mind, it's not all roses and rainbows and there are days I want to quit) it's much easier to leave him at daycare. We could easily live off DHs income but (1) I would lose huge ground in my career and (2) the money is nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527186 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:29:55 +0000 Ree723 527186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to go against the grain here and say tentatively yes. I would really look hard at crunching the numbers to see if you'd really be depleting all of your savings or if things would just be a bit tighter than they are now. You sound like you really want to stay home with your LO and I think you should try to do everything in your power to make that happen. There is a difference between being fiscally irresponsible (ie if you continue to live your current lifestyle on half the income) and doing what is best for your family.</p> <p>I'm a SAHM and we always knew this is what we were going to do and were willing to make whatever lifestyle changes necessary to make that happen. I could not fathom leaving my LO to go to work everyday and we worked things out so I don't have to do that. If that's how you feel as well, I would really look into making it happen. I know this is a cliche, but you don't want to look back on ten years and say I really wish I had stayed home with my LO. If it's something you feel strongly about, I say pursue it and you might be surprised to see that it really is feasible! Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527181 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:26:35 +0000 oahujeni 527181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: @sorrycharlie: thank you, it's nice to hear from someone who has been through it! It may not be in the cards for me but I'm still going to look into it so I know all of my options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527176 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:24:53 +0000 lemondrop 527176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going against the current and and saying YES! We are doing a modified version of this, we don't make much extra to go into savings. I think it is 100% worth not having extra money to be able to spend so much time with him when he is so little and changing on a daily basis.</p> <p>It is a personal decision for every family, with no single right or wrong answer. I was able to go part-time for work, one day a week onsite (on my husband's weekday off), and additional hours teaching online and occasional tutoring in the evenings. We did a lot to prepare for this though- cut extra expenses, newspapers, refinanced our house and student loans, keeping a car we have paid off instead of getting a new one, scaled back on eating out, etc. Money is tighter, but we would lose a big chunk to daycare too, and I now spend a lot of time doing home improvements that we would normally pay someone else to do. I am happier for our decision, and love staying at home, but still having grown up time at work a few times a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527135 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:15:18 +0000 Mrs. Pen 527135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oahujeni: I might have to be the oddball and say maybe yes! Definitely crunch the numbers and see what you could possibly give up to make it work.</p> <p>We don't:<br /> - spend money on ourselves unless our clothes have holes in them<br /> - eat out ever, all home cooked meals and we budget our grocery expenses each month<br /> - we limit our air conditioning and heating, we turn it on at night and keep it off during the day.<br /> - we don't have cable/satellite/home phone. Just our cell phones and Netflix<br /> - we bought DH a bike, so 3/4 of the year we hardly use the car.<br /> - we share one car, so it's only one car payment and one tank to fill. One car to pay insurance on and pay for repairs</p> <p>I tend to see that people have a lot more money than they initially think because most people naturally adjust to just loving within their means, whether they make 50k or 100k. But if you actually write down all your needed monthly expenses (mortgage/rent, utilities, car, etc- no frills) you find that there is a bit of money left over actually. If you take careful steps to manage that money- you could probably live on it and be a SAHM. </p> <p>This is what happened to us in a way. I don't have the means to get a job with decent pay to cover child care- so I'm a SAHM but dh's salary doesn't always cover our needs. Yeah there have been times we've have to dip into savings to meet certain needs some months but I don't feel guilt over it. Sure I worry about money but who doesn't?!</p> <p>Anyway I just wanted to say it can be done- you can do it!! If you heard what we brought home last year after taxes you'd probably be appalled and wonder how anyone can live on what we do- but we make it work :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527126 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:12:28 +0000 sorrycharlie 527126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>so I seem to be in the minority here, but in a way, we are. we didn't have much in savings to begin with but it would have cost more in childcare, than I'd make working. so in a sense, by staying home - you could say i'm "using" what we might have made? not sure. we definitely are budgeting and not as rich as some, but it works for us and I love staying home with her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527103 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:02:58 +0000 mrs. wagon 527103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This actually kind of happened to me-- I got laid off right at the beginning of the recession in November 2008, and couldn't get any interviews, let alone a new job. I got horrible severance so I had an amazing unemployment check every week for over 2 years. So I decided to take a break and get pregnant, and be a SAHM for a year. After 18 months, my unemployment had finally run out, I was working 3 part time jobs, we were really stretching it financially and I had finally given in to the fact that I was not built to be a SAHM. Luckily I found a job and an amazing daycare very quickly and have never looked back... I'm so much happier as a working mom, even though I've dreamed of being a SAHM my whole life. I miss LMW terribly during the day, but having the freedom to go out and work to support my family (along with having an amazing nanny and of course WJ's daycare) feels like a LUXURY to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-527000 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:36:12 +0000 Mrsbells 527000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldnt do it, </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526988 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:33:43 +0000 Bluebonnet 526988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't do it. The economy is still unstable and I would be so stressed if we depleted our savings so I could stay home then something happened (DH lost his job, unexpected major expense, etc). </p> <p>If I were in your situation, I'd look for another job that has better hours. You mentioned there aren't part time infant care options - could you swing working a reduced schedule (75% of your hours), but pay for daycare full time? That way you could spend more time with LO, but still protect your job. You could also keep looking for a better long term job.</p> <p>Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526939 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:14:23 +0000 Bao 526939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bebefly: I like this advice!</p> <p>I would highly consider it, but would work over the numbers first and see what I could come up with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526937 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:11:57 +0000 MamaMoose 526937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: This exactly. A year away from the work force can make it very difficult to find a new job.</p> <p>I wouldn't do it. You never know what emergencies could come up. You could be setting yourself up for a financial disaster. Which would put incredible pressure on your family and that would not be good for baby. I know my parents would always step in if we got in a bad situation but I would feel pretty awful if they had to do that because of choices I made and not just true unforeseen emergencies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526924 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:05:17 +0000 oahujeni 526924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, everyone is saying no! This is why I love HB, you ladies can knock some sense into me when my hormones and sleep deprivation make my brain create crazy scenarios :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526913 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:02:42 +0000 kml636 526913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think every circumstance is different and you have to do what's best for you! Depleting savings is scary, but so is leaving LO with a stranger in day care... I'm still struggling with what I'm going to do, but probably working part time. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526906 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:01:29 +0000 blackbird 526906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Many moms are overwhelmed by the idea of going back to work. I think many are also surprised that they don't dislike it as much as they think they may. I'd at least give it a shot. I hate the idea of relying on family to take on my financial burdens should something happen, even though I know my parents would do it in a heartbeat. I don't feel like that's a responsible choice for our family and I would feel so, so, so guilty if I needed the help! just thinking about it stresses me out, haha. </p> <p>You could give it, say, a trial run of 3-6 months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526901 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:59:15 +0000 yoursilverlining 526901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope; I definitely wouldn’t. That’s a lot of pressure to put on your spouse, and taking an extended leave from employment doesn’t look especially good on a resume. What if it takes you a lot more time to find a job after the year is up? What if your husband gets laid off halfway through the year? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526898 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:58:43 +0000 autumnlove 526898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't do it. I would worry too much about $. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526888 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:54:57 +0000 Anagram 526888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't, because my husband works in the financial industry and they have lay-offs every year right before bonuses go out. And EVERY YEAR, when the lower-performing people get laid off, it's always the ones with the families.</p> <p>So I'm always paranoid about DH getting laid off one year. RIght now, we have enough in savings where I could quit my job for a year, but I'm afraid we'd be tempting the lay-off gods if we depleted our savings. I'd rather keep that one year salary for if my DH gets laid off, since he makes a lot more than I do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526880 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:51:30 +0000 Sammyfab 526880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. It would be far too scary and I think being so concerned about our financial situation and then possibly going into red would decrease our quality of life....even moreso than going back to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-a-sahm-for-a-year-if-it-meant-depleting-most-of-your-savings#post-526878 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:51:02 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 526878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I probably wouldn't do it either. </p>