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I plan on being a SAHM too. We will survive off of just my husbands pay but it will be tough. I already feel guilty and I haven't even quit work yet.

I only went back to work part time and I still have money guilt! It's hard feeling like I don't contribute financially to the household, especially because I'm in charge of the budget and do all the bill paying and shopping. I see it all go out, but don't really bring anything in.
It helps though that DH sees me being at home as a huge contribution to our home and loves that we don't have to put LO in daycare. He tries to ease my guilt often

Nope. The work I do at home is important and a lot of the things I do save us money - make our own purees, cloth diaper, hang dry most clothes, etc. No guilt here!

I know we will function much better as a household and I will be much happier when I am a SAHM. Maybe that will help ease the guilt when I see it happen. But right now all I can think about is the financial stress.

No guilt in not bringing home the money but I do sometimes feel guilty if I want or buy something for myself that isn't a necessity. But I have to remember I do work hard taking care of our baby all day.

Yup I totally feel guilty. I would love to hire a bit of help but I feel that being at home means that I should be doing all of the cleaning and cooking--even though I really should just concentrate on taking care of our LO.

I do. I shouldn't because I work my ass to the bone, my husband would hate to have things reversed AND its better for my kids I think (in my case because I am happy with it but I totally understand moms who are happier to work or need to). I don't feel like money is mine anymore at all an it's definitely made me feel like I have a bit less of a say. Still worth it though.

@LaughLines: like you, I made a good income before I had kids...and we planned for me to SAHM so we saved my income for a year to prepare living off of one income...and I did worry a little about what it was going to be like when I stopped contributing my income to our household. But now that I've a SAHM for almost 2 years, I don't have a lot of guilt. I work hard at being a SAHM and our quality of life is so much better bc I take care of a ton of stuff during the week...my husband absolutely loves that he doesn't have to worry about dinner or packing a lunch or running errands, cleaning, laundry, etc...yes, he still helps around the house, but he is very aware how much I'm contributing at home which does lessen how much he has to do at home. We can't even imagine how much it would cost to out LO in daycare as then also add all the other stuff you have to get done once you get home. He's been able to focus on his career and recently got a big promotion (now he makes more than we did together)...and I was so proud of him and he was like "WE did it..my success is our success...I could not have focused on work so much without all your hard work and support at home"...and I do feel like it was our achievement together. But like others said, I feel guilty about spending money on getting help around the house bc I feel like I should be able to take care of it being a SAHM...and it used to be easy when LO was talking 2-3 naps a day...but at one nap a day it's so hard to fit everything in...

We plan on me being a SAHM and while I can't deny that going down to one income is a little scary, we've had a couple of short stints when I've been between contracts and I know we can manage. Plus I figure that we'll be doing a lot less of the expensive socializing

Sometimes...he's got a rough job and works really hard for everything we have. He enjoys providing for us, but I do wish I could at least WAH to bring in a little extra, so that I feel more comfortable buying things for myself.

No. I do a lot of work to keep us going as a family even though I don't get paid.

No way. Being a SAHM is a lot of work. And DH says that I am doing the most important job ever by raising our two daughters.

yes, but not because I don't think it's "our" money. I'm totally fine with that part. I have guilt because we obviously could have a lot more money if I worked.

@sorrycharlie: this is me 100%

I feel the same way @sorrycharlie does. We're still comfortable with my staying home, but we had a lot more "fun" money when worked. We both agree that we're doing what's best for our LO, but I do miss my monetary contribution to the household and I worry that when I'm ready to go back to work, I won't find a job that pays as well...

No. We view money as OUR money, and C is OUR baby. If I were working outside the home and DH stayed home I would hope he would feel the same way! Sorry about the caps, just emphasis.

I don't really feel guilt so my response is probably a little unorthodox.

I was at home for 2 years. I previously worked a demanding job with good pay (I actually made more than my husband because i was older and had longer working experience). But we saved my entire salary after we were married (total of 3 years before my son was born) just to see if we could make it on one income and we were able to do it. So when I stayed at home, it wasn't a huge adjustment.

What I did find was that I shopped less for clothes for me but I spent MORE at the grocery store. I kind of used it as my pass to have more elaborate foods at home since our social life was non existant.

I've recently gone back to work full time and the main reason isn't for instant gratification, it's to help ease the burden on my husband...I want him to be able to retire one of these days!