Ok so this might not even be a problem yet but heres the deal ... I dont work .. only my dh does .. finances are ok 98% of the time but just like everyone else out there, there are those rough weeks when we squeak by .. anyways I occasionally put out applications .. I never hear from any of the places so I never give it much thought .. ok so today I get a phone call from a place I put in my app probably three to four months ago and all of a sudden I have an interview set up for early next week .. if you did not have to work and could stay at home and make your own schedule and work at your own pace for anything you needed/wanted to do, or you could go out into the work world and make a paycheck and have extra money, but not a lot of time to do anything with it .. what choice would you make?
I'd stay home.
Son in law was telling us that when he was figuring last years taxes, he does it on a program that shows what the refund is so far .... as he adds add'l info, the refund changes up or down.
What really propelled him to be ok with his wife (my daughter) becoming a stay-at-home mom was when he finished entering his info, and then started adding her W2 info. The refund amount started plummeting!! He realized it was costing them for her to work!
So you may have slightly more income, but you should also factor back-and-forth to work transportation costs, possible higher car insurance (if the distance is more than the "pleasure" rate and it has to be upgraded to "work" use = higher rate), clothes for work, your lunches, the cost of eating out more because you're too tired to cook, higher income tax bracket, etc.
before I answer I have a question......
can I put my crazy kids in daycare either way AND still hire a nanny for afetr daycare????? 
you know .. I did work for five years and each year our taxes did the same thing .. we put in my dhs and then my information and each year it went down ... so when I lost my job it was not that big of a deal .. and when I did work I was to tired to cook so it was dinner out and lunch out as well since we did not feel like grocery shopping half the time .. butttttt this job would be a lot easier (physically) then my last job and it would not be in outdoor conditions .. but it would also require new work clothes since I wouldn't be provided a uniform like my last job .. sigh .. I guess I have to weigh out the pro's and con's!
twinsline, I think that's called a perfect world!
there are days where I really waiver......gosh thinking of what we would make if I hadn't given up my job and I start seeing $$$ everywhere! We could have that new family vehicle we have been wanting, we could landscape our backyard really nicely, and the list goes on and on.......... but then when I think about putting my son in daycare.....I just about hyperventilate (I mean there are days I swear I am ready to put him on EBAY...but the good usually outweigh the bad)....... and then when I figure daycare costs, missed time at work for when my ds is sick (like 2 weeks ago where he ran a fever for 3 days but otherwise looked and acted fine)..... work clothes, gas for to and from work (I use very little gas because we tend to stick close to home) and all the stuff like that I realize that in the end I would be working to pay for only daycare and the new car payment (to the new car I would love to have)...... and so my point to this long babble, as of yet, the new car hasnt won the battle. As far as the extra money, I took on a child to watch that earns me $400-$480 a month (I only make them pay for the days they use me--unlike many places)....... and that seems to really keep us in the "extras", satelite tv, dinner out, cell phones, etc etc. Now I have been having a hard time lately with my extra little bundle of joy (the baby I watch) and I have had some serious doubts about doing it, but then I like my extra's so I carry on!
mkerton I understand what you are saying ... I was just telling my dh when he got home tonight the pro's and con's ... when I was working we were not getting ahead financially .. bills were paid, food was bought, clothes were bought ... but there was nothing extra, at least, nothing extra in savings .. we just ate out a lot more (mainly because I was to exhausted to get off work, go shopping, come home, cook, eat, and clean up) Now since Im not working the bills are paid, food is bought, and clothes are bought ... but there's nothing extra in savings .. LOL isn't that funny! However if I did work I think we have become much better at financing our money since we've had to this past year and there might be money in savings before too long .. I would go through more gas then I do now because now I never go into town and if I was working I would be there obviously way more often ... I dont know .. we don't have any kids so we are not paying for daycare, extra food, etc., .. it is just a hard call to make ... plus I tend to not like change and I am already getting nervous about the interview and what I should say and its still four full days away! The last job I had, had gotten me so worked up towards the end I was blacking out and was sent to neurologist's and cardiologist's just simply to bring down my stress level! And Im only 27! I know this was a rambling thread but I just don't know what to do ....
Well I think you have to take care of yourself........I would probably make sure the job isnt stressful since you had such a hard time before. Since you don't have kids, yes I would probably work, even if you work part-time somewhere. Just make sure it doesnt affect your health! I have always thought if I had to go back to work in a hurry or wanted to work certain hours, I would probably go with retail....like my favorite craft store or something. When my son starts school (and if we have more kids then when the last one starts school) I am contemplating being a substitute teacher, here in MO you only need 2 years of college and I have a BA so I could do it, my hours would be the same as my child, and I would have summers off (and the flexibility to work when I wanted). I dont know that I will ever go back to accounting (what I did before my son was born)..... it was too stressful.
It depends on the person. If you're happy staying at home and you're financially able to do so, then stay home. Any time I've had the opportunity to stay home, I've discovered very quickly that I am happier and more productive in the working world. It just didn't work out for me. Everyone's different.
However, if you think you might like to work, why not go to the interview. Assuming that you don't sign a contract, there's nothing saying that you have to stay there if it's not working out for you.
shelbur, that's exactly what my mom said! I guess there is not a reason in the world why I can't at least go see what this place is offering ... and if I don't like the sounds of it I dont have to take it ... I think I would be ok working say part time .. I don't think I would want to work full time because I do enjoy time with my dh and he only gets the weekends off ... I am sure there will be stress with this job, just not as much as my last one .. thanks you guys for the input ... I guess its just up to me to see what Im comfortable with ... I had a rough night sleeping, can you believe it? My dh says I get myself to worked up which is true I know it is ... but I tell him he's the one who married me!
I haven't seen you say one major factor yet....Is the job doing something that you enjoy?? I've been a SAHM for 19 yrs. I've had a part time job once in awhile when times were really bad but it was never something I enjoyed. I am now in the process of starting a small bakery with a friend and my DH says as long as I enjoy myself thats all that counts with this. If you are questioning this that much I say stay home. There will never be enough money in the household budget no matter how much income there is.
I guess I may be old-fashioned in my thinking, but I think that if you have kids, then stay home with them... if not, then there's not really any reason NOT to work, especially if you could use the extra money.
well this is a field that I have never ever worked in, so a change is something that I think I would enjoy .. and I have been interested in trying to get into this field for quite some time this is my second interview (not with the same company) but in that field .. and even if I did work, dueter said it right when she said there will never be enough money in the household budget .. because I have worked and we were stuck right where we are now .. we had more money yes, but we did not spend it wisely, going out for lunches and dinners six to seven times a week for the both of us ... because we were both to tired to go shopping for "real" meals so even though it would mean a regular paycheck it doesnt necessarily mean that we will be ahead financially .. and I do make money from home most months too ... my dh is in the plastics field and a lot of time they need parts assembled at home which is what I do when I can and that will bring in extra money some months as well .. our bills are never late, food is in the house, and necessities are bought when needed, clothes, shoes, vacations, etc. ..
If you are interested in the field, I think it could be a good opportunity for you. Maybe I missed it, but is there any reason why your husband can't make some of the meals? If you do go for the job and find that you don't like the lifestyle, you can always quit. At least that way you won't have to wonder what you might have been missing out on.
well I went to the interview yesterday and it seemed to go pretty well up until the point where they said it would average roughly 45 hours a week ..well even at my last job I was only working part time (up until the end anyways) so I told them thank you but no thank you .. I don't want to work full time, it takes to much of a toll on me ( psychically and mentally ) so that was the end of that ... and yes my dh can help me make meals but he also works very long hours every day, usually putting in ten-eleven hour days) so he is just as tired as I am .. I do thank you guys for taking the time to respond, I guess for now it is back to being a housewife!
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