| It seems like most families can't make it any more on | | | | television package, cell phone plan, and other monthly |
| just one income. While many moms want to take | | | | expenses. In addition, make sure that you get rid of |
| advantage of the years when their children are young, | | | | any unnecessary debts. Sell any toys or extras that |
| and stay home to raise them, they need to go to work | | | | you have that you are making payments on and don't |
| in order to make ends meet. The following is a look at | | | | need. |
| some of the questions you have to ask yourself in | | | | 4. What expenses would you eliminate if you were to |
| order to determine if you can afford to be at home. | | | | leave employment? (child care, eating lunch out, |
| Most of them have to deal with things like determining | | | | wardrobe, etc.) Once you figure out how to cut out |
| what you can live without in order to be able to afford | | | | some expense, look at what other expenses you |
| to live on one income: | | | | would save if you were to stop working, so you can |
| 1. How much are your bills each month? In order to | | | | see just how much money you really need to have |
| determine if you can afford to leave your job, you | | | | from your income. If it is not much, you may be able to |
| need to determine how much money you would have | | | | stay home just by cutting out a few extras like eating |
| to have to pay for your bills and obligations. Take a | | | | out too much, or the like. |
| few minutes to write down and tally up all of the bills | | | | 5. Would you lose anything like health insurance that |
| you are obligated to pay each month. | | | | would cost more if you stayed home? If you stay |
| 2. How does that compare with your income if you | | | | home, what will it cost you besides your wages? Are |
| don't work? Once you have your bills figured out, you | | | | you getting benefits that you will no longer have if you |
| should see if the income of one parent can cover your | | | | quit? How much will that cost to replace? In most |
| monthly obligations. It may be tight, but if you want to | | | | cases, insurance outside of a group policy is far too |
| see if you can afford to stay at home, you have to | | | | expensive to pay for on your own. Of course, if you |
| see if the income you do bring in can support your | | | | have benefits in the other parent's job, this won't be a |
| already obliged money. If it is close, do not worry yet, it | | | | consideration. |
| may still be affordable for you to be at home, you just | | | | 6. What are you willing to do without in order to be a |
| have to figure a few more things out. | | | | stay-at-home mother? The real question of whether |
| 3. What can you cut out, pay off, or sell in order to | | | | or not you can afford to stay home is asking yourself |
| reduce your monthly obligations? Sometimes the | | | | what you can do without in order to stay home. Can |
| monthly obligations exceed one income by too much | | | | you do without seeing the first movies that come out? |
| to make it plausible for you to quit your job. However, | | | | Can you do without eating out? Can you do without |
| sometimes, a few simple adjustments can make it | | | | television, internet, and extra electronic devices? |
| possible. For example, you could cut down your cable | | | | |