I want to be a stay at home Mom!?

Currently I work for a top investment bank in Manhattan. It's a very demanding job, and although I had a great time playing career gal and traveling the country, I want nothing more than to quit my job and be a stay at home Mom!

We both grew up in homes where our Moms were fortunate enough to stay at home and I want that so bad for our kids too.

The problem is, it is very expensive to live in and around Manahattan and it would put a great strain on my husband for me to quit my job. I don't want to stress him out with a new baby and the pressure of the sole income provider (which would be a stretch).

Any ideas on how I could supplement his income? I'm thinking about doing consulting work on my own, but a little afraid to take on my own business without any knowledge of really how to start that.


BTW...We don't have a child yet, but are ttc :)

My husband's field is very focused in Manhattan. I would love to move, but he is afraid of job options elsewhere and the pay

If you figure out what you will be spending on childcare, costs to keep your car maintained going back and forth to work and child care and all the expenses of what you spend for work (work clothes, snacks, drinks, lunches, ect) you will probably see that you would actually break even by staying at home. Heck- you could probably even SAVE money by staying at home

Cut back on takeout meals, going to the movies, frivolous things you don't need. Doesn't mean you can't splurge every once and awhile, but if you start watching where your money goes (write EVERYTHING down) for one whole month- I bet you would be surprised at how much money is just being thrown away at purchases that you could have done without

Is moving to a less-expensive area not an option?

That would be the most sensible move, I think.

Move out of Manhattan, that's no place to raise a child anyway. Your husband could commute.

I'm at work-at-home mom with #2 due next month. You can do consulting work as an independent contractor. I've done a little marketing research for a company as an independent contractor as well as the other stuff I do (legal proofreading, medical transcription, and basically any kind of typing for little companies). Good luck!

Does your company hire any outside workers? Perhaps data processing which is a let down from your current job but would bring in some income - you could do it from home.

Or day care is an option - in Manhattan child care is out of this world expensive so instead of paying it - take on a couple kids and make that money for yourself.

hmmm. i met a lady who did the consultant thing and it worked out realy well for her u could also get your real estate licence it only takes like 3 months to get and do that on the side along with the consulting it would be YOUR hours so you decide how much you can handel i thik if you saved up now enouph to take 6 months off and see if you make enouph to be able to live

good luck

I found this blog very helpful:

http://furiaesblog.blogspot.com/

I am a stay at home mom and I have a couple of ways that I make money online. Best of luck to you!

If u r still ttc then u have time to get your ducks in a roll, Could you work from home with job u have now? My BBF works from home for a internet comp. and it is great she there with the kids and makes great money. Start looking around now and see what u can come up with. U may have to move to a smaller town outside of Manhattan. Talk to your husband....

GOOD LUCK

The best od answers is try looking for a babystiing job now before you get pregnant and see how that goes. I am a mother of a 2 year old and am 37 weeks pregnant I left my job at 26 weeks and I have been supplementing my income from babysitting...Tax free, and you can make it as little as possible or long as possible. Try ot part time first go to craigslist.com/manhattan and see under childcare what oppurtunities may arise. good Luck and am glad to see that you are willing to raise your baby then worrk fulltime and have a daycare/nanny raise them. We all have kids for a reason also good luck getting prego.. Thank the Lord I am almost doen I need my body back.

It sounds like you both want the same thing. You both want your kids to have a mom at home. In order to do that, you will have to make some sacrifices. You may need to move to the suburbs, he may need to commute. You will have to cut back on expenses, and will probably need to downgrade on a lot of things. Start saving as much money as you can now, pay off as many debts as possible and then go for it. Being a SAHM is extremely rewarding and those rewards offset the things you think you might miss. I have been a SAHM for almost 10yrs now. I don't get my weekly pedicures anymore, I have had the same pair of jeans for over 5 yrs and we only eat out once a month. BUT...I get to stay home with my kids and am not letting someone else raise them!!

I am a stay at home Mom and I absolutely love it! I am like you, that is most important. I have 4 boys and they are my world! My youngest son is now in 1st grade, so I have started an online college course. I am going for an AA in Business, but with a focus on Medical Billing and Coding. My goal is to do medical billing from my home. There are companies that do let you work from home. I think some of them make you work there first to prove yourself, which makes sense. I am very much looking forward to working from home. I need to help with the income and most importantly be here for my kids. I hope it works out so you can stay home with your future children!

My husband and I went through the same thing. That was 8 years ago now. It was a big dilemna for us too, but ultimatly we opted for me to be a stay at home mother. (Actually, I homeschool my kids now that they are older) To make extra money in our household, I sell on eBay & Etsy - and I make homemade treats and sell them. Budgeting helps a lot for family's with only one income - and I swear by cutouthunger.org & flylady.com for advice in that department. Sometimes it is hard making it work financially, but as my moma always says 'If there is a will, there is a way'. Plus, the outcome is sweeter :)

You are so smart to make financial plans BEFORE you get pregnant.
Try putting most of your check in savings for awhile to see how you do on one paycheck. You may need less than you think.
See if you can work part-time and still make it. You might want to work a little after baby comes just to "keep your hand in" and for your sanity and money for luxury items (like vacations, nice clothes, gifts)
The last option- move out of Manhattan.
As for consulting? Go for it. That is a great idea. Many retirees do it. Here is a chatroom for "stay at home moms" you might find interesting. Good luck! Staying at home with your kids is so worthwhile!http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu5Vrg9VHV8...

well..
i dont know :|

Oh my goodness. I think you should be consulting people who live around that area. If theres a way, they should know.

How badly do you want to be stay at home mother?
How badly do you want your lifestyle?

I suppose Bronxville is out of the question? I lived there as a child, and my dad took the train into Manhattan every morning. Could you form some sort of investment advice company from your home? You must be rather intelligent. Come up with a way to use your skills, knowledge and education to work from home. Consulting? Good luck. I was a stay-at-home mom for 20 years, and wouldn't have traded it.

It's great that you are really considering coming home BEFORE you start to have children.

Here is what you need to do to prepare:

1. Pay off any and all debt
2. Save 3-6 months worth of living expenses in a liquid account
3. Start your business NOW

Since you are in the TTC part of your life, you have time to start that consulting biz now, to make sure you are able to do it before you come home. You'll want to get a website together for it, learn how to promote yourself, and start accepting smaller jobs.

This will allow you the time to iron out all the bugs before you make the switch.