How To Be A Stay At Home Mom When You Can’t Afford It
Don’t think you can afford to stay home with your kids? I thought the same thing! Check out my post on how to be a stay-at-home mom when you can’t afford it!
Here is a small list of how my family affords to let me be a stay-at-home mom. This is a recent change that just happened in our lives and we really had to buckle down and budget everything to make this happen. Here is how we did it to ensure we still live a comfortable life!
How To Be a Stay At Home Mom When You Can’t Afford It
Pay Down Debt As Much As Possible
My first advice would be to pay down as much debt as possible if you are thinking of becoming a stay-at-home mom. Debt can be very scary and very hard to pay down if you are living on one income. If you are currently working, I would start a new budget that allows you to pay more towards your debt in order for you to feel comfortable leaving your job.
Obviously, some debt is harder to pay off like your mortgage or large car loans. I would suggest at least paying off all credit cards, personal loans, etc.
Start A Budget And STICK TO IT
This is a huge huge huge part of being able to be a stay at home mom. You MUST have a strict budget. You really need to live within your means. I started by adding up all of our monthly bills. If you can easily pay your bills with your one income then great! Your off to a great start! If you can’t, then you really need to look at your budget.
Is there something you can cancel you don’t really need? Such as Netflix, Hulu, Fitness memberships, Itunes, etc. There is always something you can cut.
I also looked at our reoccurring monthly bills and got quotes for things to see if we could potentially get it cheaper. You can always requote your insurance, your cell phones, your internet, etc. Always check around to find the best deals!
I would suggest buying a notebook and writing down your budget. Set a day each to go back to it and see where you have spent your money. Make sure you are spending the time to ensure your budget is being followed!
Start Couponing
This is something that I loved doing before I became a stay-at-home mom! I love couponing and it can really help you afford necessities that you will need in your house. If you can spare $10-$20 a week you can actually get quite a bit if you learn how to coupon! I always watch different couponing videos on YouTube as well as follow tons of couponers on social media.
You can get some really great deals! I have started a stockpile and most of it I will not have to buy for months on my regular grocery trips. I have so much toothpaste, mouthwash, razors, and shampoo.
You can almost get these products for free weekly if you know how to coupon!
Order Your Groceries Online for Pickup
This is a great way to save money on your groceries each week. If you order your groceries for pickup through the Walmart App, then you will only get what you need and will not add on extra things.
Using this, you will not be walking through the store and finding impulse buys. This will help keep you in check while grocery shopping. I guarantee it will save you money!
I have been using pickup for almost a year with absolutely no issues. It works perfectly for our family and I feel like we save a ton!
Always Shop Sales
I love to shop sales. It’s always a great feeling getting something on sale. I make sure to sign up for emails and sale notices from any of the places we shop.
I always look for great deals on clothing, shoes, etc. I try to buy in advance when things are on sale to ensure we get a good deal. I will almost never pay full price for something.
I usually make lists in my shopping carts at Target, Walmart, etc., and wait for items to go on sale. It will eventually go on sale, I promise!
Look For Free or Cheap Activities
There are always free or cheap activities available in your community. Check out Facebook for events or local newspapers. There are usually many activities for younger children available.
You can always go to your local parks, libraries, etc. if you need something to do during the day. We also splurged and bought a swing set a few years ago and we have a trampoline that was a gift from grandparents in our backyard. We usually play outside every day before lunchtime and my son has not gotten bored yet! It’s like his own little playground!
Start an online business
If you still are struggling to find enough budget cuts to allow you to stay home, why not start working from home? You can easily start a blog (very cheap!) and start making a small income within a few months if you really stick to it.
There are also tons of work from home ideas on the internet and job forums. If you have previous experience in an area search for “work at home jobs in a specific job area” and you might find a job that surprises you!
I hope these tips have helped you find ways to be a stay-at-home mom even when you think you can’t afford it. I personally know how hard it can be and how scary it can be to switch to a one-income household. It is an adjustment for sure, but it can be done! If there’s a will there’s a way!
Thanks for reading,
