you just have to take a leap of faith that is what we did and it has worked out don't get me wrong at times we have really struggled but in the end everything has been worth it and we made the right choice for us...if you are concerned about money what about a part time evening job or on the weekends if your dh's schedule allows...i would do that if i needed to...

Thanks for all of your advice, ladies!
I think part of my problem at the moment is that we have an Explorer that we HAVE to sell...we cannot affort it with me at home. I am so nervous that we won't have the funds to pay the bill when it comes if DH's hours don't pick up.

As for Dh staying home...that's a big NOTHING would get done around here....don't get me wrong...with both of us working, he is great! We both share chores etc., but everytime he has been home with Avery when she was sick, he has sat on his butt ALL day and watched tv. He also makes more $ than me...even with his shortened hours. We couldn't make it on my salary alone.

I told my boss today that I was having second thoughts and he told me to think it over and talk to DH some more tonight and see where we were with the whole process. I am so tired of going back and forth. I wish I could see the future..don't we all?!

Make me feel better...please tell me some of you left good paying jobs and were barely scraping by on DH's salary and still wouldn't change it!?

AHHHHH!!!

Thanks again...and also for the warm welcomes!

Brie
Avery Madison 3/10/06

Well, I'm going to be leaving a good paying job later this year. DH made about 3,000 more than me last year so you can pretty much say I make half the money. It's scarey but I'm ready to do it.

You might want to do what we did. I worked until the debt was gone - almost anyway. Our truck will be paid off hopefully by October. We will have no debt then. During February I put my checks on the truck payment and in savings and my gasoline and expenses that we won't have when I'm home and we paid all the bills and groceries, etc. with his check - we even had a little left to put in savings and spend on us. We're going to do that as many months as we can until I quit. So far it is proving that we will be able to do it :happy dance:

So, maybe try to do that for a month - try living on his check and see if it could work. Put yours in savings and try to build it up as an emergency fund.

PM me if you want to chat about it a little more, I'd be happy to help you.

I just left a good paying job at the end of December. I don't regret it for one bit!
We are having to make a few sacrifices as well. My husband was promoted which then required us to move. So, after selling our house we are now staying with my MIL until we pay off some extra debt. This will then allow for us to buy a new home and let me stay home with our son.

Where there's a will there's a way! I really liked my job, but I was completely stressed trying to be the Mom I wanted to be and also work full time. I now feel much-much more relaxed! I know my son is much happier. I love the fact that I don't have to rush him off to day-care each day.

I was a little nervous about quiting. It is kind of scary to leave something you know you enjoy and like. But, you have to do what you know is best for your self, your family. Go with your gut feeling!!

Keep in mind that our kids will be this little for such a very short time! If you don't feel that staying home is working out then you can ALWAYS go back to work somewhere. At least you would know and not always wonder about the "what-if's".

I love staying at home with my two dd's, thankfully. When I was pregnant with dd #1 we could not afford daycare. If I worked after paying for daycare I would have $30 left over and that would have covered my gas. It was crazy. I was also worried about living on dh's salary alone. What we did was we took my entire paycheck and put it into the bank. Then we lived on his paycheck alone. It made me see that we could do it and we also had a nice amount in savings just in case.

Maybe you could wait a little longer and try making it on dh's salary and see how it goes. If you decide to stay home and it is not working then you can always go back to work. Do what feels best to you. Do not stay home because you think you should. Do it because it is what you want. At times it is really hard for me to be home with the kids and other days I feel so blessed. Good luck with whatever you do.

I have been staying at home for years. It was not a difficult decision for me and my DH. However, living with the decision at times was. I felt isolated and alone. However, the positive things have outweighed those moments. I also found a wonderful support group with Mothers and More.

However, we needed to make decisions based upon the fact that we would be living on one income .... I work per diem on the weekends (about 2 days a month DH stays home with the kiddos) and this is our "vacation" money. With all the days that the kiddos were sick and doctor's appointments I would have to take time off from work not my DH because of his job. I don't think I could have juggled it all.

You need to make the decision that you think is best for you and your family. Perhaps you can get a part-time job on the weekends if money becomes an issue.

Best of luck.

Not here. I make maybe $5.00, if I'm lucky. Then I turn around and spend it right away! Damn that eBay!!!!!!!