5 Questions to Answer Before Becoming a Stay at Home Mom
By Erin Kurwicki

Are you dreaming of becoming a stay at home mom, but are unsure if you can live on one income? Are you worried about the emotional aspects, or how the change from working outside of the home will affect you? If you really want to be a stay at home mom and truly believe that it is what you are meant to do, then you can work it out.

Being a stay at home mom can be challenging both financially and emotionally. With the challenges come immense rewards. If you are wanting to make the change to becoming a stay at home mom, answer a few questions to see if are ready.

1. Can you live on one income? Although money isn't everything, you may to make some serious budget adjustments to accommodate being a stay at home mom. There are many cuts you can make and areas you can cut back in to be able to make it.

2. Does your husbands job have good quality family health care? If you, the mom, have better insurance you must look into the differences in costs and care before terminating your job.

3. Do you have a good support system? Staying at home day in and day out is a big change. Make sure you talk to some other stay at home moms or dads before you make the switch. Consider starting a play group so that you can still do some socializing.

4. Will you need a part time or work at home job to supplement your income? Look into babysitting or pet sitting, or some other type of job that you can do, to still give your mind a workout and earn a little cash to help out.

5. Are you and your husband totally on the same page with your new duties as a stay at home mom? Switching to one income can be challenging, even if there is enough money on one income. Money issues can bring on stress. Make sure you both know exactly what needs to be cut down on before you choose not to work. Also, sit down with your husband and lay out exactly what you will be expected to do at home. Even though you will be a stay at home mom, it will take some time to adjust to juggling all the cooking, cleaning, and scheduling duties while raising the kids.

If you can answer all these questions together as a family and come up with a good game plan, then staying at home may just be the profession for you!