One parent working in this climate - possible?

Wow £120/130k careers are surely not the norm, only on MN have I heard from so many people with such huge salaries. I definitely move in the wrong circles though (NHS worker, Local Authority, Education)

Do a really thorough budget. You may well have to cut costs on e.g. holidays or children’s activities. But you should also save a fair whack on childcare and potentially other things too, from having more time to shop around, home cook etc. You have to both want to make it work, but it’s possible,

I think housing costs are a key factor. We made it work, but lived in a very cheap part of the country and were happy with a modest terraced house, so our mortgage payments were very low relatively. Money was tight, but I loved SAHMing - no regrets!

Plus whether the lower earning parent can out earn the cost of childcare.

Also lifestyle expectations.

A SAHP can contribute by using the time they have available to shop around, batch cook, make packed lunches etc so make money go further.

Or it can go the other way and they have time to spend a lot of money on soft play, lunches etc like one poster a few weeks ago who was spending over a grand a month on that sort of thing.

Surely it depends where you live.

How much rent or mortage is and how much you earn.

Cost living is totally different in say northern ireland to central london

We do this ( well I’m setting up a business but slowly and it doesn’t pay currently, likely won’t for a few more years so mainly a SAHM)

it’s certainly tighter than before and I think the one who stays home has to really want to as it’s a big adjustment but I love it.

DH earns a lot (£130k plus bonus) but we are in south east so high expenses and even on that we have to make compromises ie no abroad holidays this or next year as we are moving house, we have one old car, my clothes come from vinted etc, the houses we are looking at buying next are not as lovely as we would have been able to afford with my salary too etc

I do think it makes both of our lives easier and nicer though, DS is still a toddler so it’s not like DH comes home to a tidy house and home cooked meal every night it’s often total chaos but I do get to tick off some laundry/housework usually, walk the dogs, do the food shop, sort all the life admin kind of things so when DH gets home (often late from work) he has less of that stuff to do and our weekends can generally be for family stuff rather than chores. I’m currently pregnant with number 2 and totally exhausted so it’s not really happening like that at the moment though 😂🫣

I work but the money I make is basically nothing - £12k a year if I’m lucky. DH earns around £150k, plus bonus dependent, Surrey, 3 kids, feel very comfortable but we’re not interested in private school and there’s no need for it around here (amazing state schools). I was a SAHM until oldest was 9, youngest was 2, loved it and was so much easier logistically!