To ask how much

[feelinghothothot]

Is enough for a family of 4 to have a sah parent? I know this is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, but generally speaking. No debt (except home), happy to go camping but with the odd great day out!

It is so dependent on where you are happy to live etc. We have bought a nice house which means a big mortgage. Childcare costs of 4 sessions per week x 2 will basically eat up my salary for my 20 hour week at work (I earn around 20k for that) and DH earns around 85k... But we are comfortable on that obviously. Our biggest expenditure by far is mortgage, followed by bills then food. We could cut back on food etc if we needed to. I reckon a salary of 60k could allow someone to stay at home comfortably. Maybe 45k you were really willing to cut back.
All dependent on where you live really.

As well as your expenses now you really have to think about the future and potential problems if one of you is considering giving up work.

How will it affect his future earning potential once the kids have left home and he needs to go back to work?

Will he continue to contribute to a pension?

Is your job secure? What would happen if you were made redundant?

Do you have rainy day money and appropriate life insurance?

etc. etc.

DH is a SAHD and we went through every scenario possible. He was self employed before giving up and could go straight back into it whenever he wanted.

Single income 65k.

mortgage 850 for small house in nice area, midlands, sahp, 2 DCs but definitely cut backs in areas. no debts.

We do have plenty of weekends away/staying at friends,1 european holiday and snow sports holiday most years too. Extra nursery sessions so i can have a childcare break. DH prioritises holidays and experiences for the DC.

its tight though- one rusty 14 year old car, a dented 12 year old car and four rooms we are desperate to be decorated in our house, a new bathroom is needed too but a few thousand simply MUST kept for rainy day funds.

Day to day, we dont have to watch our spending on food - id rather spend £120 on food weekly and extra on top for a coffee/cake out than be miserable and spend £80 on food/cleaning stuff.

Our parents give us money a few times a year when we travel by air to see them in other parts of the UK, they refund us travel, buy all all food and pay for literally everything which saves thousands.

If it was several hundred in question a few times a month, we would have to think about spending that obv.

When DC2 is a year old, i'll be looking for a job that covers childcare costs, even if i dont actually make any money from work, just so i'm not tied to the children all day.

18 months ago, out income was 50k and our habits haven't changed - 65k doesnt mean much of an increase with 40% tax rate applied.