How do you afford to be a SAHM?

[rhaenyra01]

As it says in the subject- I’m curious about how some people afford to be SAHMs? Does it depend on your partner’s income? Or do you just have to really cut down on spending?

No judgement, I am just interested - about to go back to work after maternity leave and really wishing I could stay at home with my DD but unfortunately it’s not financially viable for DH and I.

I was a SAHM for about 4 years. 1 car, no holidays, food budgeting, mostly second hand clothes. We reserved a small amount of money for personal stuff each week. No savings, no meals out etc and I stopped paying into a pension.

To be honest childcare would have broken me. To go back to work I would have had to have paid a full time nanny. I maybe would have banked a couple of hundred quid a week and I would never have seen my kids.

I'm glad I did it but it's really nice to be able to work much more freely now the kids are basically adults.

I became a SAHM 4 years ago, after paying for childcare and fuel etc to get to and from work we worked it out that I'd be £50 better off working full time, I worked in a private nursery and I'd basically have been paying them to look after my own child.
We cut back where we could, haven't had new phones for a few years, or new cars. Holidays in the uk instead of abroad etc, we get by comfortably though and now have 2 DD's who never go without, DH isn't on a massive wage but we live within our means.

I did it for 2 years. Our income was just over 50 k we managed on it. Plus no child care bills

I couldn't do it so went back 3 days a week! Took a £500 a month pay cut so times are harder now but worth the sacrifice so I still get to be mummy majority of the time! Helps my partner can afford to compensate a bit!

@Broccoliforever his salary hasn't doubled, he's earning roughly what he did before we had children.

Only work one or two days but we get UC top ups and DH's wage. Childcare too expensive.

Why do some people presume that if people are careful anyone can be a SAHP? Not the same nowadays. Most people either need a wealthy partner or benefit top ups.

Yes. Pretty sure I read someone stating that if everyone didn't want the latest car or big houses they could afford to be a SAHM or to that effect.

He's in full time school tho, so yes I'm a carer but most people wouldn't know that from seeing him at school