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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7539 total posts
Name:
DW
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Spinoff to SAHM budgeting... Downsizing to stay home
We are seriously considering downsizing our home so that I can SAH with DS. Right now, we wouldn't be able to afford our mortgage + other expenses on one salary, but if we downsized, we defintiely could.
To all those who are working Mom's... would you give up space and a newly renovated landscaped home for a smaller, older, more outdated home (but still in a good School District) for the opportunity to stay at home?
My DH said that the ball is in my court... And I really can't decide what I want to do. I am only sad because we put a lot of blood sweat and tears into our house (did all of the landscaping ourselves, designed the kitchen, picked fixtures, etc)...
But D-day is coming... I am due to return to work in June, and the more I think about it, the more I am dreading it...
Message edited 5/15/2009 5:50:53 PM.
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Posted 5/14/09 2:29 PM  |
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nbc188
Best friends!
Member since 12/06 23090 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Heck yes! If I could downsize in order to stay home, and still be comfortable & have all needs met in a smaller home, still in a good area-- YES!! I wish I could SAH in the worst way 
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| Posted 5/14/09 2:32 PM |
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Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
No, I dont think I would. I wouldn't want to downsize because I think I would regret it long term. I mean if you downsize will it affect your ability to have another child and have hte room? I dont know how big your current home is but I have an avg size home and it feels a little cramped with just 1 DC so downsizing for me isnt something I am willing to do.
Also as someone who wanted to SAH then returned to work FT, for me it wasnt so bad. I wound up leaving my FT job for a PT one but I actually enjoy having the me time out of the house.
Would a PT gig fill the financial needs? Because for me at least its the best of both worlds, I am a SAHM 4 days and work 3 days I feel like its a great balance of family and me.
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| Posted 5/14/09 2:39 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Yes. You are describing our house. It's not the biggest (we have smaller rooms but still have 4 bedrooms) and it's not updated but it works for us. We are doing it little by little. That way I can work PT on weekends and SAH during the week.
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| Posted 5/14/09 2:39 PM |
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CrankyPants
I'm cranky
Member since 7/06 18178 total posts
Name:
Mama Cranky
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
No-for me being a working mom is about more than our house.
If it was just about the house, then yes, but it isn't.
It's about our family and our life and what we want that to be. It's about balancing everything, saving (for emergencies, for college for retirement (retirement funding for both of us)), what two salaries can offer our children vs. one, how tightly we want to live on a budget, financial security if one of us loses our job, about getting back to a career once the kids are in school and how easy/hard that would be. For me, it's about these things and sooo much more.
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| Posted 5/14/09 2:56 PM |
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computergirl
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3118 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Absolutely. We bought an older 4 bedroom house that needed more work, before our first child was born... we only looked at houses that we could afford on DH's salary, because we planned on my being a SAHM. We also chose to put 50% down (some money we had saved for a downpayment plus we made a big profit on the sale of our starter home), so that ensured that our mortgage would always be reasonable, even if DH ever had to take a pay cut, etc.
For us having a parent home with the children was the most important thing, something we couldn't put a price tag on.
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:02 PM |
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LIMOMx2
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Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Right now things are tight and I get a small paycheck from DH's Co. I would sell this house in a second and get even an apartment to live more comfortably.
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:02 PM |
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Rycois
Blessed with 2blue/2pink
Member since 12/05 13341 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
I don't think I'll sell my house to be a SAHM.
A) I'd worry I would lose $$ on the house in this market and not be as ahead of the game as I hoped
B) if you're buying something that needs work and trying to budget - will you have $$ to put into that house
C) will you regret downsizing now that you've started your family?
Obviously, it's a personal decision, and maybe I would do it if I lived in something too big for us - but I know right now my house isn't big enough, so I can't imagine downsizing
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:02 PM |
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08BabySurprise
My Life. My Everything.
Member since 10/07 9151 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Posted by CrankyPants
No-for me being a working mom is about more than our house.
If it was just about the house, then yes, but it isn't.
It's about our family and our life and what we want that to be. It's about balancing everything, saving (for emergencies, for college for retirement (retirement funding for both of us)), what two salaries can offer our children vs. one, how tightly we want to live on a budget, financial security if one of us loses our job, about getting back to a career once the kids are in school and how easy/hard that would be. For me, it's about these things and sooo much more.
I agree with all of this. And then some.
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:06 PM |
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lmnscc
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/07 598 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Yes. I am a SAHM to 14 m/o twins with one more on the way. We have to double up two kids when the new one comes. And I was HUGE on them having their own rooms. But the thing is that THEY won't care about the size of their rooms or house in general. What they will remember for their life is that Mommy was home with them. My two are so attached to me and I love it. Our house is a good size, they even have their own toy room, but if we had to, I would go to a smaller house.
Nothing is permanent. You can downsize - smartly - now and if in a number of years your situation changes, you can move again. Just keep in mind if you want more children, make sure there will be some room for that child.
Being a SAHM is really hard some days, but always worth it. Everything monitary is just stuff.
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:13 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Posted by CrankyPants
No-for me being a working mom is about more than our house.
If it was just about the house, then yes, but it isn't.
It's about our family and our life and what we want that to be. It's about balancing everything, saving (for emergencies, for college for retirement (retirement funding for both of us)), what two salaries can offer our children vs. one, how tightly we want to live on a budget, financial security if one of us loses our job, about getting back to a career once the kids are in school and how easy/hard that would be. For me, it's about these things and sooo much more.
Same here. My job was worth going back to for the health benefits alone. The house was a big piece of the puzzle, but not the only one for us.
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:17 PM |
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KartveliT
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Member since 1/08 8363 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Yes.
I am a SAHM and have been for almost 2 years now, but still , if I was working I would def downsize. That is one of the reasons we decided to go with a coop (we are in the process of buying a co-op) after all.
If we bought a house money would be VERY tight and I would def have to go back to work full time ASAP, but with a co-op we can still manage with me being a SAHM for a while or working part time. I am not saying that we will have(or NOW have) a complete financial freedom, but definitely more than we would if we bought a house.
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:23 PM |
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KartveliT
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Member since 1/08 8363 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Nothing is permanent. You can downsize - smartly - now and if in a number of years your situation changes, you can move again. Just keep in mind if you want more children, make sure there will be some room for that child.
Being a SAHM is really hard some days, but always worth it. Everything monetary is just stuff.
That's exactly how I (and DH) feel about the whole situation. (We have no plans on having more than one for a while for at least next 4-5 years if ever.)
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:28 PM |
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lovemy2boys
LIF Adult
Member since 10/07 3915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
i am in a coop now and DH could afford it on his own. we want a house but then I would have to continue working FT and have a huge bill every month. we are staying put for now bc I like the fact that I am banking my whole paycheck ( we already have the Downpayment saved) for our future. so Giving up space is def. worth the "freedom" so you can choose to stay home, or have a nice bank account for the future 
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:31 PM |
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Belladonna219
HOT MAMA
Member since 2/07 2642 total posts
Name:
Belladonna219
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Yes, well sorta. Our house is currently in contract. We were looking at houses that were alot more money but we could afford based on 2 salaries. Now we are looking at houses based on 1 salary which of course are not as nice or big but heck I can live with it and renovate.
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| Posted 5/14/09 3:35 PM |
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mooshyboo
So Blessed!
Member since 11/07 6297 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
We actually did ~ we sold our house in January (currently renting until we find a house and a school district we would like to be in) We put a lot of blood sweat and tears into that house (brand new kitchen, bathroom, hardwood floors etc) ~ it was hard but it afforded me to stay home with CJ! plus the house was small (two bedroom) we want a larger house so hopefully next year we will find our dream home. (and hopefully I can still stay home)
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| Posted 5/14/09 4:55 PM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting...
Posted by 08BabySurprise
Posted by CrankyPants
No-for me being a working mom is about more than our house.
If it was just about the house, then yes, but it isn't.
It's about our family and our life and what we want that to be. It's about balancing everything, saving (for emergencies, for college for retirement (retirement funding for both of us)), what two salaries can offer our children vs. one, how tightly we want to live on a budget, financial security if one of us loses our job, about getting back to a career once the kids are in school and how easy/hard that would be. For me, it's about these things and sooo much more.
I agree with all of this. And then some.
I completely agree.
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| Posted 5/14/09 7:11 PM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7539 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting... Downsizing to stay home
Thanks so much for all of your responses!!!
It helps to know I am not "crazy" for thinking the way I am...
I actually called a realtor today and we are meeting w/ him on Monday to discuss what he thinks we can get. If we won't make at least what we paid (we bought in '05), we won't sell...
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| Posted 5/15/09 5:54 PM |
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butterfly20
Party of 5 - 2015
Member since 4/06 7390 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting... Downsizing to stay home
Posted by CrankyPants
No-for me being a working mom is about more than our house.
If it was just about the house, then yes, but it isn't.
It's about our family and our life and what we want that to be. It's about balancing everything, saving (for emergencies, for college for retirement (retirement funding for both of us)), what two salaries can offer our children vs. one, how tightly we want to live on a budget, financial security if one of us loses our job, about getting back to a career once the kids are in school and how easy/hard that would be. For me, it's about these things and sooo much more.
ita
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| Posted 5/15/09 6:29 PM |
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nicrae
He's here!
Member since 12/06 9289 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting... Downsizing to stay home
In a second if we could sell it without losing money!!!!!!!!!!
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| Posted 5/15/09 6:31 PM |
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Violet
content
Member since 7/06 1860 total posts
Name:
Mama :)
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting... Downsizing to stay home
I would love to stay home with DD, but I don't think I would downsize right now. Also since the market is not in favor of the sellers, I am not sure how long it will take to sell the house, and I would absolutely not sell our house without making some kind of profit.
We have a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house, but DH and actually talking about buying a bigger house, so we can have more children. So unfortunately being a SAHM is not in my immediate future
If it works for you, do it! 
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| Posted 5/15/09 6:46 PM |
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nadia
My two Girls=)
Member since 7/07 1421 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting... Downsizing to stay home
I would totally do it. They are only small once, so enjoy it if you could. You can always get a bigger house later and always get a job when they are older.
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| Posted 5/15/09 6:59 PM |
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LadyH
April Baby Girl is Here!
Member since 12/07 1077 total posts
Name:
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting... Downsizing to stay home
I would downsize because I believe in living well with in your means, but I don't think I'd downsize to stay home.
I work out of the home (and in the home ) by choice. It' s not about $ for me - its about much more than that.
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| Posted 5/15/09 9:27 PM |
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sunflowerjesss
Mommy to 3!
Member since 10/05 20369 total posts
Name:
Jesss, duh.
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting... Downsizing to stay home
To be completely honest. We bought below our means so that we would be able to afford me staying at home until our last child enters full day kindergarten.
DH was raised by a SAHM and I always felt I missed out on having a parent around as both were very busy working to provide for our family.
So me being a SAHM was very important to both DH and I.
Of course there is a chance once I go back to work we sell what we have now and upgrade a bit. But for the moment, what we have is perfect for us and we love the life we have created.
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| Posted 5/15/09 9:31 PM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7539 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: Spinoff to SAHM budgeting... Downsizing to stay home
Posted by sunflowerjesss
To be completely honest. We bought below our means so that we would be able to afford me staying at home until our last child enters full day kindergarten.
I wish we would have done this from the beginning... We have been "working for the house" since we got married 3 years ago and I feel like it is no way to live...
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| Posted 5/16/09 6:58 AM |
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