what lengths would you go to to give your child a SAHM/D?

knithappens

Downshifting groceries

I work 4 days per week, but would like to drop to 3 , but not sure yet if this will be economically viable as i am the sole earner ( single parent - divorcing) At the moment I am using my mat leave to also loojk at other ways of financially providing, having a career, and balancing that with raising my children. In the meantime time I have made as many cuts as possible. Will be switching PAYG at the end of the month and searching for cheaper gas and electric. I also do car boot sales and ebay a little to earn a little extra for treats for the kids.

jellymid

Downshifting groceries

Only go on camping holidays for 10 years:eek:. In a vauxhall nova:eek::eek:
I think this was possibly my biggest struggle, but OH and the children loved it! Every year I said never again :rotfl:

weezl74

Having a lodger

jellymid wrote: »

Only go on camping holidays for 10 years:eek:. In a vauxhall nova:eek::eek:
I think this was possibly my biggest struggle, but OH and the children loved it! Every year I said never again :rotfl:

good grief how did you fit a tent, luggage and chidren into a nova?! Did you have a roof rack?!

jellymid

Downshifting groceries

weezl74 wrote: »

good grief how did you fit a tent, luggage and chidren into a nova?! Did you have a roof rack?!

Looking back, I don't know! No roof rack for the first 5 years and people used to stay on site to watch us pack up - convinced it wouldn't all fit in. Have had many comments re vauxhall 'tardis' I always felt I needed another holiday by the time we'd packed up though. I can laugh about it now, but it was probably the time I most considered going back to work.

not_tonight_josephine_2

Downshifting groceries

OH and I are trying to do all the "cutting down" stuff now, before we have kids, in the hope that we can nearly/completely pay the mortgage off while I am still working, then we should be fairly comfortable on just one wage for a few years. So although we both earn quite good wages, we live a fairly frugal lifestyle and save lots!

I would definitely consider giving up my car when we do have kids (not an option for everyone I'm sure but where we live would be quite possible). I'd consider all the other options too apart from the lodger - I don't fancy the idea of a stranger in the house, particularly if I was at home most of the time myself with a baby.

feelinggood_2

Downshifting groceries

not_tonight_josephine wrote: »

I don't fancy the idea of a stranger in the house, particularly if I was at home most of the time myself with a baby.

Yes, I also don't think the lodge would appreciate me sat on the sofa with my boobs out most of the time!

not_tonight_josephine_2

Downshifting groceries

feelinggood wrote: »

Yes, I also don't think the lodge would appreciate me sat on the sofa with my boobs out most of the time!

lol, that's what i was trying to say in a slightly more roundabout way! :rotfl:

weezl74

Having a lodger

the lodger option is proving very unpopular I see!

but loads of people have considered going without luxuries...

knithappens

Downshifting groceries

weezl74 wrote: »

the lodger option is proving very unpopular I see!

but loads of people have considered going without luxuries...

Yes since getting preganant again, my nights out have stoppend, so money saved, but we spend a lot more time doing family things,, picnic at the bark, bike rides etc, I dont have a gym membership anymore, but find walking withthe kids a great exercise, and also swimming withthem ( using the councils new free swim passes for the kids a great saving)

Also we do get to go cinema etc, but now i use seefilm first etc to get free tickets and such. And use my tesco clubcard deals for days out and meals out, I think it is all about being savvy.

SugarSpun

Downshifting groceries

I should add that I really don't want to stop working altogether, but I'm happy to make changes to my working schedule so that we always have a primary caregiver, preferably a parent, home with the baby.