Saving money by becoming a house wife

JulieGeorgiana

Good luck x

kboss2010

Good luck, you're a braver person than me that's for sure!

Being a sahw suits some, it's less stressful than work in many ways, you have a lot of free time for hobbies etc.

On the other hand, whether you see it that way or not, you would be completely reliant on your OH financially. If that's not a problem then that's great, go for it! Personally I couldn't live with the constant worry that my OH might lose his job/get sick/leave and I'd be financially up the creek without a paddle. But then I'm one of those people who plans for the apocalypse and gets a pleasant surprise when the sun is shining lol

System

I am a SAHW, I love it.

I have health issues (don't claim benefits - no judgement meant just not what I do), so I love being home when I am ill, not worrying about letting a sales team at work or a manager down.

I save money on cooking, baking, mending items, I look for bargains online, I do a little 'work' online (surveys, writing reviews etc - feel free to message me if you want a list of the websites I use - or anyone else reading). I shop around for bills and utilities, take advantage of TopCashBack when renewing insurance and other essential items.

My utility usage has gone up ever so slightly, but that is probably also partly due to my husband having his hours cut slightly at work right after we decided I would stay at home. We also have more electrical items that ever this year and I make my own bread, yoghurt, sauces etc which means more usage.

We save money by cutting back on holidays, paying off any debt as quick as possible saved us interest payments at the beginning of my time off (as you can see from my debt-free badge it worked well!), we pay for items cash to avoid interest charges/fees/the worry that if he loses his job we would be stuffed and generally avoid non-essential Christmas buying (we are buying for each other, parents and nieces/nephews small gifts this year) and I keep my eyes peeled for special offers and yellow stickered items when shopping. I do not actively go to the supermarket at the reductions time, as it isn't convenient, but I know lots of people do and they save a small fortune. I like to home cook most items myself, to save money and be healthier.

I do feel a little isolated at times, as my husband can work a 7 day 12 hour a day work stint sometimes, but I try to combat this by talking to friends on the phone, going out to see friends (including my lovely neighbour across the hall who I am great friends with), going to see family and having a little thing or two to look forward to each month, a certain friend visiting or a day out.

With regards to worrying about my husband being the financial breadwinner, he is very happy with the situation (which is something I ask him at least once a month to make sure he feels the same still) and he knows if needed I would happily go back to work tomorrow, but it would only really be for financial reasons not for something 'to do' or because I have a passion. My husband has life insurance, to cover the possibility of death or critical illness, we keep some savings too and redundancy cover is an option for those worrying.

Ultimately I could get a minimum wage job if need be if he wasn't working and still make my household budget work - I am that good at it now

Seanymph

I had to offer my support having read this.

I was forced through an accident to give up work when mine were 1 and 2 and a better thing couldn't have happened to me to be honest.

You can grow food on an allotment if you are so minded, but the time for your family cannot be overestimated.

And it's amazing how you adjust.

I have always worked a bit from home. I even did a weekly paper round when they where little and I took them with me (we were very poor then!).

So you could do a 'little' job, I clerked Governing Bodies, did some volunteer work - there is so much if you are minded so you can earn some 'my money'.

But you can't get back any years - make the most of them.

My husband doesn't mind if I work or not - I do, but because we want a holiday home and things and the kids are all grown up now (well, 17 for the youngest). We also need to save for retirement because we hadn't.

You will be amazed at how busy you will be - and how spending so much time with your kids, and knowing their friends and being around their time benefits them. Even your teenager.

Get a tent for holidays - I spent six weeks with mine in Scotland one Summer!

And enjoy. You can always go back to work if you hate it. But I bet you don't.

jackyann

Good for you! Some advice:
keep talking to dh & make sure you are on the same page when it comes to your contribution to the family - both financial & practical
make sure you have a small amount of money, however organised that is yours to do with as you wish
check your state pension entitlement & keep up to date with changes, to make sure you get a state pension (if you need to pay in, count this when calculating)
if you are a registered nurse, check the current rules on fitness to practice - I think it is fairly easy to keep your options open for up to 5 years. A friend allowed hers to lapse, changed her mind and lost money & time getting back.
write your cv before you leave - not necessarily a comprehensive one, but just a sheet of A4 that you can keep on your computer - useful if you do get a part-time job or volunteer

kippers

I gave up working when my first daughter was born and now she is nearly 16 and my second daughter is 14. I feel so privaledged to have seen both my daughters grow up and to be here for them every step of the way.

I do know what it is like to have a good career as this is what I had before the children...but what I have in return from staying at home has been far more rewarding for me.

I won't lie, it was hard financially at the beginning, but over the years I learnt so much and it did became easier as time went by. I have learnt to grow veg, bake from scratch, make jams pickles etc and I now I have four allotments and grow nearly all of our own fruit and veg. I learnt my frugal, thrifty ways through necessity and the desire to make sure my family did not feel deprived in anyway.

After a while I made it into a challenge to live as cheaply as possible without my family noticing and now I write a blog to help people to learn the same skills (i.e. to cook from scratch, grow veg, clean using old fashioned methods etc) which is something I never dreamt of doing....staying at home has been a wonderful experience for me.

Emmala

My advice would be to make sure that you are prepared financially if your husband was to lose his job. Being a nurse in theory means you could pick up work if you had to suddenly, but have a look at the big picture and be sure to have a back up......could you still pay the mortgage? bills?

I say this because having been a SAHM for nine years (I'm a teacher), my husband lost his job out of the blue in September and we just weren't in a good position to deal with it (long story) Thankfully my parents are helping us out, but now my youngest is at school, and I have got a TA job at the kids school (so no chilcare costs to pay!) I will now stay in work as we have to look to build up a contingency, and also look long term at getting the mortgage down, it's huge, and also look at our pension provision. So it's been a wake up call, but having said that I wouldn't have swapped my time at home with the kids - we have three - for anything, time goes so quickly! Good luck with it xxx

Seanymph

Nice blog Kippers!

I changed all sorts too, and wouldnt' change a thing - amongst my kids friends I was always the cool mum because I was available for the trips, and knew them all, and spent time with them all.

It's amazing the benefits of being close to your children.

Tenyearstogo

Kippers, that blog is amazing. I've blogged before, mainly crafting stuff, and thought I might start again if I give up work.

I'd definitely maintain my registration. It would be easy enough to do.

I don't worry about being reliant on my husband, we've never done mine and his. It's always been ours. I can't explain why really but it won't be an issue.

I'm really determined to do this now!

meritaten

I find it sad that you consider nursing to be a 'job' to pay for 'extras'. as you can afford it and OH is eager for you to do this - why not use the 'stay at home' period to explore future career options? Re-train or go for qualifications to a 'preferred' career?

It could still be within the NHS, just a different 'role'?