I Want to Become a Stay at Home Mom!!!

Medical billing/coding and medical transcription are both pretty hot options for WAHM. As you may know, go through the HIS (health information systems) department at hospitals to get hired (ideally). The nice thing is some larger systems actually hire you and you get access to benefits and you do occassionally have to come in for meetings and you will have "quotas" to meet, but you could even be part time and all the work is done from home.

Crunch the numbers. I'm a PT WAHM. It's hard to do everything around the house, take care of DD, and work so sometimes they are long days finishing hours. So far it's going OK, but it's definitely easier when I trade kid care and take DD to a friend's house for the afternoon.

Legit sites (but you have to check out the businesses/contract) include odesk.com, hiremymom.com and biztant.com. Remember, too, that there are no benefits (no paid time off, no insurance or 401K) for freelancing and you pay your own taxes (about 48% of your pay).

My income isn't brilliant, but it helps keep things running. I feel very fortunate that DH has a good job. We also save $ by not paying $300/week in daycare, my gas for the 50 mile a day commute and other expenses.

ME TOO! But alas, here I sit at my desk.
With a BA in health admin would you be qualified to open a health staffing agency out of your home? Could you be a part time instructor at a health trade school? Could you contract with a nursing home to coordinate thier health needs, working part time hours or working from home?

Hello! When my husband and I first married - we knew when we had kids one of us would stay home. He made more money than me so we did everything on HIS paycheck alone - the mortgage was done on his, EVERYTHING.....

I realize you want to work from home - but that may not be an option - if it isn't and you want to focus FULL TIME AS A MOM - with an infant - working from home is NOT easy (I say this from first hand experience)

Since you aren't in the position I was/am - here's what I would do -

1. take my entire paycheck and shove it in savings or pay down debt ALL OF IT for the next 7 months.
2. Find out if we can refinance the home (if you own) to pay the bills off and lower the mortgage payment (only if you plan on staying in the home for at least 4 more years).
3. Start cutting the unnecessaries out of your spending habits - yes, that means Starbucks - I can buy a CAN OF COFFEE for one cup of it!!!
4. Look at all of your regular bills - electricity, gas, water, cable, cell, etc. and see where and what you can cut back, or just plain cancel.
5. Find out if your husband can get a raise or if he can get another job that pays more - it NEVER hurts to look around. You NEVER know what you will find.
6. STOP USING any and all credit cards. PERIOD. If you can't pay cash for it - you don't need it.
7. put all the baby things on layaway - you don't need RIGHT NOW - so put the things you need - yep diapers too! on layaway - Kmart has a layaway program - ask if you can put stuff like diapers on layaway....you can do it for 8 or 12 weeks. Again - you DO NOT NEED IT RIGHT NOW so put it on layaway (I put my boys summer clothes on layaway - i pick them up on 25 May - got swimsuits on sale (buy 1 get 1), etc. - saved a BOATLOAD of money!!!
8. Stop going out to eat. Start making a menu and planning your meals for the family a week at a time. Use your coupons religiously - you can save up to $85 a visit - I can and do. YOU MUST USE COUPONS!!!
9. USE COUPONS - ANY WHERE AND EVERY WHERE- dry cleaning, groceries, oil changes, repairs, etc. - you'll be amazed at what you can get coupons for.

Start factoring in the savings for after-school care...you can't stop paying it yet - but don't forget to add that in.

If you can sell one of your cars and buy one that will allow you no car payment - do it. I would highly recommend a minivan, especially with a baby on the way.

You can't focus on where you are - you need to focus on WHERE YOU WANT TO BE - you have to make a conscious decision to either be a SAHM or not - that means you will have to change your lifestyle - unless of course you win the lottery...! :) and you HAVE to want and ACCEPT this. Life changes - what's your priority? If it's your family - then you need to make these changes and stick to it. It won't be easy. It won't be fun - but it will be SOOOOOO worth it!!
You want to do stuff from home? Sell the items you are no longer using or want on ebay and craigslist. that's what I do. This past weekend I sold $450 worth of stuff (an old printer, clothes, toys, etc.) it all adds up fast.

As for a job that you can telecommute? Ask your work if you can telecommute - you might be surprised at their answer. If they say no - then you have 7 months to look for the "right" job for you. You can look on craigslist - yes, craigslist - and select "telecommute" as an option and see what's out there. You will never know unless you ask.

GOOD LUCK!!

With your background you could do medical billing. Also look for parttime work for what you do. I have three and I am in the same boat. Still working fulltime but at least it is no more than 40 hours ever. Congrats.

I changed gears all together when I had my kids and got a liscence to have a home daycare/ preschool so I could be home all day with my kids. It was soo much work, long days, but I was home with them all day, and I was the one caring for my own kids. I never missed out on anything with them, and I had built in playmates for them as well. There were some very difficult times for them, but they learned so many things by me doing this. We had some important ground rules, like none of the daycare kids were allowed in the kids bedrooms, and during the scheduled Nap/ rest times I would sit with my older daughter for at least 1/2 of the time when she was still at home and during the summer and we would play board games. I did this up until my kids were in middle and early high school. I called the shots, made the hours, and chose the holidays that I was open and closed. I picked the parents and children who I could work with, and I was VERY lucky to have some great parents and kids. I keep in touch with most of them still today! (I have had over 46 kids in over 13 yrs) It was tough in the summer because I would have to cut back on my daycare kids to count my own kids once they were in school, (to keep within the alowed amount) but I even got to the point where I hired a friend to help out and come work and give me a few hours off a couple days a week. She would work with me on certain days so we could have more kids and do more, or go on field trips too. I did so much with my kids and daycare kids. I had a real preschool curriculum. I was even enrolled in the state's food / meal reimbursement program, so we did menus and meal charts, for breakfast, lunch, and 2 snacks. I got a check each month for that as well as for a few kids in care that were on state aide for their tuition. It was nice to know that the income from them was a guarentee. Until I had hired my friend to help out so I could take a few hours off a week, I would let the parents know well in advance of any appts at the school, etc where I could not bring 6 toddlers, and they would bring the children late that day. I always tried to make appts. 1st thing in the am so my kids could come right after and their parents wouldn't have to miss out on a whole day of work.I even took a 2 week PAID vacation every year. How cool is that?? Also, my hubby got a liscence as well, (a 40 hr class) so if I had to be some place he could stay with the daycare kids just so I could go to the appt. I tell you though, I took my daycare kids everywhere! I was infamous in my little town! I even went to my OBGYN appt with all 6 of them, ranging in age from 6 months old to 5 yrs old. We set them up sitting facing the wall in the exam room, the youngest 4 in 2 double strollers, and the others sitting indian style with toys and books, and I talked to them and played a game of who could count the dots on the wall and what do you imagine is on the other side of the wall with your pretend xray vision the whole time I was having my internal exam and pap smear. It was a riot! The parents all knew I was taking the kids, and were fine with it, and the doctors knew too. I had no problem with them going, they behaved so well for me. (not being Mom always helps!!) The doctor had me covered very well, just in case one of the turned around, but none of them did. They had no idea what was going on other than I was at a check up with my doctor. We went to the kids museum and out for pizza once a week, to the zoo, the park and to various other local attractions where we lived. We were well known at the library and would go to any and all free events there. I lived in Ma. at the time and they have some very strict regulations so you would have to check out what your state requires, but I wish everyday that I could still be doing the daycare/ preschool job. I miss the kids, and enjoyed it so much! I had to stop for serious health reasons after we moved to Florida. My 2 daughters are older now, but we did get custody of our nephew and niece recently. (well almost 6 years ago) . I am not working, so I get to be at home anyway, but I really do miss all the fun things that I did with my daycare children. They really were like family to me. I have so many great memories of them, and the photo albums are endless. What a great way to raise your own kids! My girls remember it like they had an endless supply of kids around to play with, and were never bored or lonely, and because of my "job" we went on some really neat adventures and to so many amazing places that I may not have taken just the 2 of them otherwise. We went to Plymouth plantation and Plymouth rock every November, and to the whaling museums, and to all kinds of art galleries and to the Woods Hole Oceanagraphic institute and fishery to see the seals and the touch tanks. We went on all kinds of fun field trips. I loved to go places where the kids could do hands on things. Some places like the police and fire station were a big hit with the boys. My girls loved those too. I probably wouldn't have taken them there if not for my job. (I may not have been able to since I was granted access because I was considered a "school" when we took the trip) Other than this for an idea, I have none. I wish you the best, and congrats on baby #2!! Enjoy it, time really does fly by! My "babies" are going to be 21 and 18. So old now! At least I have the younger two to keep me feeling young I guess. :)
Oh, and by the way, I made way more money doing this at the time than I could have doing any other job, kids of my own or not. In Massachusetts the going rate for daycare (full time) was over $140.00 a week. I had 6 full time kids 5 days a week. If they were under 2 the rate was closer to $180.00 a week. I was making GREAT money. Then I was being paid back the meal reimbursement too, as well as being in business for myself at home, well everything is a tax write off. It was a great job!

My opinion - There are 4 kinds of SAHM jobs: the scams, the kind that will never earn you more than "pin money", the kind that necessitate hiring a nanny/babysitter to do well, and in-home childcare (which could also fall into the other categories).

If you're looking for just a little fun money, I'm sure you'll get many great suggestions. But sah with little ones does not a good work environment make!

I remember reading something that says that when most moms want to be home is when the kids are little, yet when they need to be home is when there ISN"T daycare for them - afterschool preteen/teen years. I would love to be the stay at home mom, but am pushing through in the hopes that I can afford the part time when they would be home alone later and need the supervision. I feel your pain though, and hope you find something.

Congratulations for being willing to put the desires of your heart into writing. So few people do that yet wonder why they haven't acheived their dreams.

To make the transition you will need to reveiw your income and your outgo(aka - expenses). Be honest about the new expenses you will incur due to your new addition to the family. Begin the process of paying things down and paying things off. Begin allowing your husbands income to cover the major expenses (if you can). Think outside of the box about work at home opportunities. What skills, talents or abilities do you have that someone would be willing to pay for? What resources will you need to execute the service or product you will be providing? How effective are your time management skills? Will you truly be able to keep up a certain level of workload after the baby arrives? Are you being realistic or idealistic? Is there anything you can do now to boost your income? Is your current employer open to the idea of your working from home? Have you presented a proposal to your employer regarding the posibility of working from home after the baby is born?

These are a few questions I would be honestly asking myself and working through while I'm setting myself up to make the transition. Find out from your spouse how much assistance he is willing and able to provide toward that end and does it make financial and physical sense?

I hope these observations work toward getting you home with your babies and comfortable with your finances.

I am in the same boat as you (I'm not pregnant but my second child is 4 now). I work part time from home. It takes work and dedication but you can replace your full-tiem income doing what I do (not overnight of course). If you want more information just let me know (no cost or obligations just to get the information...after that all decisions are up to you).

Is it possible that you work part time at least while you find a job you can do from home?
My mom sells stuff from deco to make up. Is not a lot but it helps them.
You could also do some babysitting.

My Mary Kay business is what's kept food on the table when I lost my job over 5 yrs ago and wasn't able to return back to work due to the rising cost of child care. It may be something for you to look into. I 'work' 5 hrs a week.

I think you are better off doing a drastic review of all expenditures, instead of or in addition to getting a work-at-home job. Check out the Tightwad Gazette, and start doing extreme frugality, and you might be surprised at what you can do on one income.

I stayed at home til my daughter was 1. Then I began a part-time work at home job with her in part-time daycare. It is impossible to get work done with her home with me. Without daycare, I found myself working during naps and after her bedtime, which meant basically no time for myself. She is now in full-time daycare [because it did wonders for her socially], and now I can get my work done, have me time, and get all my chores/errands done with the weekends for family time only. However, all my paycheck goes to childcare expenses. I find it is still worth it for me. You just have to figure out what works for you. FWIW, it is easier to live on one income than people think. Again, you have to figure out what expenses are worth it.

Almost the same boat as you... :( Just got some awesome responses on my question about feeling guilty about being a full time working mom and wanting to stay home to with my kids... The question was Working Moms. I hope you can find some thing that will make you happy. :)