Right Job Wrong Time

Hi T.,

Can you just scale back your work at home job for a time? If you get pregnant again, you can quit....I don't recommend planning it that way exactly but everyone's situation changes and we have to make the call for what is best for our family at that time. If you do get pregnant again, you'll have health insurance to cover it. The daycare situation is another thing.If you do want the job, I would look for an in-home sitter for that job that has some flexibility. I have found home-schooled teenagers are great in this situation. Their schedules are flexible and they don't demand a lot of money but are usually very responsible. Ultimately, you have to decide but I hope we ladies here gave you the insight you needed!

M.

So if you add up all the cost of daycare, clothes for work, meals out, gasoline, etc. Does the benefit of health insurance outweigh the cost of simply looking up a good insurance agent and buying health insurance for yourself ? Over the years, I found that option always saved me money in the long run, PLUS, I didn't have to worry about taking days off whenever a child was sick.

is your WAH job one that you could easily return to? Try the new job, it may open doors to something that pays better....& then you may be ready to make that "next baby" decision easier. In the meantime, you'd have that all-important health insurance to help protect your family.

One thing I would mention: find out exactly how much that insurance is going to cost you...from an out-of-pocket standpoint (co-pays for both office visits & prescriptions, premium for family & who pays that).....before making the jump. For example, my husband's premium is covered by his employer, but the family premium is covered by us.....& that cost is over $100/WEEK! Ouch!

But, I will admit that having health insurance is important in today's financial world. In the last 15 years, we have incurred over 1/2million in medical expenses - with an out-of-pocket of more than $25,000. We have repeatedly hit that out-of-pocket maximum year after year! Good Luck!

If this is the right offer for you I would say go for it. If and when you decide you add another baby you can still quit and find something that enables you to stay at home.
Personally I hate working outside the home while my daughter is still little, but I have no other choice. Maybe before you decide take into considerations all the other aspects that come with working and daycare:commute times, less flexibility (can't start the laundry while in between tasks...all of your housework it going to be delegated to evenings and weekends - if find it very stressful), possible after school care for your older kids... give it a trial run by not doing ANYTHING during your prospective work time that you now do at home, that is not work and try to only do these things when you would be at home (including commute time) or on weekends and see how it feels.
Good luck!

I think you kindof answered your own question. The timing is just off. And would the health insurance and less pay be worth it when you'd have to pay for daycare now. Also, if you do have another child you will be immediately putting that child in daycare---- I know I decided not to go back to work for this very reason. I thought it'd be unfair to have stayed home with one child and send the other to daycare. Health insurance can be pricey..and it's nice to have benefits with the job...but you really just have to sit down and write out how much you'd be saving if you took this job and how much you'd be losing. Good luck! :)

I had been a professional for 30 years. In Dec 2005 I became a SAHM. It was hard for me. But I
have looked into going back to work, in my area PK to 5th grade run around 125 a wk. Babies are 175 a wk. that is $300.00 a week. You can always work from home. I do. I don't do not make tons of money but that is totally up to me, what I make. Lets talk. No obligation no pressure. I think you will be very pleased. But You need to do what is best for you and your kids. Money can always be brought in, but babies are only babies once. I had three that were raised by daycare and now I am raising my little one. Wow, I missed out an allot.

If I were you, I would do a little bit of research into the cost of daycare and the cost of private insurance. You can get private insurance for your family for about the same cost as through some employers. Also, daycare expenses might bring that lower pay down too low for your lifestyle. But having all of the information, doing the math, might help. (Not that it's all about math, but it does make sense to have all the information first).
I must say, you are incredibly lucky to have that job at home. I would love to be able to have an income while I stay home. I can understand your interest in moving on from that stage in life too.