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Monthly Expenses And Shaving Off Dollars

By Frank Russelton

Many of the working moms of today could not imagine it possible for them to leave the workplace and stay at home. It’s not that mothers don’t want to do it, but leaving the workforce just doesn’t seem financially possible.

However, it is possible for just about any family to switch from two incomes to one with some adjustments and control monthly expenses. You will have to sacrifice some things, but isn’t staying home with your kids worth giving up your daily Starbucks habit?

If you’re not sure, just think of when your child took his first step or said his first word. The chances are that you missed the moment because you were at work. Can you really put in words what that memory is worth?

Shaving Off Dollars

When you’re thinking about staying at home, it’s a good idea to sit down and review your options, to see where you can cut monthly expenses. You need to shave off dollars and that’s usually easily done.

For example, if you like to watch movies, you can give up that expensive cable or satellite bill and rent some for free from the local library instead. Cutting back on long distance calls or giving up a cell phone plan also helps to save money.

You can also call your insurance company for a better deal, now that you won’t be driving to work anymore.

Cutting Down On Eating Out And Rent Free Movies From Your Local Library

How about eating out? The average family in the United States eats out twice a week, with the average bill being $40 - that’s $320 a month! Grabbing lunch at the deli next door costs an average of $7 a day, which adds up to $140 a month.

If both you and your partner eat lunch out, the total adds up to $280 a month! Another entertainment area people spend too much on is movies. Instead of renting movies, consider checking out movies from the library. Most libraries have a large selection of movies to choose from that are free.

Savings On Your Daily Costs

Don’t forget to figure in the ways you will be saving money. There will be no more daycare costs, no more filling up the gas tank as often to get to work, and no more new "work clothes" to factor into the budget! Don’t forget to call your auto insurance company and let them know you aren’t driving as many miles; your rate will go down significantly.

The second step to staying at home is finding something you can do from home to bring in some income. There are many ways you can make money from home that don’t take up a lot of your time, depending on what your interests are.

Generating Income From Home

The best way to earn extra money and help pay monthly expenses, is to turn something you like to do into cash. For example, if you like to make jewelry, sell your items to local stores, put up a website, or sell at local craft fairs. Making a business out of your interests can apply to just about anything. You can also sell your services.

If you like to scrapbook, offer classes to others. Maybe you’re good at writing resumes or you can type 80+wpm; you can turn typing into services that you can sell. Do some research on the internet, as there are many opportunities for home-based businesses. Beware of something that sounds to good to be true, though, as it probably is.

Last but not least, talk to other moms who have stayed at home successfully. They are your best resources as well as support.

About the Author:
Frank Russelton has written a number of articles on food and cooking including Cooking Recipes, New Recipes, Cooking Potatoes, Steam Cooking, Cook Books.
Keep a lookout for more articles on this website.

Did You Know?

It is hard to imagine that flour, water and yeast all come together to form something so scrumptious. Each by themselves are important but when mixed together, let alone to rise and then baked, are transformed into something so wonderful that only tasting can adequately give it the proper kudos.

Bread making may not be as simple as combining those three ingredients but it is not as hard as most people make it out to be. With the right recipe and the right equipment anyone can make a great tasting loaf of bread.

Family Budget | Monthly Expenses | Reducing Costs

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