From march and on I will be a SAHM!!! :) I now try to plan as carefully as possible what need to be done before that. That's why I'd like to ask you; What should be done before you start to live of just one income. We have no debt besides house morgage. I guess I should be going to the dentist, do some car maintenance, pay bills ahead, plan meals (I already do) but what else should I do while I still have an income?????

Top up your emergency fund, set aside the beginnings of an entertainment fund and make sure you have a budget.

See if you can live off your dh's salary -- and bank yours!

Make sure you have a stockpile. I can't stress enough how this has gotten us through almost 2 months w/o a salary.

Put as much money as you can into an emergency account.

:sun: I am a spur of the moment stay at home mom, so I had no time to prepare. If I had notice and know now what I know, I would do any kind of medical stuff that needs to be done, tubal ligation, dentistry or anything else while you still have insurance. That has been my biggest struggle. I was scared when I first stayed home that we would not financially be able to make it on one income, but we have done really really good so far. I do look alot for sale items and have changed to cheaper brands or store brands on alot of stuff, and learned to live without shopping every weekend, which was my passtime when I worked. I felt like being at my home was more important than shopping all the time! Be aware though, you may go through a depression at first, I had worked all my life, and wanted to be a stayat home mom so bad, but for some reason I was depressed at first. You don't nearly have the adult communications that you did before and get anxious staying at home day and night. I do love it now don't get me wrong, there is just an adjustment period at first. My best wishes to you and your family on being a SAHM. :D

Originally posted by homesteadmamma
Make sure you have a stockpile. I can't stress enough how this has gotten us through almost 2 months w/o a salary.

Put as much money as you can into an emergency account.


:yeah:

Thanks for your answers!!!
We have about 5000 US dollars in an emergency account already, but I'm putting some more savings away end of january and end of february. But maybe this is not enough?
We also have a vacation account that is about 2000 US dollars now, money for the summer to come :)

I'll be stockpiling as soon as my next pay will arrive!!!

If you have any other suggestions, please write!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:) sounds like you are already on the right road!

I think the ladies have all given you good advice.

Good luck!!

Sounds like you already have a pretty good savings going on there. I do think that you need to go ahead and get your dental and car maint. done now. Then make sure that whatever you spend on that, divide into 12 and set that aside each month in your budget so you know you are taking care of it should you need to again.

Stockpile the pantry and the freezer a little. That is the only other thing that wasn't suggested yet. (or was it and I missed it?)

The only other thing that I would suggest is do and get the stuff that takes money to do. Lots of things don't take cash - you can make them yourself, or barter with people... but somethings you just have to pay for.... once you're stay at home you can make your own ketchup, knit your own socks.... but you still have to buy lightbulbs for instance.

I became a stay at home with no preparation, and no savings... just debt! it took a little while to adjust.

babs

I am a SAHM, but we are looking at something along the same lines, because dh and I want to move out of the area we currently live in within the next year. Here is our list of things to do.

1. Declutter the house.(Working on)
2. Pay off credit cards.
3. Get dh new glasses(DONE)
4. Get cars repaired if they need it, new brakes, new tires, etc.
5. Get all dental work done.
6. Get all physicals up to date.

ScrapMama - it's so fun because your list seems soooo much like mine. DH and I have both seen the optician recently, cost us a fortune... We've had the car repaired, but it still needs tires for both winter and summer use. DH has had his dental work done, mine will be done february 24 th. I also try to declutter the house, so far I've earned about 250 US dollars doing it... Lots of stuff there :)
Good luck with your plans!!

Cecilia!
How great for you guys, it looks like you are getting things accomplished. We just had the brakes done on our minivan, we're taking in our Suburban before summer starts to get it taken care of. I have decluttered my children's toys and took a huge pile of stuff to Salvation Army yesterday. In the goal to move we are also working to simplify our lives. We've been giving away and selling excess furniture and appliances. I'm hoping to be all done before the baby gets here.