Is money getting tight? Are bill collectors calling you day and night? Have your friends or relatives making snide remarks about how you should get a job? Yeah, like being an at home mom isn't really a job. Every mom knows that being a mom is not a 9-5 job--it's more like a 24 hour job, but that's another argument all together.
If money is getting tight you may be considering going back to work outside the home. Maybe your family only needs a couple hundred dollars more each month to get by or to get caught up. Sometimes, it's easier for your family if you to stay at home and cut costs or sell something to lower monthly payments. When this is not possible or feasible consider the following before you accept a job outside the home.
Cost of Child Care
First thing to consider is child care. If your children are grown, you have relatives who can watch your kids for free, your hubby and you work alternating shifts, or legally allowed to stay home unsupervised than great--skip this item. However, if you have young or elementary school age kids you need to think about who is going to watch your kids. There are lots of options including full-time day care in a facility, at an in-home daycare, have a nanny come to your home, or before and after school care. This can be a deal breaker for a lot of moms because day care can run $100 a month up to a couple hundred. Even before and after school care can be pricey. It's $250 a month in my area for one kid, and we have 3 kids. Ouch! You need to make sure that the amount you will bring home will more than cover the cost of child care.
Transportation
The second thing to consider is your transportation costs. Gas, bus, taxi, train and subway fares are all things to consider. Those fees add up. Ideally, you want to try to find a job close to home, but if a job pays considerably more and is farther away take it! Try carpooling. If gasoline prices are high in your area; consider taking a bus or train over driving your own vehicle. The last thing you want is to pay out $50 in gas each week only to receive a check worth $100 after taxes.
Clothes/Uniforms
The last item to consider is the cost of uniforms and clothes. Many business require you to wear uniforms or dressy clothes. If you haven't been a member of the workforce for years, this could be costly. Not to mention, some dress clothes need to be dry cleaned which can be costly.
These are just a few things to consider before accepting a position. Simply make sure you are going to actually make some money and not spend it all on child care, gasoline, and clothes. Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way suggesting you stay home just because you don't want to work. I'm not suggesting you be a mooch and expect everyone to take care of you. I'm only saying to determine the minimum amount of money you need to cover the cost of child care, transportation and other job related expenses prior to accepting a position.
If money is getting tight you may be considering going back to work outside the home. Maybe your family only needs a couple hundred dollars more each month to get by or to get caught up. Sometimes, it's easier for your family if you to stay at home and cut costs or sell something to lower monthly payments. When this is not possible or feasible consider the following before you accept a job outside the home.
Cost of Child Care
First thing to consider is child care. If your children are grown, you have relatives who can watch your kids for free, your hubby and you work alternating shifts, or legally allowed to stay home unsupervised than great--skip this item. However, if you have young or elementary school age kids you need to think about who is going to watch your kids. There are lots of options including full-time day care in a facility, at an in-home daycare, have a nanny come to your home, or before and after school care. This can be a deal breaker for a lot of moms because day care can run $100 a month up to a couple hundred. Even before and after school care can be pricey. It's $250 a month in my area for one kid, and we have 3 kids. Ouch! You need to make sure that the amount you will bring home will more than cover the cost of child care.
Transportation
The second thing to consider is your transportation costs. Gas, bus, taxi, train and subway fares are all things to consider. Those fees add up. Ideally, you want to try to find a job close to home, but if a job pays considerably more and is farther away take it! Try carpooling. If gasoline prices are high in your area; consider taking a bus or train over driving your own vehicle. The last thing you want is to pay out $50 in gas each week only to receive a check worth $100 after taxes.
Clothes/Uniforms
The last item to consider is the cost of uniforms and clothes. Many business require you to wear uniforms or dressy clothes. If you haven't been a member of the workforce for years, this could be costly. Not to mention, some dress clothes need to be dry cleaned which can be costly.
These are just a few things to consider before accepting a position. Simply make sure you are going to actually make some money and not spend it all on child care, gasoline, and clothes. Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way suggesting you stay home just because you don't want to work. I'm not suggesting you be a mooch and expect everyone to take care of you. I'm only saying to determine the minimum amount of money you need to cover the cost of child care, transportation and other job related expenses prior to accepting a position.
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