I am not your "typical" SAHM. My youngest will soon be 20. I worked until almost two years ago. I had a really fun nursing job, got laid off because a major location of the company was sold, and while I could easily find another nursing job, I don't need to and I don't choose to. I would say that 8 months of my time home was recovering from rotator cuff surgery and complications but the rest is all by choice. After working full time, part time, per diem, part time and full time for many years, I have discovered that I like staying home. I run into people who can't imagine why I am not working? I hear, "aren't you too young to be retired". The answer is probably yes. I am not sure what my "new title" is, so when I am asked what I am doing now, I just repeat, "I stay home", but there seems to be some "discomfort" among some people that I am not gainfully employed. Sometimes DH and I seem to be the only ones that are quite comfortable with it, which to me, is all that matters. Is anyone else not working but could be? What do you call the yourself? 
Not working also hasn't been the financial loss that I initially thought it would be. I made decent money working full time but I commuted 20 miles each way so that, plus the usual, ordinary errands accounted for about $50 per week for gas and wear and tear on the car. I use less than half of gas now. I didn't bring my lunch so that plus coffee in the morning, or breakfast in the cafe was another $7 per day or $35 to $40 per week. Then I had to dress professionally which means stockings, nicer clothes, clothes that I have no need or desire for, so less shopping. And then there were days that it was just easier to dine out; not because I planned it, but because I didn't plan anything for dinner and it was "easier'. I redecorated my living room and dining room and I had time to sew window treatments, saving LOTS of $$$ and shop for the best prices. Something that I would not have had time to do if I had been working. I am also available to help my sons, help my neighbors and help my friends and other family members with unexpected needs. Something that I wouldn't have been available to do, so there are a lot of pluses. When I worked, Saturday was reserved for housecleaning. I would get up at 6 am and finish by no earlier than 2 pm. Sunday was reserved for church, grocery shopping and ironing the clothes that got washed and stacked up during the week. Now, Saturdays and Sundays are free. The negatives; I don't have a paycheck but we have only had one checking accountt and we have never had "his" or "hers" money. Its always been "ours". I am also not contributing to a 401K. That's it. I can't think of another loss for staying home.
Not working also hasn't been the financial loss that I initially thought it would be. I made decent money working full time but I commuted 20 miles each way so that, plus the usual, ordinary errands accounted for about $50 per week for gas and wear and tear on the car. I use less than half of gas now. I didn't bring my lunch so that plus coffee in the morning, or breakfast in the cafe was another $7 per day or $35 to $40 per week. Then I had to dress professionally which means stockings, nicer clothes, clothes that I have no need or desire for, so less shopping. And then there were days that it was just easier to dine out; not because I planned it, but because I didn't plan anything for dinner and it was "easier'. I redecorated my living room and dining room and I had time to sew window treatments, saving LOTS of $$$ and shop for the best prices. Something that I would not have had time to do if I had been working. I am also available to help my sons, help my neighbors and help my friends and other family members with unexpected needs. Something that I wouldn't have been available to do, so there are a lot of pluses. When I worked, Saturday was reserved for housecleaning. I would get up at 6 am and finish by no earlier than 2 pm. Sunday was reserved for church, grocery shopping and ironing the clothes that got washed and stacked up during the week. Now, Saturdays and Sundays are free. The negatives; I don't have a paycheck but we have only had one checking accountt and we have never had "his" or "hers" money. Its always been "ours". I am also not contributing to a 401K. That's it. I can't think of another loss for staying home.
I'm a SAHM with a 3 yr. old. I love staying home. I'm not even going to pretend that I'm as busy as most SAHM's are. I only have one child so far, so I have plenty of time for me 
I go to the gym, work out, swim, sit in the sauna while DS gets to play w/ other kids. He goes to soccer, has swimming lessons, etc. We spend lots of time together playing, coloring, going on walks, riding bikes to the park, going on errands, etc. I also have time to play on the computer, do college work online, read a book or magazine, get all my housework/laundry done, run errands, schedule appts, go shopping, cook gourmet dinners, go on playdates, and even have Mom's Night Out once or twice a month. We eat out whenever we want, we'll be in Disney in FOUR days, 
and do a little bit of travel throughout the year. Yeah, if I worked we could keep up with the Jones', but then we would be busy and rushed all the time and we'd hardly ever see our son, I much prefer the lifestyle I have now. I know not everyone has it (or wants it) the way I do, but I see no reason to change it, b/c we're all happy. 
Even DH prefers it this way. I never bother him with housework, cause I get it all done during the day, he always has fresh clean clothes to wear, doesn't have to schedule his own appts, and walks in the door to a freshly made dinner, clean house and happy wife and son. 
). I have saved a lot of money off of big ticket items just by being home to negotiate the best price, read up on different topics (insurance being my favorite, since we are Floridians), etc. I have time to shop clearance sales, buy and sell on Craigslist and Ebay, etc. The only downside that I also see is the 401K thing, but DH and I max out our Roth IRAs and already have decent IRA balances from prior job rollovers.
Like Disney Doll, I would retire in a heartbeat if I could afford to. I'm an RN, no kids, and I've already had my share of fulfillment from working--I don't need any more! I enjoy EVERY moment I'm off work and I don't have a bored bone in my body. While I currently work 36 hours a week, I would be thrilled to never work another day in my life. 
