Ladies: Would you work if you didn't HAVE to?

[LadyShea]

It made more sense for me to keep working, because I am allowed to work from home, my job is easy, and I make enough to support us. My husband is a full time dad to our son, though he works a few hours every morning doing something he enjoys.

I don't like working for others. It would be really nice to be independently wealthy so neither had to work. It would be nice if DH could support us doing something he enjoyed and I could stay home. It would be nice if we had our own family business that we all enjoyed and that supported us (working on that one right now actually)...but as it is I am glad one of us gets to be a full time parent and I get to see my family throughout the day when I take breaks.

 

[DawnM]

Yeah, I wouldn't want that kind of job either. Fortunately, I work in the same school district, so any days they have off, I have off. They do go for a little while to after school care because I get out a little later, but teachers' kids get 50% off of the program so it comes to $25/wk per child. They also provide care for teacher work days for teachers' kids.

Dawn

I do not have to work, and I don't. I have 3 kids. My oldest is 14, and I have been out of the work place for that long. At this time still having 2 kids that I need to be home for once school is out, work just doesn't fit into my schedule.
I could never make the amount of money my dh does, and I have no desire to get a job only to tell a boss... oops the kids have a half day today.. I need to go home early. Or the schools closed today because of the big snow storm that is coming (and we only get flurries) so I can't work today. I don't need that kind of stress. I don't want to work to put my kids in camp or daycare over the summer because I will not be home with them.
These are my choices, this is what works for me and my family.
That said.. if it ever came to a time where I HAD to work.. I would, but right now that is not the case.

 

[DawnM]

We did things kind of backwards. I stayed home this past 2 years, mostly because my son needed surgeries and we weren't sure how many or how long it would take, etc....but in those 2 years we paid off all of our consumer debt (car, student loan, adoption expenses and a small CC). I have now gone back to work!

BUT......our house needs a lot of work. It is quite outdated. We have stripped wallpaper and painted (low cost!) but the carpets are terrible and we need to replace them with hardwood. We have a 950 sq. ft. unfinished basement that needs to be finished and heated to be counted as sq. ft. when we sell. And our kitchen and bathrooms will need to be completely redone. And a new roof! DH will do most of the work, but it is still money! it will be worth it though as we think we can make quite a bit off of this house.

Dawn

PS: BTW: We did pretty much nothing for 2 years......no vacations, not much eating out, VERY frugal shopping, garage sale Christmas gifts for the kids (never mind that they said it was the best Christmas ever!), etc.....we were very gazelle intense.

I work part time. I don't have to work now, but it will make us debt free much faster. I do enjoy my job, but I would rather be home.

 

[ChevyNat]

I already work part time at the shool, and I love it there... but a recent separation is forcing me back on the full time schedule, I think I will still work there, as my kids go there and they need me right now (with the divorce going on and everything) so I think that it secures them when they see me there. So I'll be part time there and part time elsewhere, hope everything works out.

Let's say I'd win enough money, I would still be part time at the school, I just love it to much.

 

[deedeetoo]

I dream of being a stay at home mom.

The only way it would happen is if we won the lottery or if I got laid off. My dh does not approve of SAHM. He thinks SAHM are lazy. I've given up trying to convince him otherwise. He is absolutely immovable on this topic. When we bought our house we purposely bought it so that we could afford it on one income. Silly me. I thought this meant when kids came along I could stay home. Nope. He was just worried about one of us getting laid off. Though my salary does give us a nicer lifestyle than if I didn't work, we really don't "need" it. My biggest problem is that I am a relatively high level professional. I work a part time schedule of 4 days/wk and still make quite a bit more than my dh who works full time. Don't get me wrong - I do not support the family while dh does nothing. He works hard too. I think he just can't fathom giving up my salary.

 

[nessz79]

If we had the money I wouldn't work while my children were young. Once they were in elementary school, maybe I'd start working part-time or from home. Once they were in middle school, I'd probably go back to working full-time. I'm a teacher and I enjoy my job very much...but there are a lot of compromises I have to make on behalf of my children. Right now I work full-time because I have to. The area we live in is impossible for a single income less than about $70,000. We don't want to move as all our parents live here and they help quite a bit with the kids...plus we love them, of course!

 

[TMB1203]

I would like to work part time or at least flexible hours.
I love my job and my co-workers and it's nice to get adult interaction.

I stayed home with my first son for 18 months and loved it. We wanted to buy a house so I had to return to work. I found a awesome daycare center and my son was very happy. When I had my 2nd, we could not afford to have me stay home again, so my sister watched the baby. When he turned 2 I put him in the same daycare my older son was at when he was that age.

Now that I've established myself in my career, completed by B.A. and almost done with my MBA and my kids are older, I would still want to work outside of the house for a few days a week.

 

[Jen32113]

I am also dreaming about being a SAHM! Not that I don't like my full time job, I do. The pay is fantastic, the hours are whatever I want them to be as long as I work 8hrs, my boss is very understanding about sick kids, drs. appts, etc. But almost every single day I sit at my desk and day dream about what my DS is doing and how I wish I could be with him.
My DH has been in school for a while but he's almost finished. So hopefully in another 8 months my dreams can become a reality. We will see

 

[Camping Griswalds]

I don't know if I am an "other" or "would not work if we didn't need the money" I chekced the later for the poll. I am a nurse, work nights only part time now. I work about 6 nights a month. I LOATHE my job and career. I have been doing this for about 15 years, and to be honest, lost the whole reason I became a nurse about 5 years ago. The paperwork, the lack of respect, the pay, NO time with patients, under staffed...well it goes on and on.

All of that being said, my entire pay goes to my kids going to an exclusive private school. I could quit, we would be fine on just DH salary, but it is super important to all of us that my kids continue in this school. So while my job does not need to be for food on the table, it is important.

Of course nursing has provided my family with a lot of perks, and I am grateful for my education, and the extras being a nurse has provided. However, I would never choose this route if I had it "to all do over." I would also be heart broken if any of my 3 kids chose nursing for a profession!!!

 

[alicenwonder99]

I was a sahm for about 5 years, then my previous place of employment called and had a job offer I couldn't refuse. My youngest was around 3 years old at the time, and I worked part-time around my dh's work schedule (so no day care). Now, my youngest just started First Grade, and I'm working more hours during the day when the kids are at school, and less hours on the weekends. I don't think I want full-time yet.

I don't have to work for the money.

 

[malibuconlee]

I chose "Other" because I am a stay at home, but we don't have children. We move a lot because of DH's job. I used to work with him, but they already had an admin in the area when he came back to the company.

I worked for a year at the hospital after we moved here, but it was not a good fit. I was very unhappy, so DH finally told me we didn't need the money and to quit.

I've been thinking about finding something part time, because I do get bored sometimes. DH does like having the "Home Team" as he calls me. He hasn't had to clean a toilet since I quit working!!!

Plus I can do things he can't as easily, like take his car in to be worked on. It would be harder for him as he works on base and not in town.

Things would be different if we lived in one place and knew we would be there for a very long time, but I don't always want to be the new person on the job and unable to take time off to go see family at the holidays. I worked PRN at the hospital and while I worked 40 hours a week when I was here, I could take off whenever I wanted to.

As it is we know we'll be here until Jan/Feb of 2009. Who knows after that.

 

[finz2left]

You bet! As a college professor, I have a fabulous, flexible life. I get to research what I love, and get paid to do it! Teaching is an added bonus. I wish for my children what I have now -- a way to earn money that never seems like "work."

 

[Irish9697]

I am not sure.

I am a CPA and was in public accounting for 3 years until my first was born in Dec. 1999. I had planned to go back to work on a 30 hour per week schedule, but just a week or two before my scheduled return, I found out I was pregnant again. I had my daughter just a year after my son. Daycare for two babies would have made my part-time salary practically pointless and with 2 babies 12.5 months apart, life was hectic enough without my adding a job outside the home on top of things. Thankfully, my then husband made enough money that I was able to stay at home. I was very content, but also daydreamed about doing something part-time when they were both in school.

Well, my life took a very unexpected turn when my (now ex) husband left the children and me in June 2006. Just before my son started first grade and my daughter started kindergarten. Thankfully, the settlement I got does indeed pay the bills and I don't *have* to work. But, ultimately I decided that it was important to my self-esteem to have a *purpose* in the world. And, while my settlement pays the bills, it would require a lot of frugality and not many fun things. So, ultimately, I went back to work and use my income for our fun things (like our upcoming Disney trip in October) and for my retirement savings (something my ex had not contributed to while I was at home). My schedule is fantastic. My kids go to school just down the street and I drop them off at 8 and go run at a nearby park every morning. I use the bathroom at work to get ready and am at my desk by 9am every day. I leave at 3:10 to pick them up. So, I'm still able to take them to gymnastics, swimming, piano and all the things they do, but I also feel like I'm doing something good for myself by working. My employer is fantastic and very accommodating of my kids' schedule since their dad offers no help (he does nothing but pay which I guess we should be grateful for). I can work from home if need be if I have a sick child. Or, when school is out on spring break, Winter break, etc. I just work from home. I worked "daycamp" hours this summer. So, I can not complain.

But, I will say this...if I were married still and didn't *have* to work, I probably wouldn't. But, being single, it helps me mentally and makes me feel good.

 

[DawnM]

Wow! I don't know how you single moms can do it. My hat is off to you. I can barely manage with a second parent sometimes.

BTW: My husband is a CPA too, but does individual tax. He says you couldn't pay him enough to go back to corporate tax!

Dawn

I am not sure.

I am a CPA and was in public accounting for 3 years until my first was born in Dec. 1999. I had planned to go back to work on a 30 hour per week schedule, but just a week or two before my scheduled return, I found out I was pregnant again. I had my daughter just a year after my son. Daycare for two babies would have made my part-time salary practically pointless and with 2 babies 12.5 months apart, life was hectic enough without my adding a job outside the home on top of things. Thankfully, my then husband made enough money that I was able to stay at home. I was very content, but also daydreamed about doing something part-time when they were both in school.

Well, my life took a very unexpected turn when my (now ex) husband left the children and me in June 2006. Just before my son started first grade and my daughter started kindergarten. Thankfully, the settlement I got does indeed pay the bills and I don't *have* to work. But, ultimately I decided that it was important to my self-esteem to have a *purpose* in the world. And, while my settlement pays the bills, it would require a lot of frugality and not many fun things. So, ultimately, I went back to work and use my income for our fun things (like our upcoming Disney trip in October) and for my retirement savings (something my ex had not contributed to while I was at home). My schedule is fantastic. My kids go to school just down the street and I drop them off at 8 and go run at a nearby park every morning. I use the bathroom at work to get ready and am at my desk by 9am every day. I leave at 3:10 to pick them up. So, I'm still able to take them to gymnastics, swimming, piano and all the things they do, but I also feel like I'm doing something good for myself by working. My employer is fantastic and very accommodating of my kids' schedule since their dad offers no help (he does nothing but pay which I guess we should be grateful for). I can work from home if need be if I have a sick child. Or, when school is out on spring break, Winter break, etc. I just work from home. I worked "daycamp" hours this summer. So, I can not complain.

But, I will say this...if I were married still and didn't *have* to work, I probably wouldn't. But, being single, it helps me mentally and makes me feel good.

 

[DawnM]

My husband was commenting that although we are finally out of debt (but do have many projects we need some $$ for right now and don't want to go into any debt for), we haven't really begun saving for college for our boys (right now they each have about 1K in their accounts), and we have some other things we would like to save for.....so, while I don't have to work to eat and pay our basic bills, I do need to work to come up with some of those "other" things that we don't have yet.

Dawn

 

[DawnM]

This is how my best friend's husband is too. She really only makes enough to cover private school tuition for the kids and a little extra, but he doesn't want her to stay home.

Don't get me wrong, I think he is a great guy. I just disagree with him on this issue.

Dawn

I dream of being a stay at home mom.

The only way it would happen is if we won the lottery or if I got laid off. My dh does not approve of SAHM. He thinks SAHM are lazy. I've given up trying to convince him otherwise. He is absolutely immovable on this topic. When we bought our house we purposely bought it so that we could afford it on one income. Silly me. I thought this meant when kids came along I could stay home. Nope. He was just worried about one of us getting laid off. Though my salary does give us a nicer lifestyle than if I didn't work, we really don't "need" it. My biggest problem is that I am a relatively high level professional. I work a part time schedule of 4 days/wk and still make quite a bit more than my dh who works full time. Don't get me wrong - I do not support the family while dh does nothing. He works hard too. I think he just can't fathom giving up my salary.

 

[emma'smom]

You bet! As a college professor, I have a fabulous, flexible life. I get to research what I love, and get paid to do it! Teaching is an added bonus. I wish for my children what I have now -- a way to earn money that never seems like "work."

Hear hear!

 

[design_mom]

Define "didn't have to"...

We could probably scrape by on one income, but I am afraid that I would be a nervous wreck worrying about the "what ifs". What if DH loses his job? What if someone has a major emergency that costs a lot of money? What if, what if, what if? I would also worry that, when the time came to go back to work, that I would not be able to get back into my field (which I love), if I'd been out of the workforce.

Since a nervous-wreck SAHM probably wouldn't be that great for the kiddos, I'd love to find something p/t in my field, but so far (sigh) I haven't been able to find the right position. I did get offered a work-from-home day once a week at my FT job, which is great. The kids are still in daycare/school, but I can keep the laundry going throughout the day, etc which frees up the evenings for more quality time!

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I currently don't work and haven't since we had our son. We are still trying to add at least one more child to our family. But I think that if I worked, it would be something extremely part-time that I could work during the hours my kiddos are in school or I would do something from home. I've always wanted to become a professional photographer which would cause me to loose my weekends as I would probably be doing a lot of weddings but I wouldn't be doing a whole lot of working during the week. So who knows. It's still at least a few years down the road.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I meant to add a few things to my post and got side-tracked watching football

I know some people worry about the "what ifs?". Hubby losing job, illness, etc. I'm trying to find a way to put this as to not offend anyone and explain how we make it work. At the end of each month we sit down and on paper write down everything we need to spend our money on the following month. We budget for savings, mortgage, utility bills, groceries, household necessities, etc. We are not done until every last penny is spent on paper. We make sure that we have an emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses in savings if something should happen. We don't have credit cards nor do we take out loans (except the one on our house). If it means we have to put off buying something until the money is saved then so be it. Actually a lot of people laugh at us when they walk into our family room and see the little 27 inch TV that's 10 yrs old sitting on our entertainment center. It works and when it doesn't well pay cash for a new one. We're not going to go buy a big HDTV just because everyone else has one. We have the emergency fund should the AC go out or if something goes wrong with one of our cars. We don't live on the instant gratification plan in our house. We desperately need a new computer as ours is almost 5 years old. It works but it's a lot slower than we'd like it to be but we won't go finance one just so we can have it. So in a few months we'll have the money saved, we can go into the store and buy it. Also paying for big ticket items in cash gives us a lot more bargaining room because we know someone else will take our cash if another store won't.