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Back from a long hybernation

December 1st, 2009 at 06:59 pm

Well I'm back to perusing the PF blogs after a long hiatus. We've been so busy with home remodeling, getting new jobs and getting ready for a baby that I've just left all the finances on autopilot.

Well after some long and hard consideration, and realizing that daycare in Denver costs $1500-2000 for an infant, we've decided that I will be staying home after the baby is born. Right now we're thinking it will be a temporary 1-2 yr situation, but considering we want more kids it might hopefully turn into something closer to 5 with me freelancing on the side.

This will cut our income in half, and really test all the budgeting and thrifting habits that I've been trying to learn and follow. But I can't think of a more worthwhile reason - family - to do this for.

So far so good. No going out to eat in ages, I've been inviting all my friends over for lunches and making them myself. No extraneous spending, almost everything baby is coming second hand or through thrift stores and I've been selling anything and everything on craiglist and have an Ebay list too.

Now I have to catch up on everyone's posts for the past few months!

Posted in Budgeting, Career, Baby | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Back from a long hybernation”

1. Analise Says:
   December 1st, 2009 at 07:12 pm 1259694774
   1259694774
   Congratulations on your baby! I stayed home with my twins for 4 years. The formative years are so important in a child's life, so much that it's hard to put a price on it. And it really doesn't make financial sense to work sometimes, so it's great you will be home with your little one(s).

2. ceejay74 Says:
   December 1st, 2009 at 08:35 pm 1259699723
   1259699723
   Welcome back and congratulations! I feel your pain re: daycare. I'm 26 weeks along and just starting to look at daycare providers. We still think we want to go this route, but yikes! I've been checking into downtown Minneapolis options, and I thought my top price was going to be $1200 per month, but the first three places I called range from $1421 to $2246 per month! Soo, we shall see. We'll get our chances during the first couple months to stay home with the baby and see if any of us is any good at being a stay-at-home...

3. monkeymama Says:
   December 1st, 2009 at 10:20 pm 1259706027
   1259706027
   I figured we'd be lucky to last 2-3 years, and now we are going on 7...
   
   Congrats!!

4. homebody Says:
   December 1st, 2009 at 11:22 pm 1259709764
   1259709764
   I envy you the choice. If I had it to do over, I would do whatever I had to do to stay home. I thought I had no choice, plus we were poor enough for subsidized childcare in California back in the early 80s. We probably could have done it since we lived rent free for 7 years in a house my parents owned. Congratulations!

5. NJDebbie Says:
   December 2nd, 2009 at 12:29 am 1259713763
   1259713763
   I also admire your decision to stay with the baby. I stayed home with my children; we made a lot sacrifices but it was well worth it. I understand that staying home may not be an option for some families. Congratulations!

6. milehighgal Says:
   December 2nd, 2009 at 03:54 am 1259726072
   1259726072
   Thanks for everyones encouragement. It's going to be a little tough and tight budget wise, but I think it'll def be worth it.

7. Jerry Says:
   December 4th, 2009 at 10:04 pm 1259964261
   1259964261
   There is nothing like being home with the baby, and I think it leads to a better initial parenting experience. My wife stayed home as long as she could, and she would have gone even longer if she hadn't been the one providing health insurance for our family at her job. It was the best thing we could have done. Good luck with everything!
   Jerry

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