Laura R Bailey

A clear call from the Lord to leave corporate America to be at home with my girls left me feeling unsure about how to engage in our family’s budget.

Would I completely lose all financial freedom now that I didn’t have income-producing work?

What if I wanted to purchase new clothes, items for the house, or go out with friends?

How would I buy gifts for my husband?

Financial stress is common in marriages, especially among single-income families. But, it doesn’t have to be.These questions and many more consumed my thoughts and delayed our decision to become a one-income family, even though we knew it was in God’s plan. In an effort to help you more confidently make the shift and navigate stewarding your finances let’s dive into three areas: what to expect, what the scripture says, and  practical budgeting advice.

God doesn’t place a greater importance on income producing work. With that said, stay at home moms can absolutely have a say in the family budget.  Let’s take a look at a few ways a stay at mom’s input in the budget can help her family steward resources well

The Business of Staying at Home

My bosses are loud, moody, selfish, dependent, and complete slobs! The salary is awful, and I am barely recognized for my hard work, with the expectation I am always on the clock. I confess that I thought about turning in my resignation countless times. 

Sound familiar? 

Being a stay-at-home mom is hard work. It isn’t for the faint of heart, or well, should I say, anyone who enjoys going to the bathroom by themselves. Joking aside, taking care of your family can be exhausting, sometimes disappointing, and often discouraging. 

It’s not my intention to argue whether or not a woman should stay at home with her children. But instead, delineate the financial benefits of a mother choosing to forgo working outside the home. However, there are financial benefits to a mother choosing to forgo work outside of the home.The Bible is clear that children are a blessing( Psalm 127:3)  and we are commanded to train them in the ways of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:7). With that being so clear biblically, we still know it’s hard to sacrifice financially a second income. Financially speaking, depending on the size of your brood, it might be prudent to stay at home versus paying for childcare.

A 2019 Salary.com title called, , “How Much is a Mother Worth,”  cited that if a stay-at-home mom earned a salary, it would land around $178,201. That was almost four years ago; with the recent state of inflation, lack of affordable childcare, and rise in food and gas prices, we can safely assume this number has increased.

When I was working full time, most of my paycheck went to childcare, eating out, and services. Eating out was a given most nights; a bi-weekly house cleaner helped with the chores, an accountant helped manage our finances, and we sometimes hired help for big projects around the house. Coupled with a daily 2-hour commute, anything that helped save time and allowed for more accessible weekends, we were all for trying.

I am aware that many of the things above are luxuries, and many parents work full time and stay up late or forgo leisure activities to get things done around the house. However, I would argue that most Americans can relate to the above scenario.

Coupled with Salary.com’s stay-at-home mother’s worth and a closer look at the allocation of a working mother’s salary, for many families, it is financially better for the family for the mom to stay at home.

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