One week from today my little Byrdie will be 12 weeks old. One week from today is also the day I would be going back to work….if I were going back to work. That’s the big announcement. I have decided to be a Stay At Home Mom. I don’t have to tell you that it’s a huge decision to go from two incomes down to one.
So that’s the big announcement and here’s the big question…….how are we going to do it? When I started this blog I wanted to write about how to live a beautiful life without spending alot of money. Now here is my chance to really live it out. We are broke. I mean really broke. However, I am not afraid! I know this is the best choice for me and our family and I trust that God is guiding our steps and He will provide. I also know we have to be really smart about this and do our part.
So here we go. This is our new adventure. How do you go from two incomes to one with a new baby and still live a beautiful life. That’s the challenge and I want to document it here. So where do I begin?
Let me just say that I fully realize we have some advantages. First of all we live in the United States and for that we are blessed with alot of resources. Second of all we were able to save up some money while we were both working so we have that going for us. Another advantage is apart from school loans we have no debt (and let me tell you we worked hard to get to that place). Let’s get really practical. Earlier this year I was able to purchase a small freezer full of organic, grass fed beef from a local farmer.
How are we going to make this work? Did I mention my husband is working full time and going to school full time to become a teacher? Did I mention that very soon his class schedule will require him to quit his job and work part time? Did I mention that we will then have to figure out health insurance and go down to 1/4 of our original income? My husband has about a year of school left and then student teaching before he can become a teacher.
This is going to get interesting.
So in addition to the other things I’ve already mentioned in other posts, this blog is about our new adventure. Here’s a couple things we are doing. The first thing I did was apply for WIC. That process is a whole other post for another day! I am clipping coupons and trying to figure out how some women get $200 worth of groceries for $40! I’m also looking for something I can do from home to make some extra money. Who knows maybe enough people will read my blog that I can sell some advertising. (Please?!?!) I’m cooking at home and we don’t go out to eat nonstop like we used to (DINK!). I also still have plans for my Etsy store and for my photography. So there are things on the horizon.
It’s a new day. I believe very strongly in working hard and paying bills on time, we are just adjusting the way we do that these days.