LOVED working part-time, it really did feel like the best of both worlds for me as well. It also gave us the extra income to do more "extras". Plus being PT I could book off all the days I wanted, etc.

I was recently injured and I now plan to be a SAHM at least until fall 2013... I plan to budget, ad match, OH is quitting smoking (since it runs us $300/month roughly!!) and since he has a work vehicle we don't "need" a car. I may do casual, PT babysitting out of our home as well.

We're switching cable to satellite because we'll save $40/mo on our bundled phone/net/TV... babysitting/childcare is free by a grandparent or sibling or traded with friends... shopping at a cheaper grocery store cuts my bill in half too. We got HE washer and dryers when I was working which saves $$ and I try to hang blankets and towels to dry, sometimes work clothes.

Oh and I've found tons of frugal living tips on Pinterest, free or low cost activities to do with kids... meal planning helps so much too

Thanks all for your replys, at the moment i am working 28 hours over 2 jobs. i would defiantly keep them through pregnancy and get mat pay, and take 1 year off and decide if i can be a sahm and if we could handle it financially too.

Its just my ideal dream, i'm so broody right now its all i can think of..

If you want to be a SAHM you will probably have to make some sacrafices financially to do so. Not eating out as much, not driving around as much, not buying lots and lots of clothes or some other item that you enjoy lots of. And so on. I've been a SAHM since my first was born almost 5 years ago, it has it's ups and downs.

I'm a SAHM and I love it! We moved into an older home and cut our mortgage payments down by about $700 a month! I have to disagree with the other poster about if you stay at home and have no adult conversation your brain turns to mush. I have been home for 15 months and we visit my inlaws twice a week, and my parents at least once a week. So I always have adult interaction, plus I'm working on helping my LO learn how to talk. I love taking care of the house and DS and making dinner. I'm kinda old fashioned in that way. Luckily my job prior to having DS was a makeup artist and I can still do it now and I will go back to work when our children are in school full time.

I would LOVE Love Love to be a SAHM... I personally feel that I am not as much of a mother for going to work.. but thats just me and I am struggling with that. I love my kids so much and every bed time I feel sad. I miss being that big part of there lives. I am working FT 40hrs per weeks and its really tough. My heart aches every day. Unfortunately I am the main bread winner and we cannot afford for me to be at home.

Its far easier being at work though... I get a rest as I am sitting down and it is nice to use my brain and have adult conversations.

You're lucky you have family around to have adult interaction with, not everyone has that I'm moving in 3 months and won't know anyone and am dreading it, I'm not entirely chuffed the only form of interaction will be baby groups tbh.

Look for playgroups or join forums for SAHMs and try to find someone else where you are. I see adults other than my DH several times a week. Being a SAHM doesn't have to be lonely if you don't let it.

I also like being a stay at home mom

i have a ebay store where i sell things i make moneY and i package everything while baby is napping or sleeping i make good money from my computer

my husband is a builder he builds homes he works all day and sometimes saturdays when he comes home we have family time

i do have my family around so that helps and as far as baby groups youjust have to find the right group to jion some are boring some are to much

i will say being at home i can teach my daughter so much she was walking the day she turned 10 months first steps at 9 months shes 11 months and can say a variety of words and can do the baby can read all the words for me its very rewarding and i have a great husband to so that helps a ton!

Just go with the flow hun do what you feel is right try things out like some one esle said its what you make it you dont have to be a brain of mush lol

every one hads different circumstances so do things diffrent

beforei got married i was a fashion merchandiser for all the big store i worked alot i do miss it a bit but wouldn't trade it for the world now i have my ebay store and i make money while im teaching my daughter things!

I have a 'stay at home' side to me and love cooking and making my house nice and looking after my partner (and hopefully soon a little one!) However, I know I am able to have this environment whilst also working full time! My job is local and only 10 mins drive away and my workplace has an onsite day nursery which will be very handy as I don't have the luxury of grandparents who can help out.

I also think without family nearby and my partner working full time I would struggle being at home all day alone with baby without any adult contact!

However, I will be saving money to take as much maternity leave as I can. I agree with everyone saying that you need to start saving now and practice cutting back for when the time comes! I hope you can be the SAHM you want to be