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Dollar value of a SAHM

January 5th, 2009 at 11:09 pm

I've been a SAHM for about 6 months (kids are 5 & 10). Some days I like it and other days I really miss working. New Years was a couple of days where I was in a funk because I felt like I had "lost myself". Since I'm home all the time, I never leave work...dishes always need done, laundry, picking up stuff, groceries, etc.. When I had a job outside of the home I got to not be the maid/cook/chauffeur for at least a few hours a day!

But, the situation at home would make it difficult for me to go back to work right now. That and the area is flooded with people with my skill set due to the financial turmoil of late on Wall Street.

So, I've decided that I'm going to start keeping track of my dollar value at home. Now, I'm not talking about how much I would pay someone to grocery shop, because even if I was employed outside the home, I would still have to do that. I'm talking about things that I wouldn't have time to do if I were employed.

Starting 1/1/09 I will keep track of coupons, rebates, home repairs, etc. that I wouldn't normally have the time or energy to do if I were employed. Let's see just how much I can make!

6 Responses to “Dollar value of a SAHM”

  1. Nika Says:
    1231198728

    Your approach is reasonable and interesting.
    To tell the truth, when I saw your title I was expecting one of those articles that assume you'd be paid psychotherapist rates for listening to your own children or the 24hr/per hour rate for providing care to them, cleaning service rates for cleaning a house where you live, etc... Those I find ridiculous.
    But your experiment sounds realistic.

  2. monkeymama Says:
    1231199437

    Totally agreed with Nika. Those annoy me too - you can hire a nanny/maid and pay them with room and board. Truth be told, the work of a SAHP is not worth much in the market place. Not that it isn't important. It's just not work that would be paid well.

    Anyway, yeah, sounds very interesting.

    Off the top of my head my spouse saves about $1500 in commute and working expenses, $10k in childcare, $3k in taxes (just how much lower MY taxes are since we're not in a higher bracket), and $3k in food, easy, staying home. This does not even take into account that I probably get paid more and progress further at my job because I don't have to take sick days for the kids or juggle childcare duties on Holidays, etc., with a working spouse. & what about reduced stress and better health? I have so much free time since my spouse takes care of all the household stuff. It's REALLY hard to quantify though. So I am interested to see what you come up with. Big Grin

  3. tynana Says:
    1231200535

    The things that resonates with me is when you stay at home - I stay home with elderly mother - it is very easy to feel quilty if you don't do all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands that my DH used to help with when I worked full time. Somedays, I wish I was still working 8-4:30 just to be able to get out of house for a while.

  4. gruntina Says:
    1231201026

    Can you find outside home activities so you are not literally at home all the time? like a book club or something that has child service on the side?

  5. minnie1928 Says:
    1231202301

    I'm trying to find things outside the home to do, but since we just moved to this state in June I'm a bit lost. My daughter is in Kindergarten from 8:30-11:30 each day, so this gives me time but so far the things I've found don't work for that time slot. So, I usually keep myself busy by working around the house or surfin' the boards :-).

  6. whitestripe Says:
    1231214241

    that's a great idea. i will be interested to read your reports later on Smile

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