Making the decision to be a full time parent or not, is usually a complex and difficult one to make. Aside from all the obvious reasons women work, society adds unseen pressure on both sides of the spectrum. However, financial needs seem to be the number one reason why women work. "I can't afford to stay at home." "We really need my income." These are excuses heard almost everyday, all over the world. And yes, I truly believe that these are just that, excuses. Don't stop reading just yet. Let me explain myself.
Society puts a lot of pressure on women to be a supermom. You are supposed to be able to juggle a successful career, run a spotless household smoothly, volunteer at your child's school and in your community, attend church tree times a week, bake and cook homemade meals for your family, be a fantastic lover to your spouse, and do all this with a brilliant smile while wearing a size three business suit that you button up with your manicured nails everyday at 5 am. This is not my idea of a supermom. It is no where close.

If you and your spouse decide that it would be better for you to become a one income household, you can. Let's get back to the money. You just have to do a little math to figure how to manage it. You'll be surprised at how affordable it really is to be a full time parent. It simply takes a little creative financial planning and a change in lifestyle.

Map it out. Any prepared traveler has a map and a game plan. So should you. Sit down with your partner and start by listing every expense your career costs you. Things like: childcare, dry cleaning, work clothing, gas for the car, a 2nd car and insurance, meals away from home, home cleaning services, additional education and training to stay ahead in your field, special beauty needs (haircuts more often, manicures, etc.) and other expense. Once you come up with an amount, deduct it from your income after taxes (don't forget those you pay at the end of the year). Divide by how many hours you work a year .... WOW, you're worth more than that!

Next you need to figure how you can earn the difference in your working expenses and your actual income. When I say "earn", I mean save. Start by keeping track of your expenses for one month. Journal every penny you spend from the car payment to the pack of gum you bought this morning. At the end of the month, place each expense into two categories. One for the necessary expenses, and one for the unnecessary expenses. When your finished, take a second look at the necessary expenses. Is cable television worth being away from home to work? If not, add it to the unnecessary category. Continue to weed out the unnecessary items until you have an amount of monthly expenses you can live with.

Ok, so you know you need things like food, shelter, water, clothes and insurance. But are you paying the least possible amount for your necessary expenses. If you are renting a home, is there a less expensive place you could move to. Maybe even closer to your partners work to save on gas also. If you are a homeowner, consider refinancing your current mortgage to save you money. Consider selling one of your vehicles. You'll save on car notes, maintenance, gas, insurance and registration. Join a coupon swapping group and learn the fine art of shopping with coupons and sale items. Create and use a price book to ensure that you are always paying the least amount possible for your food and other household items. Cook from scratch and experiment with new ideas. Hang your laundry to dry instead of using a costly dryer. Purchase clothing at your local thrift store or consignment store. Swap clothes with a friend. Give homemade gifts as presents, they mean more to the recipient anyway.

There are literally thousands of ways you can creatively save money each and every day. Don't think the little acts of frugality do not count, they add up into one big one. Keep focused on your goal and you will succeed. Before long you'll analyze each expense you make and saving will be second nature to you. Once it becomes a lifestyle for you, that's when the real changes occur.

Roxanna Ward, Community leader and staff writer for http://www.BabyUniversity.com, lives in Georgia with her husband, Stan and her three children, Kirstie-Raie, Chase and Kale. As a published freelance writer and breastfeeding advocate, the focus of her writing is concentrated on sharing household tips, her experience with her frugal lifestyle which is compensated by being able to afford to be a stay-at-home mom, as well as the phenomenal process of breastfeeding, child rearing related issues and romantic relationships. She is also currently the Editor of three newsletters: What's New at BabyU?, Intimate Encounters and At Home with Baby University. Roxanna can be contacted at Roxanna30135@aol.com