One of the biggest decisions that parents need to make is whether one of them will stay at home to focus on the kids. It has a big impact on that person’s career and your family’s finances, especially with the rising cost of living.

However, there are advantages of single-income homes that can outweigh whatever financial sacrifices you need to make. Let’s look at the benefits and compare them to the disadvantages of a single income.

Advantages Of Having A Single-Income Family

1. You Save On Childcare Expenses

Childcare is very expensive in Alabama. If you have a baby, you can spend about $3,826 a year—more than one-third of the average tuition in a public college! If you have two children, such as a baby and a pre-schooler, your childcare costs will reach $11,185 a year.

For many families, that means that a third of their income would go to just finding someone who will watch the kids. And don’t forget that going to work also incurs costs like transportation, clothes, and taxes—once you deduct those, your take-home pay may not be worth it.

So, this is one of the biggest advantages of single-income households with young children. Financially, it might make more sense for one parent to stay at home.

2. You Have More Opportunities To Save On Household Expenses

Busy working parents often end up paying more for food, groceries, and household services. Even if you know it’s cheaper to cook a meal than to order takeout, you may more often be too exhausted to make dinner. You may also order groceries online or at the nearest store because you have no time to drive to a faraway warehouse store.

One of the biggest advantages of single-income homes is that a stay-at-home parent can take care of these household errands and manage the budget. You’ll have more time to plan healthy and affordable meals, find coupons and sales, and compare prices at different stores.

If you learn skills like sewing and simple house repairs, you can also do DIY projects instead of buying or hiring somebody to do them for you.

Some stay-at-home parents also choose to homeschool, which also significantly reduces household expenses and gives them more control over their children’s education.

3. You Can Build Powerful Family Bonds

Psychologists agree that the first 12 years have a huge impact on a child’s health and well-being, self-esteem, academic performance, and emotional and social skills.

A stay-at-home parent can focus on creating a happy home environment, and closely nurture a child’s values, habits, and attitudes. This is one of the “priceless” advantages of single-income homes because you’re actually investing in your child’s future.

Note that it doesn’t mean that working parents aren’t able to raise their kids well. However, it is harder and more stressful since you have to divide your attention between work, family, and running the household.

Disadvantages Of Single-Income Homes

While there are clear benefits to being a stay-at-home parent, you do need to prepare yourself for the consequences.

1. You Will Be Living On A Smaller Budget

The most obvious disadvantage of single-income families is that you have a much smaller budget to work with. You will have to have a simpler lifestyle. You will need to work harder on saving for big purchases or your retirement.

2. You May Be More Vulnerable To Emergency Expenses

You may also be vulnerable to unexpected events (i.e., the breadwinner getting sick or losing his or her job) or unexpected expenses like medical bills or big house or car repairs.

3. One Parent May Feel Constrained

There are also other subtler disadvantages of single-income homes. The stay-at-home parent has to sacrifice his or her career and may have a harder time re-entering the workforce when the children grow up. And unless that parent really finds joy in the daily domestic routines, he or she may feel bored or resent being “stuck at home.”

Whatever You Choose, Have A Backup Plan

Both single and double-income households have their pros and cons, and you just have to decide what’s right for you. Either way, you will face financial challenges. Sometimes you’re lucky to earn extra money or increase savings, and sometimes you will have less money or more expenses.

That’s why, no matter what kind of household income you have, it’s important to have a backup plan. For example, if you are running short on cash in the middle of the month, you can get a payday loan of up to $500 to pay for basic expenses.

Where To Turn For Payday Loans

Alabama Title Loans, Inc. can process your payday loan in less than an hour. We have branches all over the state and have helped thousands of people raise emergency cash with very little time and effort.

In fact, our loan representatives can help you right now. Just use the online inquiry form to request a call. They will be happy to explain how a payday loan works and walk you through the application. Then, just go to the branch with the following items:

• Your latest paystub
• Your valid government-issued identity card that has your photo, i.e., passport, driver’s license, etc.
• Your social security card
• Your latest 30-day statement from your checking account (it must be active and in your name)
• A blank check from that checking account

Inquire Now About How To Get Emergency Funds

We’ll quickly verify these items and let you know ASAP if your loan is approved. This takes as little as 30 minutes and depending on whether you’ve reached the cut-off time, you can receive your cash on the same or the following day.

Ready to get a payday loan, or want to know about other emergency loan options? Use the inquiry form to find out more about how to get extra funds through Alabama Title Loans, Inc.

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.