I don't buy it when a SAHM says her family can't afford for her to work *clarification*

[Anonymous]

If your family can't afford for you to work, how in the heck can a single mom afford to do it? I find it hilarious that some of the same women claiming that they can't work are the ones criticizing those on PA. If something happens to your little slice of heaven and you end up a single mom, what are you going to do? Since supposedly you can't afford to work when you have someone else supplying money for housing, food, and etc., how could you do it without them?

My point in posting this was that a lot of the people who are criticizing people on PA are SAHMs. How in the world can a single mom do it by herself without PA? I am not bashing SAHMs, but I think it's a bit hypocritical that these same women don't work themselves.

I have been a SAHM, I have been a single (widowed) mom, I have also been the sole provider for my family and part of a two income family. I honestly have to say it was easier to provide for my family on two incomes. I am not bitter or jealous of anyone. I just question why it is that so many SAHMs are rude or judgmental towards those on PA. In my opinion it is a case of  "There but for the grace of God go I."

[Anonymous]

If I were to work all my money would go to child care and health ins. So my child then wouldn't see me or my hubby and for the record I don't criticize PA if I were a single mom I would receive it to help me. I receive it for my daughters medical now. There's nothing wrong with taking help when you need it.

[babyboy117]

Single Mom's can get help from the state for daycare. Mom's with a s/o who work usually don't qualify for that help.

[JocelynsMama1]

Well im a SAHM and love it and we can afford it....but after we have our second child I would be paying more in daycare than I would be making at most of the jobs I can get. Do the math several kids in daycare costs more than $40 hours minimum wage. Some single moms can get state assistance OR have child support to help cover daycare costs so the money they are bringing in from their job can go toward other bills. i don't understand how that does make since its simple math.

[Anonymous]

I think sometimes it means having to leave your kid and pay for daycare just isn't worth it for the money brought in.

[Anonymous]

My state almsot any single mom gets free daycare.
As long as they
1. Go to college full time.
2. work fulltime.
3. Work partime-college part time..
Where as to someone who is married doesn't qualify at all because DH makes "to" much...

DH makes 1760 a month. I go to college.
1760- Paycheck
280(our highest) electric bill
1300- Rent
50.00- internet
----------------------------
130 which we use for food.

I would only get a minnium wage job because my hours are crap because of college and so I would pull in about 600 a month which daycare would cost us 720 or some crap... so explain how we can afford for me to work?

& no don't say drop out of college I have one semester till I graduate... Then I will be working a full time job because I already have a position waiting for me when I get out I start a week after graduation... Then I will be able to afford daycare.

[Anonymous]

Gas, 1 car,split shifts, etc some people cannot do it. Believe me. And try having a kid with special needs to boot. Karma will bite you someday.

Quoting Anonymous:

How am I the ignorant one here? 

Quoting Ireallydontcare:

Are you really this ignorant? Or are you just acting?

[krtabc]

Then stay home with the kids and enjoy it! :) I wish I could! 

Quoting Anonymous:

If your husband makes too much you don't qualify for any programs.

Quoting krtabc:

Quoting purpleducky:

Minimum wage doesn't pay for daycare.

You are correct!

There are jobs out there with employee benefits that pay for a portion of daycare costs. My work pays half of the cost of daycare at the YMCA for both of my children. 

For those who can't find those jobs, there are programs that help working moms and provide daycare for free or at reduced prices. Using this type of assistance is what the programs are made for and therefor no one should be ashamed for receiving these services. 

[Silvertears1275]

Some people would pay more in childcare than they would make.  It almost happened to my family when I was going to have my second child.  My husband brought home $300/week and it would have been $300/week for daycare.  If you are working a minimum wage job, you can't afford childcare. If they qualify for PA on just their husband's income, them getting a job most likely won't be that much help - they may bump themselves out of PA, but not be actually have any more money after childcare.

A single mom in that situation can often qualify for PA, making it more possible to live off such a small income.

[Anonymous]

Quoting epoh:

I was a single mom who worked and couldn't afford it, even with daycare assistance. I ended up thousands of dollars in debt and just finished paying off that debt to the daycare last month.

Same here. I now have about 8k in credit card debt from 6 months of being on my own. Made only 1100 a month and paid 800 in daycare. Then there was rent, gas, electricity, clothing for the kids, food, ......

[Clubpenguin]

I worked with my teenager and two Los. It was tight and most money went to daycare. My dh got a better job and when #4 came I stayed home because daycare would have been more than I made. It scares me sometimes because like you said you never what can happen. I will work again when they are all in school.