Making the Change to Stay-at-home Mom

if you haven't already given your notice at work I would take 3-6 months and put 100% of your income into a savings account and REALLY see what it will be like to live on one income. It's a bit harder than you may think.

I think that's great!
Keep up your skills: type at home, if you need to take a course do it now
from home.
Save your $ at every turn (take your cable down to the min etc.)
Lower your spending habits immediately: scale back on nights out, keep
contributing to your savings acct and/or IRA/401K, take the min cell ph
plan etc.
I started shopping at the Dollar Store for staples, shopping at warehouse
for big bulk items, if there is a Winco in your area try shopping there.
Scale back on Christmas/birthday gifts. I buy fewer gifts & what I do buy
is on clearance, don't buy for those you don't have to buy for, Nextflix
for home movie night in, chk out books from library, no more magagzine
subscriptions.
If you need a night out, my suggestion is Mexican restaurant as they
serve chps & salsa, see if they have coupons to your local restaurant,
most dinner choices served w/beans/rice can fill you up, pizza night etc.
It can be done. Watch your pennies! good luck!

if you don't need it don't buy it.
make a budget & stick to it!
I use groupons, living social etc for coupons for date nights, we get to try new restaurants & places & get a great deal!
planning is key when it comes to saving, plan your budget, plan your meals, plan for extra's, vacations, birthdays etc. I am always picking things up on clearance for birthdays, christmas, even for the kids for "souvenirs" when we go on vacation (we get one thing while we are there but the rest comes from things I have gotten along the way that have to do with where we are going or what we are doing)

When I first stayed home from a busy sales job I was very lonely with just my newborn. Cultivate friendships with the moms of your kids. Stay in touch with friends at work for fun and networking purposes. There will be some moms out there who will use your stay-at-homeness as a fall-back position in case they are stuck in traffic, so watch out about being too available. There has to be some give and take, but I found one mom who wanted to just take and never offered in return. It took me a while to get used to being home: I found it exhausting yet also boring, but then my kids were infants. I stayed home until the youngest went to 1st grade and then started working part time. Maybe start thinking in the back of you head what you would like to do when you go back and take some courses in that field. Mostly, just enjoy being able to be there for you kids. I know I was a lot more patient and easy going when I was home.

You sit down as a family and have a 'meeting.'
You explain that Mommy will not be working and will be home with the kids now.... and it is great etc.
Then you also explain, that your family budget, will now be different.
You have to, be more careful about spending. EVERYONE. You are all a "Team" about this.
Use simple terms everyone/the children can understand.
You explain, that is it NOT only Mommy who has to watch spending, but everyone. EVERYONE's responsibility.
Get banks for each child.
Teach them how to save... and spend. Sure, they can spend too, but teach them how. How to 'decide' how to spend their money. We do that with our kids. Its amazing how even our 5 year old son... will THINK about what toy he wants to buy or not. Or not at all. For example.

The thing is, you are doing this as a FAMILY. Not just you. Not just Husband. AS A FAMILY endeavor.
You frame it as such, to your kids.
You do not, keep your kids in the dark about it. Thus, this will be a real-life lesson and learning, for the children. All of them.
That is what we do. I am a SAHM. Not because we are rich and can afford it. But because, we believe in my staying home, to raise our kids. For now.
Being on 1 paycheck, Hubby's, is not easy. But we have done it now for 8 almost 9 years.
I never regret it.

ALSO, you and Hubby have to decide, how 'you' will get money or spend it... and have a joint account. Hopefully, your Hubby will not nit-pick about every little thing you need to buy for the house or the kids or for yourself. I mean, you have to get your hair-cut, go to the Doctor, buy tampons, etc.
So you both, also sit down and talk about it. It has to be FAIR.

YOU are still 'working... although unpaid. Because you will be taking care of the children, everyday all day.
BUT... once your Husband is home from work, he is NOT 'exempt' from helping... you or the house or with the kids, either. HE is a parent too. So he STILL must help. Not just assume you have to do it all, just because he is working and you are not.

Good luck.
It is doable.
Don't worry.
You all have to, adjust.

And shop sales. Only.
Plan weekly menus and base your grocery shopping list, on that.

ALSO: if you don't have already, Your Husband should set up a ROTH retirement account for you. If you are not employed, you cannot contribute to it. He can and should.

Also, you/Hubby should still be putting aside money for savings/retirement, and for your kids/college funds etc.

hello
I think staying home was the best thing I EVER did and I made more than my husband so the leaving work was a big decision.. However, since doing it... WOW WOW WOW.. did my life open up... spending time with son was and is the best thing I ever did.. Time does fly and you can't get back the time with your kids.. oh sure,you have to spend less and save more.. but hey, it's so worth it..... having breakfast with my son.... WOW... was I missing out those early mornings when I wasn't here.. or even having more energy to spend with him in the evenings..
I don't regret leaving work one bit..
what has this meant financially. well, we NEVER buy coffee out.. we often eat at home.... I buy for example, a lot of produce, but only that which is IN season as it's cheaper... IF into bottled water for example, we NEVER buy out, we use a water filter at home... My son brings his lunch, we never buy school lunch (it is more expensive in the long run) we don't go on lavish vacations..... in fact, we don't go on many , we tend to take a short road trip if anything... We eat lots of leftovers :) we stopped buying adults gifts at chirstmas and now, only buy for the kids of the family.. we save AHEAD of time knowing that a bday and or holiday is coming up... we save in advance... even if just a a few bucks at a time..
as much as I LOVE designer clothes , I don't buy them anymore... instead, I buy what looks good and it's never over-priced.. also, no magazine subscriptions.. all that kind of stuff went by the wayside a long time ago..

if you think hard, you can come up with inventive ways to save..

I wish you the best..

If you don't have a crock pot, get one. You'll then find this blog really helpful:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

Enjoy your time at home!

#1 - Budget (see http://daveramsey.com for more info and encouragement)
#2 - Read The Complete Tightwad Gazette cover to cover. For me, it causes a change in mindset, as well as boosts your creativity and gives you tips and tricks for making ends meet.

So many people look at reducing their spending like they look at going on a diet -- they focus on what they *don't* have or "can't" buy, instead of looking at the benefits of reducing their spending, and working on creative ways to make up for not having/doing/buying the expensive toys/trinkets/luxuries that they're used to spending money on. Many people have a "woe is me" attitude that they "have to" buy clothes at the thrift store, but if you change your mindset, you start to feel *smart* for buying clothes at such great prices (especially for your kids, who will probably outgrow, stain or tear them fairly quickly).

You can stretch you dollar easily.. you will be surprised at how your tax bill goes down.. dual income families pay $$$$$$ taxes.. once I quit our tax bill went way way down.

I have been home since my 2nd child was born. He is 4. The years with an infant and a toddler were rough but now they are 4 and 5 and it is so easy adn fun. enjoy