Tag:

working mom

These Felt Letter Boards Are Perfect For Everyday Inspiration & Announcements

by Amber King June 5, 2019

Timeless and trendy, felt letter boards are a simple concept with a whole lot of potential. Popular in decades past, these practical message boards are in full-on comeback mode, and that’s in part thanks to Pamela. Pamela is a wife, mother, and thanks to her persistence, perseverance, and vision, she’s now co-owner of her very own business. Felt Like Sharing is a family-run business offering other families the opportunity to express life’s moments in unique ways. These aren’t your average letter boards, ladies. They’re colorful, sturdy, customizable, and the story behind their creation is inspiring.

The Start

For most of her life, Pamela lived the daily work-life grind we’re all too familiar with. A career, a family, and finding ways to create balance between the two. When felt letter boards came back in style, Pamela fondly remembered similar boards from her childhood. But in a time with color, creativity, and inspiration all around, she also saw potential to follow a passion and an opportunity to change her life for the better.

Image courtesy of Pamela & Felt Like Sharing

Pamela’s husband and Felt Like Sharing co-owner, Ryan, jokes the business is all thanks to his wife’s persistence. She thought of something she wanted, and with a bit of wifely persuasion, she convinced her husband to jump on board. Together, they decided to remake and improve the felt letter boards that were quickly regaining popularity. Pamela wanted color, quality, and affordability, and she made it happen with Felt Like Sharing.

The Boards

A letter board from Felt Like Sharing is a sustainable sign choice that is truly built to last. The frames are made from American Oak with a light finish to prevent staining from body oils and lotions over time. The felt is thick, synthetic, and most importantly, rich in color. There are 25 bold and beautiful colors to choose from, and according to Pamela, most shades in the Colorblock Collection are exclusive to Felt Like Sharing.

With a solid backdrop, Felt Like Sharing also includes quality hanging hardware appropriate for the size of the board, and there are nine different letter sets to choose from. With four different board sizes and all those color options, there are countless ways to personalize each message.

The Growth

Felt Like Sharing officially launched with their original Memo 10″ x 10″ letter board in nine colors in July 2017. It took a lot of planning and perseverance to get to that point, but the company was thrilled to experience almost instant success. Instragammers, moms, teachers, beauty consultants, and everyone else fell in love with the cute and colorful boards. Felt Like Sharing earned unsponsored posts by OhJoy! and Young House Love and ended up selling out of their two most popular colors.

Since then, Pamela and Ryan have left their old lives behind and have dedicated themselves to their small (but getting bigger) business. Pamela told LifeAsMama,

“Owning my business has opened my eyes to what is possible for us to create. A vision I dream up CAN become reality. Felt Like Sharing has also introduced me to several other like-minded business women. Now in 2019, I feel anyone can own their own business.”

Like many 21st century women, Pamela is realizing she really can have it all when it comes to that work-life balance we talked about earlier. She’s free to be mommy, but she still finds time be the boss babe behind Felt Like Sharing.

“I squeeze in work when I have sitters, when the kids are napping, and in the evening. Having a place to be my creative self helps keep my life balanced.”

Your Inspiration

Whether you’re celebrating a family milestone, looking for living room decor ideas, or need a creative way to display messages for your own small business, Pamela has seen her felt letter boards take on new life with every purchase.

A college library bought the boards as reusable signage for annual events, a department store uses them to advertise special promotions at their makeup counters, and there’s even a restaurant with an entire wall of letter boards to display their menu.

They’re perfect for inspirational quotes, social media announcements, flat-lay photography, weddings, parties, and pretty much anything else involving a message, moment, or special memory.

Head to the Felt Like Sharing website to browse through their many colors and pick out your perfect board. Next, the Felt Like Sharing Instagram is a gold mine of inspiration. And don’t forget to snap a pic of your unique message and use #feltlikesharing to share your ideas with others!

Inspirational

What My Kids Have Learned From Seeing A Working Mom

by Amanda Foust August 8, 2017

written by Amanda Foust

I grew up with a stay-at-home mom, and I loved it! In fact, when she TRIED to go to work, I threw a big enough fit that both the babysitter and my mother knew never to try it again. And they didn’t.

The attention, support, and close relationship I received from my mom I owe to her dedication in the home. You would think because of my great childhood experience I would choose to be a stay-at-home mom as well! But I didn’t.

You see, things have changed, and it’s nearly impossible for families to survive on one income. The cost of daycare drains the second income very fast — making it hardly worth it.

So as a working mom, I have been racked with guilt for not giving my children the childhood I received. But I have been on a journey to change my perspective and see that my children have learned a lot from seeing a working mom!

Here is a list of a few things:

1. Hard work

Money doesn’t grow on trees (although that would be nice)! We have to work hard to provide for our families or to live the life we desire! Hard work is an important lesson to teach children.

2. Organization

We have to balance our time as working moms in a different way than mothers who stay at home. Organizational skills doesn’t always come naturally, but it’s essential! Our children are watching us and will learn how to lead organized lives because of what they see.

3. Inspired to live their dreams

I am always encouraging my kids to dream and then to make those dreams happen! Well, some of us working moms are living our dreams, and our kids can be inspired as they watch us make our dreams come true! We can show them first hand that their dreams matter. For some kids, they will want to stay at home with their children, and that dream should be celebrated too!

4. Intentional quality time

Because our time is pulled in two directions, our family time is spent much more intentionally and the focus is on quality since quantity isn’t always an option.

Here is a post about the importance of being a present mother and ways to spend quality time together.

5. Priorities

Okay, so maybe I loved my mom staying home because I felt the center of her world along with my siblings! But I think it’s important for kids to learn that the world does NOT revolve around them. Growing up and seeing that the world didn’t care all that much about me was a hard lesson to learn. But now I am teaching my kids that they are loved beyond belief, but mommy’s goals and dreams are important too! It’s all about prioritizing them.

6. Equality

Sometimes I believe the guilt comes from being raised in a family where women stayed home, and the men provided. But I love that I get to teach my children that both their mommy and daddy get to do what they want. I LOVE working and being with them. Equality allows me to choose, and for that I am grateful!

Working moms…do you struggle with guilt? Tell us in the comments what you have taught your kids by being a working mom!

Career Family

The Realities Of A Work-From-Home Mom

by Amanda Foust May 31, 2017

written by Amanda Foust

We hear about the stay-at-home moms and the working moms, but it’s rare we get a glimpse into the realities of a work-from-home mom.

I get asked on a weekly basis how I manage to be a mom and work from home. Through these conversations, I have come to the conclusion that most think two things:

Either I’m some kind of a super mom and have it all together with perfectly well-behaved kids who allow me to quietly work in my office or
These people think my kids are totally neglected — I sit with my nose in a computer and toss a couple cheerios on the floor next to a bowl of water.

I’m pleased to tell you that neither is true.

Here’s the reality:

Work from home mamas are often typing with one hand and wiping noses or problem solving with the other.

They bounce their children on their laps as they work (like I’m doing as I type this).

Remembering to eat is hard because mealtime is about the only consistent time to get work done uninterrupted.

In some ways, working from home is the best of both worlds and the worst of both worlds at the same time. The best is you get to watch your children grow and have flexibility. The worst is that you are literally NEVER off the clock and your attention is rarely 100% on either motherhood or work — it’s split 50-50.

Work-from-home moms are constantly in a place of guilt due to what I just said above. We aren’t able to be fully present 100 percent of the day and feel as if we come up short because we have this crazy hard balance to manage and rarely are we able to do it perfectly.

Here is a little glimpse of what my life looks like working from home…

But here’s the good parts:

We get to rock our babies when they need us.

We can attend the school parties.

We are able to financially contribute and save money on childcare.

Husbands learn to pull their weight because they don’t have a choice. We can’t do it all!

And the list goes on.

You see, stay-at-home moms, work-from-home moms, and working moms all have parts they love and ones they wish they could change. We are all doing our best with whatever situation we choose!

Tell us about your favorite part of being a work-from-home mom!

Beauty & Style Career

How To Dress For the Job You Want, Not The Job You Have

by Guest Post January 10, 2017

written by Guest Post

Fashion is a modern day career concern for everyone, especially moms. When you are trying to make a good first impression, your personal appearance is a big consideration. For moms, this can be tough. It’s likely that on some days, you struggle to look confident, fresh and full of energy, because you probably started your day earlier than everyone else and feel like you already put in a full day’s work before even arriving to the office. One of the most important times to be on your A-Game when it comes to your work wardrobe is when interviewing for a new job or a promotion. As much as we hate to admit it, first impressions often stick with us, especially when it comes to our clothes.

Every mom’s dream is to have that magic closet that can give you that vigorous and professional look, that naturally makes you look like a strong and intelligent woman your kids and colleagues will look up to.

We all know what that mental spiral can turn into: “I want to be memorable, but not appear too eager.” “I want to look fashionable, so I don’t look out of touch, but I also want to let people know I’m a serious professional.” The contradictions of your work wardrobe checklist can feel impossible. We hope these simple tips will help you as you dress to impress.

1. Comfort Is Key

Obviously, wearing sweatpants or your yoga pants to your next board meeting is not the look you’re going for, especially when wanting to make a good impression. However, being uncomfortable is noticeable. If you choose an outfit that you think looks good but feels awful, it is a recipe for failure. If all you are doing is tugging at the pants that are too tight or trying not to scratch yourself, you suddenly don’t look as professional as you had hoped.

The last thing you want is for a room full of your colleagues to be distracted from your workplace genius by the constant readjustment of your clothes. For new, moms don’t push it too far, especially when you know you have to shed pounds before you can wear that pencil skirt again. Give yourself time and don’t fret too much on feeling thick.

The same rule applies to shoes. While we aren’t suggesting slippers or running shoes, comfortable footwear has the edge over uncomfortable shoes when it comes to professional success. It won’t matter how fabulous your shoes are or how great they look with your outfit if you are hobbling. Not only does it make you seem silly for wearing shoes that hurt your feet, but the searing foot pain of an uncomfortable pair of shoes can be an ultimate distraction from your work.

2. Wear An Eye Catching Accessory

This is a good tip particularly for those in a competitive professional arena. Having a light or memorable element to your look helps people take notice without having to be visually overwhelmed. It can be extremely easy to go overboard with this one. This is why we recommend you pick one exciting element and leave it at that.

Fashion accessories are endless. You could easily incorporate a scarf or tie to capture attention and give you that competitive edge. Things like a bright or patterned accent belt or a jacket with large buttons are good examples of great accents that aren’t loud or off-putting. Even something as simple as a blouse with a unique pattern or a piece of statement jewelry can set you apart. Just be sure to keep it tasteful. Keeping the limit to a one-star focal point will prevent your outfits from screaming “desperation.” I think we can all agree that there are fashion statements, and then their pleas for attention.

3. Wear Your Confidence

Feeling good in what you are wearing is the most important thing to consider when you are dressing to achieve your professional goals. There may be times when the professional dress code pushes you outside your comfort zone. This makes it all the more important that you personalize the parts of your ensemble that make you the most uncomfortable.

Perhaps you are a person who is more reserved and introverted. It could be that the thought of wearing anything outside of a neutral tone that may draw attention sounds horrifying. So you may want to consider small attention pieces, to begin with.

Or maybe you are someone who can’t resist a beautiful accessory. Limiting your loud self-expression to a professional environment can seem like torture to an extroverted personality. That’s why it’s is important for you to put great consideration into making sure that your selections are comfortable (no matter how positively gorgeous they may be). Deliberately choosing your focal point piece allows you to enjoy your personality without making it the point of conversation. You want your work to shine, so the bravado of your style may have to take a back seat at the office.

Striking the perfect balance between outlandish and boring while remaining professionally appropriate can sometimes be easier said than done. It is important to find the middle ground between uninhibited self-expression, motherhood and the sort of business camouflage that makes you fading into the background. Hopefully, these tips will come in handy the next time your business fashion needs parameters or helpful guidelines.

Author Bio

Cari Samalik is a Michigan based entrepreneur and Mom and the CEO & co-founder of Livnfresh – a state related T-shirt brand. Previously, she worked in the healthcare, and food and beverage industries before marrying into a screen printing business.

Baby Career Family Kids Toddler

7 Common Misconceptions About Stay At Home Moms

by Ellice Vargas November 1, 2016

written by Ellice Vargas

There are so many misconceptions around about stay-at-home mom’s, that it is quite astonishing. Since becoming a mother I have worked full time outside of the home, stayed at home full time, and now I work from home. So, I feel I have a fairly well rounded understanding on what it feels to be a mother in each one of those areas. What never fails to surprise me is the comments I get in regards to what is it that I do all day. Here are the most common misconceptions I’ve come across in my time as a stay-at-home mom.

1. We Must Have Money

Well, no. Actually, my initial reason to become a stay home was because my income was swallowed up entirely by daycare costs, health insurance and gas money, just by going to work. We actually found ourselves losing money for me to continue in the position I had before my daughter was born. Is it hard to live off one income? Usually yes. Sometimes is it necessary? Yes.

2. We Judge Working Mothers

How often does this actually happen? How much judging goes on and how much do we self-project from our mom guilt? I bet we all do it at one time or another, the mom guilt is for real. Let’s be honest, no working or stay-at-home mom even has the energy to judge someone else’s patenting. If you happen to come across this unpleasant

3. We Just Hang Out And Drink Coffee All Day

Well, we might actually drink coffee all day, #survival. But thats not all we do. I’m lucky if I can finish my first cup before noon, and usually it’s been reheated no less than 4 or 5 times. Between diaper changes, toddler tantrums, endless laundry and sweeping of floors, there isn’t a whole lot of spare time for coffee drinking.

4. We Don’t Want A Career

First of all, raising babies is a career all by itself. Probably the most important thing of all. Which we are all doing whether we work outside of the home or not. Second, I actually think we live in a society that is impossible to feel like we are “succeeding” without a career, something we don’t need to be reminded of when people ask, “so you just stay home?” I cannot be the only mother out there that is constantly in awe of all the amazing momprenures, who rock that working-mom and stay-at-home gig. Just because we are home most days with our littles, it doesn’t mean we have forgotten about our own dreams and aspirations, FYI.

5. We Don’t Care About How We Look

For real. Do you think we actually like leaving the house with spit up on our clothes and a 4 day mom bun? I would love a little time to myself to get ready, and to wear grown up clothes every once in a while. Also, on the days we make an effort and our nails are perfectly manicured and our hair is done, we get peppered with comments like, “I wish I had time to get myself pampered.” No comment.

6. That Our Home Are Always Clean + Tidy

“If you stay home, your house must be spotless all the time.” I’m laughing so hard I’m worried my 8 months pregnant bladder might just fail me. We are not home alone, just cleaning and admiring our handiwork. We are constantly cleaning up after little tornados whose entire mission in life is to make leaving sticky handprints on our walls and drop food on our floors. Sometimes we leave the house right after I’ve cleaned just so I know it’s lasted more than 15 minutes.

7. That We Must Be Bored

Honestly, I understand this one, I felt like it once. The day I put my 2 week notice in was the scariest day of my life. I had already had my 4 month maternity leave so I knew what a ridiculously hard job I was taking on full time. While I was thrilled to be able to be with my daughter more, I was terrified of the isolation. Honestly, it has only gotten better each day. Sure some weeks are long and hard but as my toddler grows and gets closer to school age I just try and soak up as much of this time with her as possible. Also it turns out, kids can be a whole lot of fun. 😉

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Ellice Vargas

I'm a British gal and mama to one sweet daughter. I love a good DIY project, interior design and photography. When I'm not writing for Life As Mama, I'm traveling as much as I can with my little family and filling up my camera roll with snapshots of our life.

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Career Kids

9 Necessary Items For Pumping At Work

by Ellice Vargas July 12, 2016

written by Ellice Vargas

So you are heading back to work, but planning to continue breast feeding your baby. First of all, let me pat you on the back. It’s an adjustment- returning to the workforce and juggling pumping sessions doesn’t exactly scream, “welcome back”! For me personally, I felt like I had worked so hard and overcome a lot of initial challenges with breastfeeding that I wasn’t quite ready to throw in the towel, despite my intense dislike of pumping. What I wish I had when returning to work was some kind of guideline to follow to make the whole process a bit easier. Which is why I have made a list of items that might make your return to work and pumping experience a lot smoother.

www.target.com

1. Electric Pump

A double electric pump is where it is at. This is not an item you want to skimp on, but honestly seek out the best machine that fits your needs, and get it. You wont regret it. Even better, most insurances now cover a breast pump, I got the exact one I was planning to buy absolutely free! Personally I loved my Ameda Purely Yours, but there are many great options out there.

2. Breast Milk Storage Bags

These are a lifesaver! For the first few weeks after I went back to work I was pumping into bottles, I even bought more bottles because I was running out. Then I realized I only really needed the two bottles to pump into and I could just pour the milk directly into the storage bags. It made it much easier for travel and I could pop them straight into the freezer when I got home. These Lansinoh storage bags were a personal favorite, but these Target ones are another fantastic option.

Source: FIgure8Maternity.com

3. Pumping Friendly Work Clothes

Even though you will be back at work and probably excited to wear non-maternity clothes for the first time in quite while, take a minute before you pull out your favorite work dress. Don’t forget you need will continue to need boob-access every 2-3 hours for pumping. Stick by the usual nursing clothing rules when planning your outfit everyday and you’ll be just fine. There are also tons of great nursing dresses out there. Would you believe the photo above is specifically for nursing mamas?!

Career Finances

7 Positive Things About Being A Working Mom

by Karly Wood June 29, 2016

written by Karly Wood

I never thought I wanted children, and my husband and I were in agreement on this through our dating, engagement and first 7 years of marriage. I thoroughly enjoyed our child free- life, full of last minute plans, vacations and guilt-free nights that required me to work late. I was proud to be a working professional and looked forward to work. But something happened when I hit my 30’s: I kinda, maybe, sorta wanted to give this whole parenting thing a try. A year after my husband and I had the conversation, we welcomed our daughter into the world and subsequently, everything changed for me. I no longer had the drive to suit up and spend long hours in the office. In fact, the thought terrified me. I wanted to be a stay at home mom.

Despite my heart’s desire, being able to quit working and focus only on mothering was not an option for our family. We live in Southern California, have bills, student loans, car payments and want to pay for our daughter’s college tuition one day. With no plans to move to another state, I needed to keep working. And I’ll be honest- I was pretty mad about it. At first I was angry at the economy. Why was everything so expensive, and especially in California? We didn’t even own a house at the time, and were modest spenders. We hadn’t vacationed in years and I shopped Target for my wardrobe. Then I became frustrated that my husband didn’t make enough money to “allow” me to stay at home. How come all the other moms at the parks had spouses who had bigger salaries? Yeah, that was a horrible feeling to direct at my husband, but it’s how I felt at the time.

In spite of some strong feelings at first, I was eventually able to settle down and find many positive aspects of being a working mom. Personally, I am blessed to be able to work from home. While there are definite moments where I don’t get to relax in the comfort of my own home until well after my daughter is in bed, I also realize how special it is to send off emails while my daughter sits in my lap.

If you’re a working mom who struggles with a desire to be a stay at home mom, but just can’t do it, this is for you. Your time may come where you can quit your job and spend all your time with your kids, but it may not be now. You’re going to need to cling to some positive aspects of working, and believe me, there are plenty!

1. Role Model

If you want to be a stay at home mom, you’re probably focused on being the number one influence in your kids lives, and I get it. I would much rather be there for my daughter, than my boss. But there are many ways you are “there” for your children and being a role model is an important one. Being a working mom doesn’t mean you are showing your kids that you enjoy being away from them. It means you love them enough to work a job to provide for their needs and plan for their future. Trust me, I know it’s tempting to only look at work as the reason you have to leave your kids at daycare, but we’re looking at the positive aspects, right? Now’s a great time to show your kids that hard work results in the feeling of a job well done, and that sometimes we carry through with things that we may not always enjoy. In a way, we are all made to work- we need it for our self-esteem and to feel like we are putting our talents to good use. While your kids are years away from working a job, school is probably around the corner, which is an equally important forum in which to work hard.

2. Creative Outlet

Whether you’re a number cruncher, paper pusher or marketing expert, your job probably provides you with a way to express yourself creatively. As a working mom who spends tons of time with my daughter, believe me when I say that cupcake liner crafts and macaroni jewelry will not meet your creative needs for long. Treasure the time you get to spend at work doing “adult” things and solving problems that don’t involve finding the next episode of Sophia the First or how to get that stain out of your kids favorite T-Shirt.

3. Less Financial Stress

It’s been estimated that 70% of American couples squabble over finances in their marriages, and I’m guessing you’ve had a spat or two yourselves on the topic of money. While your initial argument may have started from not having enough money to stay at home, working will staunch that quickly. It’s a heavy burden for one spouse to carry the entire financial weight of the family. Even if you aren’t saving or investing money, working to pay every bill and need can be too much for one person. If you are a working mom, you are not only providing financially for your entire family, but you are relieving unbelievable pressure from your spouse or other family members who may be supporting you. You don’t have to cringe when the credit card statement comes, or when you receive a random email from your bank. Not only will you have less financial stress, but you’ll probably ease up the marital stress as well.

4. Financial Flexibility

In other words, you can do more fun stuff. While I’m still entirely jealous of my stay at home mom friends, I also find the joy in my financial flexibility. Because I work, I can afford to enroll my daughter in swimming, take her to an afternoon movie and have a special dinner out. Sure, I can’t afford to outfit her in a Burberry wardrobe (who wants that, really?), but I can manage to buy her the things she needs and also do “fun stuff” too. Could I live without those things? Yes, and many stay at home moms are unbelievable budgeters and make much bigger sacrifices to remain at home. My hat is off to them in a big way. But as long as we’re looking at the positive aspects of working, it has to be said that financial flexibility is a big plus.

5. Personal Relationships

Being a stay at home mom can be pretty lonely, despite play dates and your best efforts to find other mom friends. One of the big bonuses of being a working mom is the opportunity to gain personal relatioships with all types of people you wouldn’t otherwise meet. It’s refreshing to make new connections who could even pan out into your personal life. I’ve met some amazing people working, and those friendships have carried on for years- even after we no longer work together. We all need adult friend in our lives, and work can be a wonderful place to engage in adult life.

6. Gives Your Child Independence

You can choose to see childcare as time away from your kids, or you can view it as an opportunity for them to interact with other kids. They can learn to share, communicate and problem solve with kids of different ages, and get much needed exercise and social time. And hopefully, they will be unsually happy to see you when you get off work! Who doesn’t love that?

7. It’s “You” Time

At the very least, time spent at work is time that’s just for you (well, and your boss). Sometimes I admit, I’m envious of the regular breaks my husband gets by being out of the house so often, working in his office. His time spent at home is purposeful and usually in good spirits. Since I work from home, I’m exhausted, tired and well out of patience at the end of day spent all day with my 3-year old. I’d imagine it’s the same for a stay at home mom who watches the clock for her husband’s quitting time. When you’re all out of other ideas as to why working is a positive thing, think about it in terms of regular time that’s just for you. You get a break from your kids constant needs, and can hopefully return home for some intentional time with family.

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Karly Wood

Editor at Red Tricycle

I'm a born and bred Southern California native and currently the managing editor at Red Tri. I get to share my life with my husband of 13 years and our beautiful, 5-year old daughter. In my free time you'll catch me cheering for the Dodgers, cooking, baking, reading, crafting and probably watching a little HGTV!

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Karly Wood

Career Finances Pregnancy

7 Tips For Preparing Your Finances For Maternity Leave

by Karly Wood June 2, 2016

written by Karly Wood

Finding out you are pregnant is an exciting time. There’s much to look forward, and while most of it is pretty darn fun (nursery essentials, baby clothes, a growing baby bump.) there are many serious things to start organizing too. If you’re a working gal, planning for your maternity leave should start the moment you see that big positive sign. All women will take at least 4-6 weeks off from work, and many up to 6 months. Needless to say, there is some major financial planning that goes into taking your maternity leave! No new mama wants to worry about having the money to pay bills, so start preparing your finances early with these tips.

1. Research Maternity Leave Laws In Your Home State

Knowledge is power, and especially so when it comes to knowing the laws that outline your state’s maternity leave. Despite each state and employer having their own laws about paid portions of your leave, the Feds have outlined that all employees are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for the birth of a newborn or adopted child. You are required to have the same pay when you return as well. Aside from having three months of job protection, individual states also have additional time they may allow for job-protected leave, as well as wage replacement programs like state paid disability. It’s your responsibility to know what you’re entitled to, especially since it could determine how long you can afford to be off work.

2. Reduce Expenses Now

Despite your maternity leave only being a small amount of time (big picture wise), the arrival of your baby is really the signal that everything is about to change for your budget. You will now have to account for doctor co-pays, diapers, clothes and many other items you don’t currently spend money on. Expenses for your child will only grow as they do, so now is as good as any to take a look at your expenses and start reducing them. Stop paying for things you don’t use, like gym memberships or those extra 150 cable TV channels. Get in the habit of eating at home, and meal planning to stop wasting money on food you end up throwing away. Your peace of mind will be so worth it when you have just one paycheck coming in!

3. Start Saving

Just because your maternity leave doesn’t start for 6 months, doesn’t mean you should wait to prepare financially. Begin saving money from every paycheck and from those reduced expenses. It’s tempting to take those savings and spend them on other things you need, but you never know what your maternity leave may hold for you. You could have a difficult delivery that involves extra time in the hospital, a sick baby, or a spouse that loses their job. None of these things are things you really want to think about, but they should be planned for. Ideally, you should save enough money to mimic your paycheck while you are on leave, and then some. It may sound impossible, but with careful planning and the reduction of your expenses, you can do it!

4. Investigate Your Medical Insurance

Depending on your employer and state laws, your medical insurance can change while on maternity leave so it’s important to know your coverage. For example, my employer offered up to 6 months of unpaid maternity leave with job protection. However, my medical insurance was only covered for 4 months, after which I would have to pay Cobra to keep my coverage. Cobra was going to cost me $1,000 per month! That was a make or break deal for me, and I’m so glad I knew that going in. It’s also important to know the enrollment period for adding your new baby. You do not want to miss adding your child to your insurance, because paying out of pocket expenses for a newborn will definitely mean a hit to your budget.

5. Live By Your New Budget

Don’t wait for your bundle of joy to arrive to start creating and living by your new budget. “When the baby is here” is not a good mantra to have to jump into when you’re sleep-deprived. Good habits only take a month to set in stone, so take charge of your finances and make a budget that’s doable. You and your spouse should stick as close as possible to your new budget, and make adjustments before the baby arrives so you can live affordably.

6. Try To Pay Off Debt

Do you have a lingering credit card payment or just a little left on a car loan? Consider paying off any small debts to reduce your monthly expenses and give your budget some wiggle room. You will have less liability to worry about and your budget will be in better shape. I realize this is not an option for everyone, but it’s definitely something to consider. Even paying off a small debt that’s $700 can mean the difference in $50 every month. That’s a big pack of diapers, if you didn’t know!

7. Meal Plan

Why am I talking about cooking and food on a finance post? Because I’ve had a newborn and let me tell you- no zombie-mom even wants to THINK about cooking meals in the first few weeks of maternity leave. Well-intentioned family and friends will help out by providing meals the first two weeks, but after that you are usually on your own. Costs for constantly getting take out will add up fast, and are double or even triple what it would cost to make a visit to the grocery store. Do yourself a favor and plan out meals well before your due date, even taking time to stock your freezer with meals that already put together and just require heating. Don’t waste your hard earned and saved money on a $20 pizza!

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7 Changes You Can Make To Become A Stay At Home Mom

by Karly Wood June 1, 2015

written by Karly Wood

When many women picture their future family, they often imagine becoming a stay at home mom. A recent study actually found that the number of women staying at home with their children is on the rise for the first time in decades, equalling about 10.4 million stay at home moms in the United States! Our maternal instinct kicks in the moment we become pregnant, and the thought of leaving our baby after our maternity leave usually doesn’t settle well. Sure, there are mothers who prefer to return to work, but this article is geared towards those mamas who would love to make some changes in their lives and leave the workforce behind for a few years. Let me say this upfront: becoming a stay at home mom is a HARD job, and often more difficult than reporting to the office every day. There are no days off, and your kids aren’t exactly forgiving with their own deadlines (aka needs). It also requires some planning if your spouse doesn’t already have a job that provides enough for the family. So, if becoming a stay at home mom is something that you desire with all your heart, then check out our list of ways you can make your dream a reality.

1. Plan Ahead

If you are currently a dual-income family, then becoming a single income family is going to take some careful planning. Only you can determine if the complete loss of an entire income can still sustain your monthly budget. If you know that you want to stay at home, no matter the cost, then you have to start saving money before and while you’re pregnant. Make sure your communication with your spouse is clear, so he doesn’t assume you want to return to work when you really don’t. If you want to find a job that allows more flexibility where you can work from home, start looking before you become pregnant or have the baby. Deciding to leave your job while on maternity leave should be a last resort. It is a huge decision that should be heavily considered before your baby arrives and you are in the throes of postpartum emotions!

2. Budget

Transitioning to a single income requires a budget, one that is easy to stick to. Remember that you need to start with only budgeting your spouse’s take home pay, not their gross income. A great tool that will help you decide if you can afford to stay at home, is a “Stay At Home Calculator,” like this one found at Parents.com. The fact of the matter is, it is going to more important than ever to stick to your budget when you are one 1 income, because you won’t have extra income to cover your expenses. So if you’re ready to take the plunge and stay at home, make it less stressful by having a budget that’s manageable.

3. Consider the Cost of Childcare

Many women think they have to go back to work simply because they need the income. However, depending on where you live and how many children you have, the cost of childcare can eat up half of your take home pay. For some families, it just makes more sense for moms to stay at home, even though they still suffer a loss of income. Because childcare would have taken up much of their paycheck anyway, the reduction is not as drastic. You will additionally save money by not having to spend gas on driving to your childcare provider, yet another way staying at home may end up working for your family.

4. Change Your Priorities

Before kids, having weekly dinner dates, vacations and new clothes may have been the highlight of your life. A change in your priorities will happen automatically once your children enter the world, but if you’re considering staying at home, you’ll need to continue to change your priorities. You may have to give up your Target shopping trips in favor of the the $.99 store, or start shopping second hand. If you decide that staying at home is your priority, then your spending habits and attitude will have to change too.

5. Get Rid of Debt

If you are having trouble just paying your regular bills, you can forget about becoming a stay at home mom if you have additional debt to pay. Pay off credit cards, buy affordable cars that don’t require monthly payments, pay down student loans so you have lower monthly payments (or pay them off entirely if you can!) and don’t open new lines of credit for things you don’t need (like that new TV). We live in a society where, if we want something, we buy it- even if we can’t afford it! Becoming a stay at home mom requires planning and diligence, so you may have to put off staying at home or having children if you can’t get around your debt.

6. Plan For An Emergency

No matter how much you plan, you don’t often plan for an emergency to happen! No one wants to imagine a flooded basement, car accident or medical bill that seems insurmountable. Being a stay at home mom is stressful enough, so don’t add to it by not having a savings account for emergencies. We often think about just the mother when talking about making staying at home a reality. But your spouse is now under more pressure than ever, by being a parent and the sole bread winner for the family. It’s a fabulous idea to save at least 6 months worth of salary before quitting your job. You will be so thankful that you can afford to fix the water heater when you need to, and not have to worry about re-mortgaging your house, or having to borrow money.

7. Work From Home

Just because you no longer work in an office, that doesn’t mean you can’t work at all. Many, many mothers decide to work from home or do small, side jobs to help contribute to the family. I knew that I wanted to be able to work from home (not working was just not an option), so while I was pregnant and working my full time job, I started to search for jobs that allowed me to work from home. I ended up working for about 9 months for my full time job, as well as part time for a work from home job, just so that I could transition over once my daughter was born. It was a lot of hard work, but it paid off in the end.

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7 Steps On Surviving Your Return To Work After Maternity Leave

by Karly Wood March 19, 2015

written by Karly Wood

While many women love working and having a professional career, most mothers would say ending their maternity leave and returning to work is one of the hardest things they’ve ever done. Having what felt like an infinite amount of time with their baby is slowly coming to a close, and they have to get back to the “realities” of life. It can be overwhelming finding daycare and thinking about all the time they will be spending away from their children. Sometimes just thinking about going back to work is worse than actually doing it! If you find yourself preparing to return to work, then check out our list to help ease your mind. It will all be ok!

1. Do A Dress Rehearsal

If this is your first baby, you morning routine of getting ready for work will be very different from the pre-baby days. You not only have to get yourself ready, but get your child dressed, fed and off to daycare- all before even stepping foot in your office. Do yourself a HUGE favor and set up a “Dress rehearsal” day, where you will completely go through the motions of heading off to work. Don’t skip any steps, because sooner than later, you will be doing the real thing. Shower, get dressed, do your makeup and even take the extra step of dropping your child off at daycare. Use a few hours to have some time for yourself, mentally preparing and practicing for your new life change of spending hours away from your little one at work.