<p>Thank you all for that wonderful additional advice & encouragement!</p>
<p>cptofthehouse–I’m going to go into FASFA and run numbers…that seems to be the only way to logically figure this out.</p>
<p>calmom–true, re: the providing $ ourselves would give us more flexibility. I’m likely not to work (full-time) in the private sector, however, hopefully will return to gov’t work (where I worked previously). In gov’t I’ll get to spend time w/my family, have excellent benefits and not be killing myself w/80 weeks. 6 year old still definitely needs me & husband works a good bit & travels occasionally.</p>
<p>Thus, likely won’t have tons of $ (esp when subtracting commuting costs, other attendant expenses) but it will be more than we’ve got coming in now. Not loving the idea of jumping on the 2 income treadmill (which is incredibly hard to jump off) but I can’t gamble w/son not having $ for school. </p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>Jolynne - a book you might take a look at is “Two Incomes and Still Broke?: It’s Not How Much You Make, but How Much You Keep by Linda Kelley”
…i found it at public libray. you might find it at a used bookstore or online store. i remember taking away from it… that it’s sometimes a better fit to work part-time. the author looks at costs vs. benefits. looks at costs the second wage earner can incur.</p>
<p>condor30–I totally agree. I researched that topic to death when I was first making the argument that I should quit work to stay home w/my newborn. It’s amazing when you think about the hourly wage you can end up bringing in, when you subtract other costs (daycare, etc.). It can be a pittance. </p>
<p>However, in our case, daughter will be in a full-day school program for the first time, and there are other possible income reduction issues at hand. Not to mention that I’m not in entire control of making the lifestyle limitations that would enable a single income to fund it all effectively. Throw in potential thousands necessary for college, and it looks like (finally) I’m going to have to jump back in. Although, I’m hedging my bets (in case 6 yo really doesn’t adjust well) by starting in a $45 an hour temp job, likely (prestige-wise–the bottom of my profession–yuck–but have to think of the family).</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion. I will still check out the book you suggested! Appreciate!</p>
<p>jolynne - me too. i researched all this when my 2nd was born. </p>
<p>working the temp job you’ve described sounds like it would give you some flexibility…you could take some time off in between assignments. </p>
<p>you might look at seasonal work…in other words, taking a full-time job for a defined period of time. for example…tax work (jan. through april).</p>
<p>there may be similar options in fed. and state government work (seasonal-temporary)…grant work, maybe? sometimes i see 9 month positions and those sound interesting.</p>
<p>school districts and universities will also sometimes have 9 month positions.</p>
<p>have you considered non-profit work? lobbyist? research? sometimes those are contract positions and you’d have some flexibility in your schedule.</p>
<p>giving yourself a break from time to time would sure lift your spirits.</p>
<p>Jolynne, running the numbers is the only way you can see if you are in a pocket where a marginal dollar or so can dump you in a whole new situation. That is the only issue I see that can be problematic. Otherwise, whether you are netting 40cents on the dollar or 30, you are still netting. It’s that cliff position where folks have to be careful, that they do not do something that causes them to lose a whole pot of money by shifting into a different category.</p>
<p>condor30–those are great suggestions. I hadn’t thought about a lot of those. Was thinking legal temp work w/an agency (basically, document review, bleh) was my only option vs a full-time commitment to a ‘real’ job. But, as you suggested, maybe there are other things in between. I know doing briefs from my house for govt/companies/attorneys just doesn’t cut it for me (too unstructured, not enough $$) although for other mom-lawyers I know it works well. I’m printing out your suggestions and will look into them. 9 months could be ideal (hadn’t thought of that) because then I’d have the summers off (ideally) to be with 6 yo and get caught up on house things.</p>
<p>Thanks cptofthehouse. Just have to get on those numbers. I know that’s key and something I tend to avoid. But, it would answer all the questions rather than just basing decisions on speculation.</p>