The great thing about there being more gender equality is that there are more choices when it comes to career and parenting. One of those choices remains whether or not one parent decides to stay at home, even though the difference is that now there are more and more fathers who are deciding to stay at home rather than just the typical stay at home mom that may have been seen on TV decades ago. Having one parent stay at home is possible, although there are some things that need to be kept in mind.

When making the decision as to whether or not to have a parent stay home, do a comprehensive analysis of your budget to see if it is possible. It could end up that a significant part of one parent’s income is actually being used towards child care and traveling expenses. If that is the case, it may actually be cost effective for a parent to stay home.

Figuring out what money gets spent on and what expenses can be lowered is also important. One place to start could be with automobile expenses. Brand new cars can come with extra costs besides the higher monthly payments, especially when it comes to things such as insurance. With a used car, such as the ones available from used cars downey, you can find something to help lower your monthly payments and that won’t cost as much to insure. To find a full line of great pre-owned cars, go to McPeek Dodge.

Look into other ways to cut costs as well, without having to feel deprived. The working parent can pack a few special lunches a week instead of going out. Make dinners at a restaurant something for special occasions and instead make certain nights special for cooking something with your kids, such as taco Tuesday. Little things can make a huge difference when it comes to saving money.