Would you stop working? If so, when?

[rhiannonmars]

This is a hypothetical question.

If your significant other was making really good money, would you stop working to stay at home? How much money do you think would have to be their income for you to consider this? How much would your current income be for you to abandon your old employment in this situation?

 

[crepebacksatin]

i wouldn't quit my job, regardless of how much my husband made. i love it and derive a lot of satisfaction out of it (i'm a realtor).

he'd have to be making like 150k before i'd even consider not working.

 

[FashionFix]

I would quit working---I want to drop out of the work force entirely right now. (Bad, unmotivating issues at my current job, can you tell?)
But honestly I don't know, I used to think I would, although as I get older there is that factor of security-you never know what will happen and I am afraid if I don't work for so lon--it would be so difficult if I ever had to go back to work.
I would probably work part time doing something I enjoy. The amount the husband would need to be making would depend on where we were living among other things.

 

[shambles]

It would have to be a mutual decision. I personally would stop working if I had a baby; I would want to stay home and take care of my kid for a few years. But otherwise, I wouldn't feel fulfilled if I wasn't pursuing my own career goals... I would never stop working just because I could afford to not work.

 

[star]

It would have to be a mutual decision. I personally would stop working if I had a baby; I would want to stay home and take care of my kid for a few years. But otherwise, I wouldn't feel fulfilled if I wasn't pursuing my own career goals... I would never stop working just because I could afford to not work.

agreed.
i dont think i could do just nothing all the time. especially if my husband would be working so hard to bring in the money, i'd at least do my own thing and when it doesnt work out i have something to fall back on.

 

[pamelaz]

Absolutely not.

 

[rhiannonmars]

Additional question:

Lets say his salary was high enough you could quit and reevaluate your career goals? Would you do a 360 in your field and find something completely different? Would you stick to what you know now?

In my case:

This is something I have to consider soon. I don't plan to NOT work, but stop a pretty low paying job in a boring field to start my own business. I'd love to have my own salary as always though for a while, but my husband works during the night, so our schedules would be so weird if I did work that I would never see him! Lets just say my salary is an 1/8th of his! I also am an artist, crafty person. Being at home never means doing "nothing".

So I guess this makes the question not so hypothetical for me.

 

[shambles]

Do what you feel passionate about. If you have the opportunity to start your own business, go for it. Why stay with a dead end job, especially when you don't have to?

 

[ivyrose]

I seriously doubt I'd stop working completely. The only exception I'd make is if I had kids, maybe I'd be out of the workforce for a three or four years max, but I'd eventually go back. I don't love my current job, I like it ... but if money wasn't an object I'd love to become a teacher. I was one for a little bit, but it just didn't pay the bills.

 

[Curious]

No. I feel that's a lot of pressure to put on the significant other to not bring in ANY income. Not to say I might not take a less stressful job

Additionally, I'd get bored. Not to mention that I'd want to spend more time with HIM if I wasn't working and might resent the fact that he IS working. Sounds silly, but I have a couple of non-working friends that this has happened to. The husband had to work harder because they're not working and then they resent the fact that he spends long hours at work. Catch 22.

But to each his own

 

[rhiannonmars]

^ I think that is only in situations there a husband doesn't make enough money to keep the family afloat that they have to work harder. In my hypothetical world, you'd have a lot (any amount you guys would think is sufficent). ... Ie. 200,000+ a year, hay, even a million a year!

 

[Plastic'sWife]

I would totally quit my job. I dont mind working, but I would love to be a housewife.
Actually, these are my future plans...

 

[Plastic'sWife]

I agree with you rhiannonmars. Being at home does not equal doing nothing. You find other things to do. Just like working does not = doing something.

 

[rhiannonmars]

It's strange how the times have changed. Women used to always stay at home. Now we all feel we want/have to work. It's almost a stigma now to be a housewife. I wish it wasn't that way. Many housewifes do very constructive things with their time. (creative things, charity, run the house hold, mother.. all things I find as important as a "career")

For me, work has always been WORK if you know what I mean. It's never been *fun*. Now, starting my own business will be, but I'm working on that a little at a time.

PlasticWife - I'm glad someone agrees with me. We can be "ladies who lunch" together!

 

[tott]

Just like working does not = doing something.

So true!

I happen to have a job I enjoy, but if I didn't I would love the luxury of being able to simply quit. As long as you're keeping yourself busy with something that feels meaningful or fun, making money or not...

 

[Plastic'sWife]

It's strange how the times have changed. Women used to always stay at home. Now we all feel we want/have to work. It's almost a stigma now to be a housewife. I wish it wasn't that way. Many housewifes do very constructive things with their time. (creative things, charity, run the house hold, mother.. all things I find as important as a "career")

For me, work has always been WORK if you know what I mean. It's never been *fun*. Now, starting my own business will be, but I'm working on that a little at a time.

PlasticWife - I'm glad someone agrees with me. We can be "ladies who lunch" together!

Ofcourse
Frisco is not too far, either...
So youre starting your own business huh... that is super neat.

When I tell people- I wanna be a house wife they say- then why did you get your degree? Why are you doing your masters?
My education is a personal goal. Its also a foundation for me and my family. If anything would go wrong financially I could always get a job. But I plan to have children. And for me, being a mom who is always home is #1. My fiance agrees. My mom is like that too- I could not picture her not home when I come home.
Im just old skool like that I guess...

 

[rhiannonmars]

Your like me then, I seperate education, career, and self worth. Just because I am not making money doesn't mean I'm "worth" less as a person. If there is a subject that interests me, I might just go back to school. That was the problem growing up. Things I were interested in at school weren't nessesarily good to help with a career.

I hope to start a little luxury baby business retailing all the pretty products that are on the market now. My husband's forex trading is really taking off. I have been interviewing for boring secretarial jobs as that is what I have always done. It's nice to have my own money... but.. my husband can give me lots to spend too. Hehe. I guess sometimes it feels like taking your husbands money, but really in our relationship we share everything. He is generous. He loves me so much, he wants me to do anything I want, be it sit on the couch and be lazy, work, start a business, etc. I have silly goals to start a housewife knitting group also!

 

[*maximus*]

never in a million years did i think i'd be doing the stay-at-home mom thing.....let alone get married but here i am taking care of my one-n-a-half year old son with another one on the way this fall

my husband and i mutually agreed it would be best if i stayed home (my commute was at least 2 hours daily each way to the investment/brokerage firm). he works 2 jobs 6 or 7 days a week with no complaints as he loves what he does. but i do miss the working world and i am hoping to return somewhere betw 3-5 years doing something close to my heart and fun and not in the corporate world

it's funny since i grew up in manhattan and now i live in the sticks i miss the city passionately.

i wish the best for you guys in whatever path you choose whether it's becoming a housewife, stay-at-home mom, savvy business owner, etc. as long as it's your love

 

[tott]

it's funny since i grew up in manhattan and now i live in the sticks i miss the city passionately.

You know, I'm constantly baffled by the way people think you need a house in the suburbs or in the countryside when you have children... Kids can live in the city and turn out just as well or better than their country cousins.

No critique against you, I don't know how you ended up in the sticks!

 

[rhiannonmars]

^ I can agree. There is nothing wrong with babies in apartments. If you love your child, where it grew up won't make a difference much in their happiness.

I think it is my personal preference to have a moderate sized house to raise a child in though. I guess I feel I will need *space* between us all. Bigger is always better, right?! I just have day dreams of playing in a private back yard with my children someday.

I think Stay-At-Home Mom's are making a come back though. I've read many articles of very high paying corporate big wig ladies quitting to be a full-time mommy.