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"With two children in daycare and you working part-time, you would actually save money by taking them out and raising them yourself. You'd save the enormous cost of the daycare itself, not to mention the extra gas and commute costs (both time and money). Run the numbers and you'll see."

Nope...the numbers have been run and re-run..
The oldest isn't in daycare anymore..he is now in school.
The youngest is there for a total of $240 per month...I make $1100 per month AFTER TAXES.

My commute to daycare and then to work is 35 minutes and is approx. 7 miles round trip.
That's 14 miles each week for gas and 2 hours and 10 minutes for the commute.
So, I make about 215 each week AFTER paying for daycare.
Then let's say 50 cents..No, lets say $1.00 per mile in gas and car usage just to be generous...
That's now $201 PER WEEK after paying for gas and daycare.
So..that 2 hours and 10 minutes of communting...well...it makes me enough to feed my family EVERY MONTH
(Food budget is $350 per month) PLUS:

Car insurance ($95)
Home owners insurance ($50)
Electric Bill ($50-$100)
Gas Bill (0-$125)
Phone/Cable/Internet ($100)

So, if I stay home, my household income drops to $2500 per month after Taxes. (husband already works 2 jobs..civilian job +Marine Corps Reserves)

We live in a modest 40 year old house that we got at a good price since we bought it from my father in law's estate before he died.

So..I am certain that you probably don't really give a hoot about my budget...but since you were very sure that I "needed to run the numbers"..I thought I would let you see that they had been run..and re-run.

I AGREE that many people could live more modestly and cut down (or quit all together ) their jobs....our household is just not one of them.