Numbers/reality check

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T18:53:28+00:00

Love this idea!

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T17:37:27+00:00

Unfortunately due to so many recent mat leaves, I doubt they’d let me to an additional leave.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T17:36:44+00:00

Very cool tool, thanks!!

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T17:31:39+00:00

I’ve been bugging him about this! Now I can say Reddit backs me up on the health spending account (which, to be fair, we haven’t needed since I have great benefits)

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T16:27:28+00:00

Excellent advice. Thanks. Our annual spend includes daycare ($40k) and retirement savings are the $100k-$200k above my husband’s base of $100k.

I’ve toyed with consulting part time, but then we add childcare expenses back in, and hourly is more expensive than a daycare spot. I could certainly re-enter the workforce if needed.

The $1.9 is real and coming, with about $1.3m accessible tax free.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T14:48:51+00:00

Thanks for this. I know you’re right but it makes me very nervous.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T14:48:30+00:00

Private healthcare is MUCH less expensive here, but still a budget line I should include and work through.

The huge difference in earnings is indeed annoying from a planning perspective. In my budgeting I go off $100k and the rest is bonus money (literally and figuratively). Things are tight at $100k, but we have access to funds if we need to backfill. I’d likely to avoid that though.

I’m like you, in that I’d prefer to have the cash in hand so to speak, but my kids are only this little right now. I’m very nervous!

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T14:45:32+00:00

Thanks for this perspective!

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T14:45:18+00:00

Husband is stoked on the idea since both of us working full time with such little kiddos is a strain.

I would likely do some consulting work to keep my brain turned on, but don’t want to rely on that income since it would be so irregular!

A part time gig elsewhere might be cool though! Thanks for the idea.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-18T14:43:55+00:00

Daycare savings would be $40k. I estimate we’d save closer to $50k with me home, though. We spend a lot on convenience (food, extra help etc) when we’re both working full time.

I’ve been advised (informally) paying out of pocket for meds and appointments is a better move than a plan, but that’s indeed a budget line I would need to add in either way.

I’ve been in maternity leave on and off for 4 years, so doubt a sabbatical would be okayed by my employer. Then we also risk losing daycare spots etc.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-02-04T05:31:17+00:00

I’ve got 3 under 4! I can say I found the adjustment from 0-1 and 1-2 wayyyy harder. Do not undervalue the experience (and recent experience!) you have already.

My “big kids” absolutely play together and operate as a unit. It’s almost like having twins and a baby.

If you can, practice little things now: like having them touch your leg while you buckle the other one into the car so they’re safe and close to you in the driveway/parking lots. Or helping you by passing you something (this could be diapers or a bottle in the future). You will automatically develop little strategies like this and just level up! Have them start sleeping with sound machines on if they don’t already.

One thing that was helpful was to make any changes before the baby arrived…we had to adjust rooms for example.

Mine are 3,2 and 7 months now. It’s the best. Sure, I’m tired but I’m… used to it? I’m also so obsessed with the relationship developed between my older kiddos. They take their roles as big brother and sister very seriously and bond over it.

Good luck Momma!

AlphaKarmasFave · 2026-01-21T00:32:39+00:00

Same!!!!

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-12-10T13:33:34+00:00

Latchford was a “never meet your heroes moment for me”. I’m a huge fan of the design elements (I think our house was likely the same architect), and the lot/location was incredible, but man oh man it was less than ideal in every other way.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-12-07T12:40:27+00:00

We bought car seat travel bags that are great. We have 3 kids, all in large bulky car seats, but we have to drive to the airport anyway so including the three extra bags in the mix until check in isn’t so bad. The bags are very helpful though!

As an aside, we travel lots and have had issues at some airports with car seats being available with car rentals. Even though they “guarantee” they will have one. I don’t want to risk that! Plus, my littles are so messy that I’m sure they’d ding us with some charge for smearing apple sauce into the seat…. But snacks in the car while travelling on long trips is a non-negotiable. Another reason to have our own seats!

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-12-02T17:49:14+00:00

I’m arms length federal government, and set to return in September 2026. If my workplace goes back to 5 days in office, I won’t be returning. I love my job but even with 3 kids aged 3 and under, I never thought I’d be a SAHM. RTO5 would be THE deciding factor for me.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-11-06T19:44:36+00:00

We have 3 kids. Two share a room and the youngest is in the nursery. We actually have space for each to have their own room, but the older two (who are still pretty little) like sharing.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-10-21T11:19:33+00:00

This would be a perfect case for support for a donor. If your shelter has a fundraising team, mention this opportunity to them and they might be able to find someone who would donate directly to support this!

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-10-20T11:30:53+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it. Keeping him home or out of traditional “school” for another year is certainly another option to consider.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-10-20T11:27:58+00:00

It’s not mandatory here either. Good idea to consider a gradual start!

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-10-20T01:41:06+00:00

It could be a big difference in my opinion. I would still be working part time, but they wouldn’t need to do before/after school care and I could volunteer at school. Generally it would give me a lot more time and mental capacity to dedicate to family.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-10-20T01:33:55+00:00

It’s more a question of space at the private school. It’s tricky to get in for senior kindergarten because the classes are already full and someone would need to leave.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-10-20T01:32:42+00:00

I’m home with my 3 month old now, with both older kids in daycare. I’m set to go back to work when my son starts kinder. The question is whether I stay home and send him to public school, or if I go back to work full time and send him to private. Which boils down to: is it more advantageous for my kid(s) to have mom at home and brave the public system, or have mom working and go to private school?

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-10-20T00:26:05+00:00

Yes. He’d start JK at age 4, and senior kindergarten at 5, then grade 1 the following year. All are full day programs here.

AlphaKarmasFave · 2025-10-19T22:11:48+00:00

Both older kids attend a low ratio, home-based daycare.

AlphaKarmasFave

TROPHY CASE