I too am, SAHM of 2 small kids under 4, we do use light, internet, ac/heater (based on season) and food like crazy but our other costs are down. I have 5 month old and when you breastfeed, woman tend to eat and drink (water) a lot, and still able to lose weight too.

Life will get easier in a few short weeks and your wife can go outside more often. Check out local library for free story time specially for baby in lap, park, mommy’s club all will keep her busy when she is ready to go out.

I am still more comfortable at home, I am not worrying about clean house and work as babies do grow up so fast, believe me. Congratulations again.

Lower electric bill
Only four loads of laundry for the month as opposed to three per week
Less garbage
Lower food bills, etc.

We loved it– but the party ended today . . . they’re baaack!

I didn’t think about travel, but you have a great point. I know for certain it will take a lot more time!

Here’s an unexpected expense some might face – travel! It gets you in two ways. First, you might find that you really need to go see far-flung relatives more often. (I had two elderly grandmothers when our firstborn arrived nearly five years ago. Those visits – 5 hours and 7 plus hours – were mandatory.) Others will come visit you, but if you live some distance from your hometown, it often just makes sense for you to do the traveling. And grandparents might wax nostalgic to have little feet in the family homestead again.

But it can also increase the costs of travel you’d regularly plan. Instead of driving six hours straight, splitting the trip, my husband and I found that we really had to plan to stay overnight at the midpoint. I was too exhausted from middle-of-the-night feedings to be a reliable driver at night; we had to stop more often to attend our kids’ needs; we wanted to maximize our kids’ awake time with cousins/grandparents/friends. So instead of sucking up the fatigue associated with driving straight, we often find that we’re booking hotel rooms. (Babies might sleep straight through – or not – but toddlers? They can bring on a serious meltdown if confined too long.) And flying light is a thing of the past, so you might also find yourself hit with additional luggage charges on a flight. (We’ve managed to sidestep those thus far – but we’ll see.)

Again, let me add my congratulations – they’re worth every nickel! But the travel expenses? They surprised me.

Right now we have plenty of clothes for Emma, but we will be sure to check out Goodwill, Craig’s List, and yard sales when we need larger clothes.

Thanks for the encouragement.