Many couples are surprised to find that once all the costs are counted, they are not much better off financially if both parents return to work. This may or may not be true in your case: the only way to know is to sit down and do the calculation.

A simple process that will give you a rough estimate is as follows:

Start with the income earned by the second parent if she or he returns to work.

Subtract:

• Taxes (income tax, social security). Be sure to calculate proper tax rate: additional income puts you in a higher tax bracket, which means that you will pay more taxes.
• Cost of child care
• Cost of clothes required for work
• Cost of commuting
• Cost of lunches at work
• Cost of convenience foods, eating at restaurants, etc. because there is little time to cook at home.
• Cost of additional help (housecleaning, etc.) that may be required.
  

Equals: Net gain from additional person working.

EXAMPLE: If a couple earns $24,000 with one person working, and the second person goes to work part-time for $7,000:

$7,000 Income

Minus -

$1,485 Tax
$2,400 Child Care (1/2 day @ $10/day, 240 days/yr)
$ 350 Clothes
$ 960 Commuting @ $1.40/day (20 miles/day @
$.20/mile, 240 days/yr)
$ 600 Lunches ($2.50/day, 240 days/yr)
$ 300 Convenience Foods/Eating Out
$ 300 Additional Help
------
$6,395

$ 605 Net Financial Gain of Going to Work

Written by Kate Capage