[Aditya]

Both Parents Work? Should One Stay Home?

In today's economy, there are more and more families with both parents working. This article offers a few things to think about and how to determine what may be best. There is no right or wrong decision; each family has to evaluate their situation and then decide what is best for them as individuals and as a family.

There are many things to consider:

• Do both parents really want to work?
• If one stays home, which one should it be?
• What is future earning potential in current position?
• Which job offers the best benefits and medical insurance?
• Is there opportunity for advancement?
• What are the job-related expenses (clothing, transportation)?
• How much of the income goes for child day care?
• What are the ages of the children in the family?
• How long is the daily commute to work?
• If only one works, what happens if they're suddenly laid off?
• Should one or both parents have some type of home business?

Start with a list of all things that need to be considered for your specific situation, coming up with different scenarios, and then list the pros and cons of each scenario. (By the way, the number of stay-at-home dads is on the increase, so don't hesitate to consider that as one of your options.)