| Did you realize that it's actually costing you to work? | | | | spending each month on office socializing? |
| I'm talking about work related expenses, such as | | | | Convenience Items |
| childcare, work clothing etc. If you're a working mom | | | | Frozen, microwaveable meals, prepared foods from |
| who would like to stay at home with her kids, then you | | | | the Deli and pre-packaged mixes are all wonderful |
| have to figure out just how much money is left over | | | | time savers that many working moms rely heavily on. |
| after you deduct all work related expenses. That | | | | But that convenience comes at a price. In addition to |
| amount (and not your net salary) is what you are really | | | | these convenience meals, you are probably also even |
| contributing to the household each month. And if you | | | | cooking take-out meals a few times a week because |
| wish to work at home, then you need to know just | | | | you're simply too exhausted to cook. |
| how much your home based business must bring in | | | | Last minute birthday gifts, expensive cookies from the |
| each month in order to break even. | | | | bakery for the school play and so on all fall into this |
| The most obvious work related expense is daycare. | | | | category. |
| It's often the biggest expense to come out of the | | | | Shopping. |
| second income of a dual-income family. After-school | | | | Shopping during lunch breaks or because you feel |
| care also falls into this category. | | | | guilty about not spending enough time with your kids |
| Transportation costs probably also take a big chunk of | | | | can also blow your budget. |
| your income. Traveling to and from work and daycare | | | | School Lunches. |
| can add up to a pretty penny. What are your | | | | Preparing homemade lunches is often just an additional |
| work-related transportation costs for the month? | | | | chore that working moms have no time for. How |
| Clothing. Unless you wear some sort of 'uniform' to | | | | much are you paying each month for the convenience |
| work, you will probably be spending a fair amount of | | | | of prepared lunches? |
| money on work clothes each month. After all, you | | | | Then there are other minor expenses that you |
| can't turn up to a meeting with CEO's in a faded 3 | | | | probably never even thought of including, such as fund |
| year old suit, now can you? | | | | raisers, mlm products bought from a co-worker, or |
| In addition to these obvious costs, there are also many | | | | betting on who will win the latest football game. |
| hidden costs associated with working. Here are some | | | | For one month, make note of how much you spend in |
| of them. | | | | each of these areas. Add up all your work realted |
| Office Food. | | | | expenses and subtract that from your income. That |
| Eating lunch out, that morning cup of coffee at | | | | total is how much you are contributing to the family |
| Starbucks and anything else you buy to eat at work all | | | | income. Divide that by the amount of hours you |
| fall into this category. For one month jot down | | | | worked and you will arrive at your hourly wage. |
| whatever you spend on food during the course of | | | | Armed with these figures you will now be able to |
| your workday. You'll be surprised at the amount. | | | | decide if you want to continue working or not. If you |
| Office Socializing. | | | | want to start a home based business you will know |
| Buying gifts for co-workers who are getting married, | | | | exactly how much you need to bring in each month in |
| having babies, leaving, transferring to another | | | | order to break even. Or if you're a stay at home mom, |
| department, retiring and so on are all part of being a | | | | you'll know by how much you need to reduce your |
| caring, friendly co-worker. So are chats over coffee | | | | expenses in order to make ends meet. |
| and occasional drinks after work. How much are you | | | | |