• I left my dream journalism career to become a stay-at-home mom for my children. • I'm now a freelancer, which means I don't earn enough most months to cover my kids' activities. • I'm leaning on my savings to get by, but I don't regret it.

Before having children, I worked as a journalist for years. I loved my job, and after my daughter was born in 2021, I returned to work full time at a magazine.

My monthly salary just covered her childcare fees with little left over. This meant my husband had to cover all other living expenses, with only tiny contributions from me.

When we had our second baby, a son in 2023, something had to change. I couldn't afford childcare for both kids on my measly salary. I was losing money each month.

I became so stressed about finances that I'd cry or sn

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