Shortly after our son was born, we scheduled an appointment with our financial planner. We wanted to discuss our options for my 401k, since we’d decided I wouldn’t be returning to work. As we were talking, he asked us what we were doing about my life insurance. I must have looked at him funnily, because he quickly insisted that SAHMs need life insurance, too.
SAHMs need life insurance, too
The thought of life insurance hadn’t even crossed my mind. I’d always just carried the basic life insurance, through my employers, for all of my working life. Throughout my pregnancy with my son, who will be 13 this year, I had every intention of returning to work after my maternity leave was over. Then, he was born with special needs.
We would have to arrange for specialized care for him if I returned to work, because none of the daycares would take him. His skin came off very easily, as you can see in his pictures. So easily, in fact, that the nurses at the hospital advised us not to put clothes on him. He had his first surgery, on his right “popeye” eye at just 7 days old, had to have multiple ointments and creams, and a special tool to pick his nose since that bulb syringe was useless in his tiny nostrils.
We did the math, and I would have only made $20 a MONTH going back to work, as an RN, so we became a single income family. What we didn’t think about, at first, was that I would also lose my company provided life insurance. We soon realized that life insurance for parents is crucial, and that stay at home parents need life insurance just as much as the wage earner does. Not to replace their wage, but because the surviving spouse can’t quit their job to do all the things the stay at home parent does.
We realized that it’s extremely important to talk with a financial planner or an insurance agent associated with a Field Marketing Organization to determine how much insurance we actually need, and what kind, for a stay at home parent. Agents that are affiliated with an FMO often have a wider product selection for their clients, which means that they can better meet your insurance needs.
What You Do Is Valuable
We do carry life insurance on me. While I may not bring home a paycheck, my financial contribution to our lifestyle IS substantial.
As a homemaker it is my job is to take care of my family, my children, and my home. I cannot be easily replaced. Here is just a sampling of what I do…
- parent our children
- play with our children
- teach our children
- read to our children
- referee our children when necessary
- shop for groceries
- plan menus
- prepare meals and serve them
- clean our home
- decorate our home
- wash, fold, and put away laundry
- organize our home (okay, so this is my weakness)
- run errands
- shop for clothing, household items, and more
- provide prayer, first aid, and kisses for boo-boos
- prepare for and entertain guests
- homeschool our children
Nearly thirteen years (and three children later) we know that Hubs would have to hire several people to keep their lives running if something happened to me. He’d have to hire an entire team to make it run smoothly.
We think we owe it to our children to hope for the best case scenario (I am around for a very long time) but plan for the worst case scenario (I leave this earth too soon, and someone else has to meet my children’s needs). I personally think a homemaker is worth his/her weight in gold (that means today I would be worth over $7 million), but figuring out how much life insurance I need could feel like a daunting task.
Are you a stay at home parent? Do you carry life insurance?
Absolutely. Even though I don’t actually bring any money in, it would cost a whole heck of a lot to replace me.
Yes, I am a SAHM and we do have life insurance on me. SAHM’s do SO much more than people give them credit for!!
I absolutely agree. I’m a SAHM, but both my husband and I have life insurance. If something were to happen to me, our daughter would have to go to day care, since the closest family we have is 4 1/2 hours away.
I totally agree. I am a WAHM and if something happened to me, I don’t know what would happen to my family. I pay almost all the bills.
I still carry the policy I had when I was employed. The thought of losing my paycheck when I quit my job was scary, but the thought of losing my insurances was even scarier! I agree that every parent needs to be covered, even though it’s not something anyone really likes to think about.
Yes, you are right and I love you sharing this.
I am so sorry that Mister had to go through all of that. However, I am glad that your family seems to be thriving well today! Yes, I am a work at home mom, too, but the hubs has life insurance on me, thankfully.
We definitely can’t underestimate how much value what we do as SAHM’s has. It would be extraordinarily difficult for the prime breadwinner to do their job if we weren’t handling the home front! Life insurance is vital!
I agree! I wear the hat of many roles, and I know my husband would need the extra money if I passed
I’m lucky to have insurance through my husbands job, but we have life insurance through Genworth and it’s very good price. We’ve had it for years.
Excellent post! It is absolutely vital for stay at home moms to have life insurance. I get life insurance through my husband’s work, but it is not a huge policy. So we recently purchased more for me.
SAHM or Dad’s should always have insurance. If something happens to them, the other parent will still need to hire a sitter to keep working, and the family may need therapy to deal with the loss of a parent.
What a beautiful family, thanks for sharing your story. I don’t have life insurance, but am in the process of working on that. Thanks for this!
This is so true and most of us never even think about it either. Thanks for posting this!
Soo important to have Life Insurance on everyone in the family; great post and your little ones are soo precious … Thanks for sharing
I am a work at home parent. I have life insurance for myself and my kids. I think it is very important for everyone to have even if you think you are 100% healthy.
We have life insurance for the same reasons you do! I think it is always wise to protect yourself.
I was just thinking earlier this week about whether or not my life insurance is enough to meet the needs of my children if something happens to me. I am a single parent and I was seriously considering where in my budget I can find more money to increase what I have, because life insurance is so incredibly important.
I totally agree with you about moms needing insurance. I have been making sure that I have insurance, just in case.
We recently increased our life insurance because I’m a SAHM. I need just as much, if not more than my husband. Great article 🙂 Thanks!
Yes I can imagine being a SAHMS is quite tough of the family and budget, but on the other hand you get to see your kids growing up literally minute by minute.
I’m expecting our first baby in December and have decided to stay at home with her and work as a freelancer as I’m able. Child care is so expensive, and I just can’t bear the thought of handing my baby off to someone else. I feel so blessed to be able to make this choice right now.
We just changed my husband’s life insurance with her due soon and I will call to get quotes for me tomorrow. I hadn’t thought about having to replace me!
I completely agree. Thankfully hubby’s company is great about including me…even though it isn’t as much as if something happened to my husband. If something happened to me my husband works crazy hours and would have to pay for childcare, etc.
I think so many people don’t think about how much a SAHM does for a family. Even though there is no financial contribution, the loss of the SAHM would still pose significant financial impacts to a family.
we absolutely need life insurance. everyone does. losing a loved one is hard enough without added financial burdens.
I agree, we don’t have life insurance yet, but we really should.
I agree that SAHM should have life insurance as well.
I do not have life insurance as well. I however have paid for my furneral, burial, headstone and such ahead of time, so it will not be a burden when I pass. Instead of paying into a life insurance plan, I have opted to put my money into trust.
This is an idea many people do not consider. It is well worth pondering!
I agree 100% and decided 13 years ago to get life insurance. Luckily I was able to through my husband company.
I don’t have life insurance, but I agree…it’s very important!
So so so sweet! Love all the photos you shared!
I’ve been on both sides of the fence. We couldn’t make it on one check and I had to help make some money to help our support our family. Then, we went overseas and I had to give up my job. That’s when I had to get inventive. I decided to do daycare. It helped. I volunteered and and did freelance and when we returned stateside I was able to land a job as a reporter. My social security shows my bumpy work. SAHM not only have to worry about what they’re worth now, but what are you worth when it’s time to get a social security check?
First of all, what sweet pictures of you and Mister! He was so adorable.
As for life insurance, honestly, I haven’t given it much thought. But, you are so right, it would cost a LOT in outside care to replace me and we should really give it more consideration.
I am also a stay at home mom and we recognize the importance of having life insurance on me! I am very thankful for that little bit of comfort.
I agree with you. It would cost a lot to replace me even though the money I bring is a small amount it still helps.
Recently we had a problem with my son’s school and the aftercare program. My husband got so upset he told me I just need to quite my job and stay home so he doesn’t have to go. And as easy as he made it sound my first thought was I carry the insurance on myself and our boys. That is not going to work.
I hate thinking about this kind of stuff….which is why I haven’t really. I’m not a stay at home mom, but I really do need life insurance, my job isn’t the most safe and you never know when it’s time.
So true! It’s something you don’t want to think about, but my husband couldn’t do it all without me!
I am a SAHM ad as much as I don’t even like to have the conversation, I realize I have. I have been told by people that being a SAHM is such a easy job, but it really isn’t. Thank you for posting.
I agree that moms need life insurance too. Right now, my husband only has it since for me to get it, it’s crazy expensive and not in our budget right now.
You make some great points, and I completely agree! I have Life Insurance, and I’m also a SAHM. It’s so important to have that coverage for our family.
Great post! I certainly realize how much a SAHM does, but I never think about the financial value! I might not have thought about getting life insurance for myself!
I say check with your husband’s employer to see if they offer insurance to spouses. Not many do but it’s worth a try.
i am not a stay at home mom but i do carry life insurance through my own doing, not through work, my job does not supply this. i think we all need life insurance if we have kids, i dont think i should leave them with the exspenses of my passing. great post, im going to pass it on
im so sorry you had to go through all this… hope.. things get better 🙂 what a great emotional post.
Hopefully with the new healthcare imitative, stay/work at home mom’s will have access to good and affordable health insurance.
Very important information. Although you may not bring in any money into the household you provide a service that would be extremely expensive to find someone to do what stay at home moms do. .
I want to really thank you for this post. To be completely honest carrying life insurance on myself is not something that I ever considered. Since I am not the wage earner in the house I never thought about there being a financial burden if something were to happen to me. How did we not consider that expenses like childcare would add up quickly without me? This is definitely something we will be talking about tonight 🙂
This is a great post, thank you very much for sharing! I myself don’t think much about having life insurance because i am a stay at home wife. but this post makes me want to have a talk with my husband about it!
Yes, I agree with you 100%. All of those household chores and taking care of the little ones is a full time job.
being a mom is a full time job and we do need life insurance, i dont see leaving my kids with added exspenses
I would agree, as much as I don’t like to think about these things. Our society puts too much value in a person’s ability to put in an eight hour shift, and not enough in their value as a person.