Is Your Significant Other Thinking About a Major Job Change – Tips to Ensure There is Still Enough Money During the Transition to Their New Job

Changing jobs is something that most people go through a number of times in their life. Whether the person is looking to switch industries and careers altogether or have moved and need to find a new job, there are many contributing factors to the desire and need to change jobs.

What can make a change in jobs a bit more stressful is when you have a single-income household that therefore depends on that income and can’t survive with a break in between.

For stay-at-home moms who are dealing with their significant other going through a major job change, it can be a stressful time, to say the least. Obviously, you want to be supportive of their career path, but it’s also important to ensure that there is still enough cash coming in. To take some of that worry off and stress off your plate, here are some tips that can help.

Encourage Your Significant Other to Look into Online Learning

If your significant other has been eyeing a major career change, and switching industries altogether, then it may be necessary for them to go back to school. The problem with being a full-time college or university student is that you can’t then work a full-time job, which means no money coming in. This is exactly why online learning can be such a great solution.

Take for example the BS Healthcare Administration online program available through Central Christian College of Kansas. This program prepares students for a career as a clinical manager, nursing home administrator, human resources manager, and many other positions.

Of course, one of the best parts is that there is no need for them to quit their day job in the process. Online learning offers a huge amount of flexibility, and it has multiple start dates throughout the entire year.

Because online learning has become such a popular option, you’ll find a huge variety of courses, certificates, licenses, degrees, and diplomas available, which completely transforms how people traditionally look at higher education.

Don’t Quit Until There is a Firm Offer

It’s also important to be of the mindset that your significant other shouldn’t quit their current job until there is a firm offer for a new one on the table. In other words, don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

It can be tricky to find a new job while you’re still working, as all the job hunting has to be done during off-hours. It also means your significant other may have to take time off work to attend interviews, but in the end, it is the safer way to go about things.

A firm job offer typically includes a job offer letter. This is a formal letter that outlines the job title and description, the salary, who they will report to, and any benefits that are offered. The offer is then signed and sent back to the offering employer.

Re-Work the Budget

Another tip is to take a look at your current budget and re-work it. Sometimes starting a new job can result in a change to monthly income, the health insurance benefits and payouts, transportation costs, and so forth. It’s a good idea to kind of start from scratch with the budget, adding in all the expenses moving forward, as well as the income.

If your significant other’s job change results in a lower income, then you’ll also want to find areas you can make cuts. Typically, things like clothing allowance, entertainment, dining out, and even grocery shopping can all offer some savings.

While you’re looking at the budget, it’s also important to plan out when the various bills are due each month and set a reminder for yourself if needed. Late bill payments typically result in a late fee or penalty fee, which means extra money that you didn’t have to payout.

Look for Work You Can Do from Home

Of course, you can also look at jobs you can do from home to bring in a second income and thereby lessen the blow of a major job change. As a stay-at-home mom, there are all kinds of freelance jobs, and even careers you can do from your own home.

If you're unsure of where to get started in terms of working from home, start by making a list of your skills, education, experience, and what you feel passionate about. That can help make a career path clearer.

Some of the most popular jobs for stay-at-home moms include data entry, customer service rep, a proofreader, blogger, virtual assistant, transcriptionist, online tutor, marketing specialist, graphic designer, social media specialist, or a travel agent.

You may want to look for something that allows you to set your own hours so that you can better juggle work and home life.

Try Not to Dip into Savings

If your significant other will have a break between jobs where there is a period of no cash coming in, it’s tempting to dip into savings, but try to resist as much as possible. Instead, financial experts recommend you plan how to stretch that last paycheck as far as possible, make cuts to your budget, and also plan how you will distribute the first paycheck at the new job.

Even with the best intentions, it still may be necessary to dip into your savings. If that’s the case, try to pad it back up as soon as possible once the money starts flowing in again. At least you will have the peace of mind knowing it’s there for a future rainy day.

Stay Positive as It Can Mean Bigger and Better Things in the Future

While changing jobs tends to be a stressful thing, for single-income families it can be even scarier. With that said, it’s important to keep a positive attitude, take proactive steps where your budget is concerned, look for ways to bring in a little extra money, and keep in mind that bigger and better things are likely in the future. You can do it!