Some of my working friends often ask me: “Ingrid Callot, you work at home and still maintain a ‘cyber-army’ of recyclists. How do you do it?”

Image Source: ehow.com

I answer them the same thing: “I guess I’m few of the lucky ones who are both happy and fulfilled by working at the comforts of home.” But not all moms choose to work at home. There are about 5 million stay-at-home moms in the US, and more and more mothers are caught between deciding to have a regular job or stay at home to become full-time housewives and mothers.

It is a generally accepted belief that stay-at-home moms stay at home because they have the means to support this decision. However, in recent years, moms seem to be staying at home because they don’t have the financial capacity to work outside.

Just take the case of Allicyn Willix, for example, who has two little kids, Conner, 4, and Parker, 1. Since Parker was born, Allicyn has been staying at home. She decided to quit her minimal earning job because she can’t afford to pay for day care. "It was the best decision I've ever made," she says.

Image Source: nbcnews.com

Experts say that some families find it less expensive for one parent to stay home than it would be to spend for day care. Staying at home lets you save money on transportation and clothing expenses.

“Women who can’t get good jobs anyhow – maybe not enough to cover their child care costs or maybe not worth it in meaning – are the ones who are more likely to, if they have a husband, make the calculation (to stay home).” — Paula England, sociology professor at New York University.

Image Source: stlfamilylife.com

Are you a stay-at-home mom? Learn more about how you can have fun at home while fulfilling your mommy duties by following me on Twitter.