Numbers to gather
- Monthly take-home pay after taxes
- Childcare cost for every child
- Health insurance and benefits tied to each job
- Commuting, clothing, food, and work expenses
- Retirement match and long-term earnings impact
The clean comparison
If childcare and work-related costs consume most of one parent's take-home pay, staying home may be financially close in the short term. Long-term career costs still deserve a separate line in the decision.