Many families say it's a matter of economics - that's why they have to work. But have you really sat down to figure out how much you are really earning when you go to work? Forget just working for free most of the time for paying for daycare, have you considered the other expenses involved with working outside the home?

1. Take a look at your net income after taxes and other deductions.

2. How much does child care cost?

3. How much do you spend on transportation? - consider everything - bus fare, gas, parking, car insurance, etc.

4. How much do you spend buying lunches, snacks and coffees that could be made at home?

5. How much do you spend on clothing for work?

When you add up items 2 through 5, you'll often find that the total is larger than the number in item 1. Even if it is smaller, is that amount worth having someone else taking care of you children? These are things you have to look at. Perhaps, you only have one child now, but consider if you have more children in the future? Your expenses can skyrocket. It's a matter of deciding what's most important.