Figure out the amount of money your partner is bringing home every month. This is the starting point for determining whether or not you can afford to stay at home with your child. Track your rent or mortgage, utilities, phone bill, insurance, car payments, student loan payments, food and other expenses that you have every month. These include entertainment expenses, birthday and holiday gifts, vacations, school fundraisers, magazine subscriptions, cable TV, and so on. Be sure to calculate whether you will be able to handle unforeseen expenses, such as a new transmission in your car, or a locksmith if you get locked out of your house, or a trip to the emergency room. Going to work can cost money, even though you're earning money. Make a list of expenses associated with work, such as gas money, parking, dry cleaning, getting a morning coffee, bus fare, and so on. Think about take-out food as well. When you're tired from a long day at work and you don't want to cook, you may be more likely to eat out or order take-out. If both parents work, then your children will need some form of childcare. Daycare can be very expensive, especially if the child is in full-time daycare. The average annual cost of daycare now exceeds in-state college tuition in 36 states. Calculate how much income you would bring in if you were working. Balance this with how much money you'd need to spend on childcare if you were not at home with your child. A grandparent or other relative may be able to care for the child, thus reducing childcare expenses. Figure out areas that you can cut so that you can afford to stay at home. If you regularly get coffee at the local coffee shop, think about making coffee at home and saving $3 every day. If you subscribe to magazines, think about cutting out these subscriptions. A good way to determine what you can cut is to track your spending for two months. Write down everything you spend money on, down to the penny. Keep a notebook with you at all times, or track it on your phone. Tally up your receipts.  You may find that you are spending a lot of money on frivolous things that you don't need. If you are not going to work, you won't be adding to a retirement fund, paying into social security, or contributing to a 401(k). Depending on how long you plan to stay at home with your child, these lost earnings may not last long. But they are something to consider. Also consider that if you step out of the workforce, you may have to restart your career track at a lower earning rate than you would have if you'd never left the workforce. Women especially are subject to lower pay. Unfortunately, not working for even a few years can have a potentially detrimental effect on what you might earn. If your income is very low, you may be eligible for food stamps or other public assistance. Check with your state's Department of Human Services to find out more. For example, the federal government program, Women, Infant and Children (WIC), provides supplemental food, nutrition education and other benefits to low-income families.

Summary: Know exactly how much monthly income you have. Calculate your monthly fixed expenses. Take into account other expenses. Add in unanticipated expenses. Tally the expenses that you'll save if you don't work. Balance income with daycare expenses. Adjust your budget. Take into account the long-term lost earnings. Figure out if you qualify for public assistance.


Turn the burner to medium high heat. of butter and your oil. Melt together. Sauté the mixture for 30 seconds. Sauté for thirty seconds. Continue cooking for 30 more seconds. Cook on high heat until you see oil start to leave the spice mixture. This will take at least three to four minutes.

Summary: Put a deep sauté pan, frying pan or kadai/karahi on your stovetop. Add three tbsp. Toss in bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, red chili and 1 tsp of crushed coriander seeds. Add the onion. Add in the ginger and garlic pastes. Throw in the tomatoes, coriander powder and red chili powder.


Playful biting can be remedied by simple training that you can do at home.  If your dog is showing signs of aggression, however, this is a more serious problem.  Aggressive biting will hurt, much more so than play biting. Your dog will have tense or stiff body language. If your dog shows signs of aggression, you ought to seek professional help immediately. Your vet can help you find the source of your dog's aggressive biting.    Your vet can help you care for any ailments that may be causing biting. Your vet can also teach you how to properly reward or punish behaviors. Try speaking with a qualified pet behaviorist to better understand how to train your dog. With proper training, your dog will hopefully never bite you or a stranger.  However, this possibility cannot be ruled out. It's very important that you keep your dog's vaccinations and paperwork up-to-date in case someone is bitten.  Keeping vaccinations current can help protect the victim from disease. You will have less liability in the event of a bite if your dog's vaccinations are up to date. Keep your dog safe, as many states destroy un-vaccinated dogs that bite. Practice responsible pet ownership.  Never unleash your dog in a public area.  Use a muzzle when in public if your dog is prone to biting.

Summary: Rule out playful biting. Enlist the help of your veterinarian. Keep your dog's vaccinations current.


Pour seven drops of essential oil in an empty 16 ounce (473.17 ml) glass spray bottle. Then fill the spray bottle up until until about one inch (2.54 cm) from the top with warm water.  Use either peppermint, tea tree, citrus, lavender or neem essential oil, as these oils are proven to repel spiders. Try to use a glass spray bottle, as essential oils can sometimes react with plastic. Add a small squirt of liquid dish soap into the spray bottle, then place the top on the bottle and shake so that the mixture is combined. Because oil and water don’t mix, dish soap is needed to break apart the oil molecules so that they can mix in with the water. Spray the essential oil spray on any entry points in your house, including around window frames, door cracks, and any crevices that you may notice in your home. Also spray any corners where spiders tend to congregate. If you are spraying furniture or carpets, keep in mind that the oil may leave a stain. Spot test an inconspicuous area of the upholstery or carpet by spraying and making sure the repellent doesn’t alter its color before using. Natural repellents need to be reapplied more often than chemical-based ones, so make sure that you reapply the spray once a week.
Summary: Combine essential oils and water. Add dish soap and shake. Spray on entry points. Reapply the spray once a week.