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can i just ask a question
h guys
im just nipped over from the ttc forum and i just wanted your views on this please. we are really wantin a baby but with the state of the economy im just a little worried about how we will manage and its making us think about wheather now is the best time us to have a child with money getting tighter all the time.
any help or experience would be great cause i really really want a family and hubby is pointing out that we need to be careful.
thank you xx
im just nipped over from the ttc forum and i just wanted your views on this please. we are really wantin a baby but with the state of the economy im just a little worried about how we will manage and its making us think about wheather now is the best time us to have a child with money getting tighter all the time.
any help or experience would be great cause i really really want a family and hubby is pointing out that we need to be careful.
thank you xx
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Replies
we got given alot of second hand items which really helped, so depends what your view on hand me downs is. also there are NCT nearly new sales, you can pick up some bargains there, or ebay.
me and oh are in no way rich but any sacrifices we ave made have been well worth it!!
x x
I've found that Harry (5 1/2 months) hasn't actually been that expensive. It works out for us per week as about:
Milk (i can't bf anymore) one tub of sma gold - $7 (my pound sign won't work! Sorry!)
Nappies - one large packet a week - $8ish
Washing - two extra loads a week ish
Petrol - maybe one extra journey as necessity
Food - just mash up veg left over
Clothes - given LOADS ( have loads left over if you have a boy! hinthint lol) So much more than i ever anticipated so not needed to buy any clothes but wouldn't think you'd have to buy very many things at all. Even if you don't get given anything. So i reckon $3 a week MAX
The start up costs (because a child is CLEARLY like a business lol. Sorry for the stupid words being chosen) aren't huge so long as you A don't mind cheaper things, B can have hand me downs etc. C can use ebay! Annnnd.... don't mind unbranded things.
Oh and a relatively spacious seat available in your car lol!
If im grasping the wrong end of the stick just shout.
xXx
if you are sensible, and have a good look at your finances now, you can work out where you can cut back (hols, or type of hols / cars type of car etc).
would you also consider second hand? ebay is a great place to find clothes / prams / furniture etc. you will also find that having a baby is a way to make money for the suppliers - i saw a long (body length) pillow ??50 - never yet come across anyone who had it!! if you look about, you will find many things that are sold that are just not needed!! the girls on here are brilliant for advice on what's good, what's not!
look at the cost of childcare in your area - nurseries, childminders etc, can you afford part time etc.........
you will find you can manage if you do go ahead - there are government grants (sure start etc), plus working families tax credit etc, family allowance. these will by no means pay for your baby, but do help! (if you qualify!!)
it will be the best thing you ever do tho' - a baby beats any car, holiday, house etc!!
good luck if you decide to - but enjoy the practicing anyway!!
no time is the right time to have a baby but do you know what you always manage x its never as expensive as you think and any sacrfices you have to make are so worth it
fea x
xx
We're on our 4th baby now and I still only work part-time, though my mum is brilliant and has the youngest two and our eldest started school last year.
Obviously things will get more expensive as they get bigger but hopefully once they are all at school i can extend my work hours etc.
The most important thing is to make sure you can keep any mortgage payments going if you stop work.
I will say that, THINK about what you ACTUALLY NEED when buying for a baby i bought so many things that i didnt need! and dont overdo buying baby clothes before lo is born. they are my words of "wisdom" lol
xxxxx
I agree with someone who said as long as you can pay your mortgage. Ours is huge and I am having to work full time to pay it. I earn more than hubby so no choice. Nursery costs are going to be huge too. But your social life changes as well. We still go out but we also entertain at home a lot. You also find that when you go shopping you actually stop buying stuff for yourself nd buy for your baby.
Save as much as you can when you are pregnant to tide you over when on mat leave. We also had a mortgage payment holiday too.
What an essay, sorry!
Babies don't have to cost as much as people think if you are carefull. We seem to have more money in the bank now, despite loosing my wages (we put it down to lack of social life now!).