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Budgeting for babies?
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Hi Alfietinker,
I hope that you don't mind, but I have moved your thread over to the Families board, where there are some other threads on this subject. There is a particularly interesting thread worth reading: How long to leave it before having children?
Pink
Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [email="andrea@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/email].
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Hey
I would love another baby *sighs*, but am not well enough ATM. Who knows what the next few years will bring. Ive always said my cut off age to have kids is 35 and am just 31-so aint looking to promising..lol. Nevermind.
OH & I were 20 when we had our DD, no money but did have good friend support. DD didnt go without anything and always had food in tummy, clean bum and clean clothesI did use disposables and if I had another would use terries through day and use disposables at night or if out IYKWIM. Babies dont want for much and cuddles are free
Child benefit of £17 pw would get everything you needed and prams/cots/clothes etc can be picked up very cheap or free sometimes from people you know etc. I know alot more now than what I did then and would like to think that I would be more involved, but OH & I both worked FT when she was born.
I wouldnt change anything if we went back apart from cutting back my hrs at work, but being disabled now and not working that wouldnt be a problem..lol.
I think money isnt the main issue when you decide to have kids, I would go more on how close you and partner are and how much stress babies bring, because it doesnt matter how much you prepare to have kids-its always much harder than imagined. Is there family to help out? Do you realise how different your lives will be? Do your friends have kids-if not, are you prepared to not see as much of them (friends without kids dont understand). I dont mean to sound negative.
You sound like you have your head screwed on the right way.
PP
xxTo repeat what others have said, requires education, to challenge it,requires brains!FEB GC/DIESEL £200/4 WEEKS0 -
Sorry, didn't realise this was wrong forum
Will look at that link now
New year, no debt! Debt free date - 02/01/07 :j :j :j0 -
it needn't be a worry you'd be surprised how you will manage the baby will just fit into your everyday life and you will prioritise things more and become more thrifty i am a stay at home mum and have been on a career break now for the last 4 years i have a job if i need it but have managed to cope on one wage so far and it is a lot less than your budget yet we still have a nice holiday and nice things and are happy. it is good fun being thrifty i try to save on everything that is my challenge we have 2 children and the child benefit pays for nappies and things for them,eg of saving: i now go to clarks outlet and get shoes/boots for £12 instead of £28!!!!!do online shopping using ecodes, collect points everywhere!!!etc just make sure youve enjoyed life first cos we dont get out these days but we are very happy!0
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Thanks. I know in my heart it will be OK, or nobody would ever have kids! It's just such a daunting prospect. Especially as at the moment we're used to doing/getting whatever we want/need. We don't have particularly expensive tastes - we go on Sun £9.50 holidays etc (too cheap to turn down
), but to suddenly not have the option is scary. We've both always worked, with our own money, and to suddenly be reliant on one wage is a bit frightning.
But, broodiness is getting worse, and suddenly I keep thinking I'm not bothered about upgrading houses etc.New year, no debt! Debt free date - 02/01/07 :j :j :j0 -
Learning to live on one wage now is a good idea. It gets you used to living on less and you can put the 2nd wage in the bank as a buffer. Tax credits have been mentioned but you can get some idea of figures by putting info in here https://www.entitledto.com Don't know if you want more than one child or if you would wish to/be able to return to work before child reaches school age, but you could work out your budget doing both options. If you do decide you would also like to work,depending on your OHs work hours you could consider weekend/evening/seasonal work. To reduce childcare costs,the term after child turns 3 you can get 12.5 hours funding in term time for childcare.This isn't means tested and is changing to 15 hours sometime in 2007. If you both work at least 16 hours a week you might get childcare help via the tax credit system. If you don't childcare help via tax credits you could see if employer offers childcare vouchers like busybee which are tax and NI exempt for 1st £50 a week sacrificed from salary.0
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lilmisskitkat wrote:Oh and by the way i'm not pregnant lol - just very very broody!
Kate xxx2008 Comping ChallengeWon so far - £3010 Needed - £230Debt free since Oct 20040 -
i dont know if youve ever been a student but if you have this will have put you in good stead for the parenting on one wage!!! although i must admit it is not as bad as being a student so DO NOT be put off!!!what i mean is if you have ever survived the world as a student and know how you did things to save money then it all comes flooding back and so parenting on one wage seems well off!!!!!! you've had adequate experience for anything!!! :beer: even enough for a beer!!! :beer:0
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black-saturn wrote:Would you like to come and spend the afternoon with my 2 daughters aged 11 and 8? This is a fool proof way to stop your broodyness. They are the best contraception ever and they will cost you far more per day than any baby. The paying out seems to go on forever so soon nappies and baby milk will be distant cheap memories.
Lol, thanks for the offer but its about 4 years too late to put me off having kids - my DD is 4and just after she was born i swore i'd never have another but i've changed my mind now lol
Kate xxx0 -
We didn't spend a lot 13 years ago. i bought a pram with a carry cot from a car boot sale. I couldn't believe it was being sold it looked brand new. The carry cot was great as I didn't need a moses basket and when in the house she was always in the carry cot. We bought a second hand cot and my dad repainted it but I did buy a new mattress. Cot bedding was either bought from Knightingales (textiles shop no longer on the high street) quite cheaply, or knitted/crocheted by me, my mum and various great aunties. Both my kids lived in babygos and knitted cardies until they were about 6 months old. didn't buy any fancy baby clothes friends and relatives did that when they were born. As for feeding them I breasfed them and then they ate what we were having liquidised and later mashed. The only large item I bought brand new was a car seat - don't buy second hand you never know what has happened to it. Babies are quite cheap intially - it's later on when they get more expensive.
Forgot to say I bought terry and shaped nappies. They were later used for my other daughter.Books - the original virtual reality.
Tilly Tidying:0
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