'Can't afford kids'

moneysaver12

I am expecting a baby and only my husband works, i am a student at university. I know that things will be tighter when baby is born, with childcare etc but will be so worth it. We can't wait for this baby to be born, he or she is very longed for. As other posters have mentioned you can buy things second hand. I bought a mama and papa cot bed which will last baby till he or she is five for £55.00 and got given a mattress. Instead of buying the nice nursery things that i liked in mama and papa, where curtains were £70.00. We got nice nursery things from toy r us, savings us about £80.00.

I bought a brand new breast pump and got a steralizer from netmums for £15.00.

You can get so much stuff from netmums and ebay that is nearly new and save money.

wildfrog

Also freecycle is great! I had given all my DS baby clothes away due to lack of space but have got a load for new baby off freecycle. There always seems to be lots of baby stuff on there from stair gates to moses baskets.

nm123_2

bugbabe1970 wrote: »

I have a beautiful friend who has been married for 15 years who waited until she could afford to have children, and unfortunately, has waited too long, she is unable to concieve and is devastated.

This is my big fear........

pukkamum

Being able to 'afford' children all comes down to sacrifice.My Dh and i have 2 with 3rd on the way and i have only recently started working part-time (only to help out a friend not because we need the money).DH earns approx £28k a year and we not only survive we do quite well.
We don't own our own house (we will wait until we are done having kids and i am back in full time work) we have a 13 year old car, our last holiday abroad was five years ago (our honeymoon), we go camping every year which the kids adore.We don't eat out, we don't drink.
And do you know what i truly believe i am the happiest of most of my peers, we have no stress,we don't feel the need to keep up with the Jones's, DH has a job that starts and finishes at a defined time (no phone calls weekend working etc) we find our own amusements with the kids board games long walks etc.
Our one indulgence this year has been a national trust membership.


This time with our kids is so short and at this age they don't care if you have a brand new car or holidays abroad or a new kitchen they just want mum and dad happy, relaxed with plenty of time for them.

Bufger

The secret is: never live to your means at any point!3 years ago me and my partner got very good full time jobs and saved 50% of our wages for a deposit on a house. Last year we bought our first house and overpayed into our bills account to have some extra savings. 1 month ago she announced shes pregnant and we're thrilled - we'll have to rearrange the financials but its easily possible.To be able to do all of this i changed from a nice car to an older one bought outright. I went from a £45 per month phone contract to a £15 per month. I sold things i didnt need and bought cheaper versions.The only thing we wont sacrifice is our time alone as a couple. We'll still go out for a meal once a month, we'll still go and have a few drinks with friends or have dinner parties and entertain guests and we'll still have friday nights in with a movie and takeaway. You'll make do, everyone does. Im 25 and its a complete shock - i know it will be financially difficult but we'll manage. (and as she's a teacher she's thinking of being a childminder after maternatity leave which brings in an income AND saves us on nursery fees.)

NEH

continualdiamond wrote: »

As someone who doesn't have kids i can see your way of thinking because myself and OH do the same. Im 28 and he's 27 and we've been together for 10 years this Oct.

We only live in a flat, are on a part repayment part interest only mortgage and are in a DMP. We sold my engagment ring 3 years ago due to OH loosing his job, haven't been able to afford another one or save up for a wedding.

So to us where not stable enough to bring a child into the world, we struggle enough money wise as it is, let alone having to feed a 3rd person. We go months without clothes and then get them second hand off ebay anyway, i couldn't bring myself to be a horrible mum with not being able to afford everything a baby needs.

Might never have kids at this rate, but i guess thats life.

We are another one who wouldn't be able to afford kids...It's not necessarily about sacrifices. I can't always work becasue of a long term health condition (will never be able to work full time again) and husband is self employed.

We know that my health will be one factor that we know in all likely hood we won't be able to have kids but the other consideration is finance.

When you haven't got a steady income and your living in a rental house then it become an issue. Yes we can do without clothes and ceratin foods for months when we have no money coming in but a baby can't. We also because we don't own the house could be kicked out with a months notice, something i dread with being ill never mind with a baby in tow. It's not like we're eating out on are regular basis or having take aways or going to the cinema that we have those to give up.

So i am of the opinion that sometimes you can't afford kids, unfortunately that's life. It's very upsetting because of the health worries that we may never have kids but it's also very tough when you simply can't afford them and you have nothing else you can give up to be able to afford them.