Stupid time to start a family?

Miffi_2

I can't deny it to myself any longer, I am broody! I want to start a family as soon as we can and I know that my husband is eager for us to do so too...however...should I wait until my debt is cleared and we have built up savings, or just say what the heck?!

I want to do everything right, and not worry about money etc, but not really sure how much money we should have behind us before we have a child.

My husband has no debts and only a few hundred in the savings (emergency money), I have my debt and no savings.

Am I mad? The sensible side of me says (it does occassionally speak) that I should wait a year until things are settled financially and then start trying. My heart (which I don't often consider to be sensible) tells me to go for it - lifes too short etc etc...

Any advice would be grand, particularly from those who have recently had their first child - how much money should we aim to put away?

Thanks. Sorry if you think I'm bonkers. I can be sometimes.

lukemed1

Hi there!

looking at your debt it is infact pittance!

if a baby's what you want then go for it!

they don't cost an arm and a leg so do what you feel is right!

good luck and best wishes

Luke:beer:

Emmzi

If you wait until you can afford a kid, you will never have any...

i_am_really_rich!!

Go for it, you don't need huge amounts of money straight away, and they are worth it.................(says she, the mother of a 13yr old girl and a 10 yr old boy :rolleyes: )

I have never been v.good with money and always say that if I didn't have kids I would be rich, but the truth is I would spend the money on something else anyway and always just get by.

hula-hoops

Babies don't cost that much. A few cloth nappies, some hand-me-down clothes and some hand-knitted stuff and breastmilk on tap are not going to make a difference to your outgoings.

Look at my debt - and we are currently in a £10k legal marathan to adopt from overseas.

ZTD

Miffi wrote:

Am I mad? The sensible side of me says (it does occassionally speak) that I should wait a year until things are settled financially and then start trying.

It might be that it takes a little while to conceive. You could always split the difference and go for 6 months time

Miffi wrote:

Thanks. Sorry if you think I'm bonkers. I can be sometimes.

You'll both have to be bonkers all of the time if you want family.

Grumpysally

Emmzi wrote:

If you wait until you can afford a kid, you will never have any...

How true.

However, look at some of the links about raising a baby the money savers way. I know lots of people who spend spend spend on their baby. If you feel that doing the best for your baby is to buy him / her the the most expensive stuff aroung, wait untill you are debt free. On the other hand if you can look at it as a challenge to have a debt free baby go for it. I wish I'd discovered ebay and freecycle before I had DD2. ( 10 years after DD1 so compleate restart )
Good luck

Honeybee_2

I agree with Emmzi, if you wait until you're ready, you never will be.

Although babies are expensive, there's no denying it, there's ways and means around that. I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant with my 4th child and haven't really spent a lot on baby items as I've got most of it from ebay. Same with the older kids, I got my daughter an entire new wardrobe of clothes, all Next, most BNWT for under £100! I use cloth nappies too which are a lifesaver, I've found that they don't leak with explosive poo and after the initial outlay (which again, was ebay!) I didn't need to spend a fortune on disposables.

I say go for it!

Andybez38

You are not saying in your thread how old you both are. :rolleyes:
If you are in your 40's and the OLD man in his 50's then i would be saying Stupid mistake but also if your 18 and him 19 i would be saying stupid mistake.

**purpleprincess**

When is there ever a "right time" to have a baby???

I say go for it, otherwise if you wait for the right time you could be waiting forever!!!

All the best hun xx

CLAPTON

a baby doesnot cost much but the loss of one income can have a huge impact on you...if you are in debt now how will you cope if you dont work for the next 10 years.
i would do everthing possible to clear the debts, to start some savings and to work out a budget for post baby and without your income..and try to live on it for six months.


hope everything works out.