Stupid time to start a family?

pounds_and_pensive

Just think of all those costly night outs you won't have time for any more, all those haircuts etc that will have to go to the wall because there aren't enough hours in the week to make an appointment, never mind attend one. Just think how cheap your wardrobe will be to keep when you've only the time to maintain a few basic no-need-to-iron pieces purchased with their 'this'll hide the milk and spaghetti hoop stains' properties in mind. Don't forget too that you'll have little opportunity to get out there spending money when you're busy tackling three loads of laundry and a mountain of washing up every day

Your kids are going to cost you, but they can save you a bundle too

Snaggles

Hi Miffi - I say go for it too (I just have - I found out this week that I'm pregnant). It's a bit worrying when you sit and think about how you'll cope financially, but you just do.

We found with our first one that apart from the initial outlay on stuff like cots etc, having a baby didn't have a huge impact on how much we were spending each month - I breast fed which saved a huge amount of money on formula, although I did use disposable nappies (going to give cloth nappies a go this time though). But my son just lived in cheap George (Asda) babygrows for the first few months, which are cute and comfortable. He had loads of clothes bought for him when he was born - I asked my parents to buy him bigger sizes, as I knew most people would buy first size, and they grow out of those so quickly, you don't need many. No-one ever really feels they can afford children, but you will find ways.

We have just started a 'baby fund' and are going to sell loads of stuff on ebay, and then put the money aside for baby purchases - that way it's not coming out of our normal monthly income. So I'm now thinking to myself 'Right, how much will I need to sell to afford a new push chair' lol. Breaking it down into manageable amounts makes it a bit less scary.

By the way, if my experience is anything to go by, once you've publicly announced on this forum that you want a baby, it happens very quickly so be prepared!!!

lynzpower

I do agree with Clapton really, if you can live without an income for a while then go for it!

ZTD

Well we have the £18,000 challenge and the £100,000 debt club - who is going to start the conception challenge and the pudding club?

postingalwaysposting

mifi i agree with everyone else, start now, do overtime etc etc and hopefully by the time you fall you would have payed somemore of the debt back... thats if you dont fall first 'proper' atempt :rolleyes:

Mrs_pbradley936

Have a baby and you will manage just fine. Loads of us have, there is seldom a right time for these things. One thing I will say about the expenses is that you do not need to spend a great deal on toys. There is a little boy near me with every toy you can imagine (the parents are very well off, mother is a Fund Manager). I looked after him for a few hours after school because she went to a meeting. He had the time of his life making a camp with sheets from the airing cupboard and a mop and a broom. Then we wrapped pebbles in old quality street papers and made treasure. He has been back a few times and I always insist that he wears old clothes and shoes so that we can go to the forest without his mother having a fit that his £90 T shirt will be dirty. He likes coming to me so much that his mother offered me a job! Children do not need expensive toys, they need someone to interact with and props to fuel their imagination.

calleyw

I would say carry on with clearing your debts and start trying for a baby.

I have a feeling that the average time now is between 6 month and year to get pregnat.

And if you are on the pill you will need to stop and let that get out of your system.

All the best.


Yours

Calley

Wonder_Girl

Go for it! you can get a LOT of things you need from freecycle and Ebay, do you have friends or family with small children that will hand you down things?

Also you state how much your debt is but not how long your going to be repaying it at, it could take a few months of trying and then you have nine months of waiting, where is your debt likely to be at in a years time?

WG x

chloe99_2

i agree with the others - you may as well start now as it will prob be at least 12 months before your bundle of joy arrives.

babies really only cost as much as you want them to, you could try and put by say £10-20 a month from now until you have a baby to pay for essentials like cot/blankets/pram etc from carboot. Breast feeding is the best money saver as formula can set you back something like £30 a month. Cloth nappies aren't for everyone but hey, isn't that what your £60 a month child benefit's for. Don't forget about child tax credits which I don't think is means tested and also tax credits which I think is (there's a link somewhere to a benefits checking website where you could pretend to have little one put in your actual salaries and see what it says). Also there's £500 surestart maternity grant available to most families unless income is really pretty good, whatever you do DO NOT the grant this until after baby is born or else you won't get it!!!

You don't mention your age but if 30 or more I would say don't hang around as you never know when you're time is up!

Miffi_2

Thank you everyone for your replies (sorry I logged off for a while).

My husband and I are both 26 so I know we still have time to start a family, but we are starting to feel more and more strongly about it.

You guys have put my debt into perspective and I think I'm going to really start to increase my debt repayments and put my foot down harder with myself over my spending - nothing like wanting to have a baby as an incentive.

I'm going to certainly keep an eye on ebay and freecycle and we would like to try and have a DFW baby - we are determined to have a go with reusable nappies too...

Anyway, thanks again!