New baby on the way how much extra a week do you spend

duchy

Small babies cost little and child benefit/CTC will cover most of it but the expenses that were mentioned above - constant new clothes, activities etc add up -plus if you both currently work heating bills will shoot up. If you drive will one car be enough or will Mum need a car (a lot depends on local public transport). If Mum is working-where will the money come for her expenses - like clothes, coffees out , petrol or bus fares etc once she isn't earning.

On the upside your food bill is high for two people. Perhaps you should work out where ALL of the money is going now and work out where to save now so you already have a saved buffer in the bank and are already in good habits before the baby arrives ?

Georgiegirl256

jen1301 wrote: »

Oh, don't be so ridiculous! If you've not got anything helpful to say, don't bother!

It's tongue in cheek, not to be taken seriously.

TBeckett100

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Has nobody got a sense of humour?

Clearly not

You either have one or two and do it properly or just fill up a house with bunk beds and find yourself saying "ahh, we're poor but at least we happy".

I'm sorry but if you are worrying about a budget, you shouldn't be having them. Kids cost an arm and leg and leaving off a few incidentals on the list, it's a true reflection if you have a baby girl!

If it's a boy, then it's cheaper to run.

If it's a hairdresser, then it's ballet and football lol

mr_knight

I would say that even if you don't fancy reusable nappies, reusable wipes can save you a fortune. Have a look at cheeky wipes.

Things like bouncers/cots etc can be bought second hand.

At first you will possibly have lots of clothes as gifts and then you can buy second hand.

As other people have said it's when they are older it costs more for things like shoes and activities.

Weaning is easier if you can do baby led so they just have a bit if whatever you have. I weaned my lo earlier so just made my own mush, cheaper than jars (although they are great for emergencies).

I think you can spend as much or as little as you want to.

TBeckett100

Second hand stuff for a new born baby? What a fantastic start.
Oh we couldn't afford to have you Duwayne so here's a life of make do.

When you are 18 and move out, you can buy new, except we've never had money so you'll spend all your income on rent and you'll never raise a deposit.

As I have said, with £20 a week spare, should have got a cat

ViolaLass

TBeckett100 wrote: »

Clearly not

You either have one or two and do it properly or just fill up a house with bunk beds and find yourself saying "ahh, we're poor but at least we happy".

I'm sorry but if you are worrying about a budget, you shouldn't be having them. Kids cost an arm and leg and leaving off a few incidentals on the list, it's a true reflection if you have a baby girl!

If it's a boy, then it's cheaper to run.

If it's a hairdresser, then it's ballet and football lol

Oh dear, chip on your shoulder weighing you down?

Why on earth wouldn't you think about the costs of having a child? Not because you should be aiming to make a profit from them but just because it's sensible!

duchy

Don't be so silly
Nothing wrong with secondhand - It has little to do with making do and everything to do with responsible citizenship. Most baby stuff is grown out of in a matter of weeks - only an idiot would throw it away rather than pass it along. Same applies to a lot of baby equipment too. Good money habits start at the cradle ! Bad examples start there too

TBeckett100 wrote: »

Second hand stuff for a new born baby? What a fantastic start.
Oh we couldn't afford to have you Duwayne so here's a life of make do.

When you are 18 and move out, you can buy new, except we've never had money so you'll spend all your income on rent and you'll never raise a deposit.

As I have said, with £20 a week spare, should have got a cat

TBeckett100

ViolaLass wrote: »

Oh dear, chip on your shoulder weighing you down?

Why on earth wouldn't you think about the costs of having a child? Not because you should be aiming to make a profit from them but just because it's sensible!

How can you profit from a child? Only benefit claimants can do this. More children = more income and larger house. However OP appears to be one of life's workers.

Op, I can't claim child tax credit or child benefit so I don't know a lot about it but are you eligible? You don't appear to have mentioned it but it may help.

In serious reply, with children you tend to live within your means. If you were to sit down with a pen and paper, you'd never afford them but the bulk of society muddles on.

ViolaLass

TBeckett100 wrote: »

How can you profit from a child? Only benefit claimants can do this. More children = more income and larger house. However OP appears to be one of life's workers.

Try reading my post again, I said you SHOULDN'T aim to make a profit! (I'm certainly not in profit!)

TBeckett100 wrote: »

In serious reply, with children you tend to live within your means. If you were to sit down with a pen and paper, you'd never afford them but the bulk of society muddles on.

Clearly nonsense. With good budgeting, plenty of people can afford kids. It's just a case of thinking about the money (which the OP is doing) and considering how many you can afford.

To encourage people to go into it without considering their finances first (and insisting that they ought to buy everything new) is daft and not very MSE!

GwylimT

For us feeding was essentially £0
Clothes, many were second hand from colleagues/family, the standard all in ones we bought were very cheap.
We don't use a pram/pushchair so we didn't have any costs there.
Car seat, for each (2) we had a lay flat baby cot and a rear extender unt four so probably around £300 on each.
Nappies, one bulk set of washable nappies for £250 which are currently being used on our son.
Toys that young babies use tend to be very reasonably priced.
From around 10 months onwards they start trying solid foods, a very minimal cost as they would just normally help themselves to whatever we are eating.
We had the strap on high chairs as they don't take up a lot of room and they're also fantastic if you take them to a restaurant or someone's house for dinner.

All sensible parents should make a budget before deciding to have children, but really children only cost as much as you want them to.