Hello I think i already know the answer....

Pepperoni

Please, don't do it. You can't afford it - you have debt that you can't repay in full NOW therefore any money you are spending is technically money you can't afford. Thats how I try and look at it.

I'm on maternity leave and I say this with such desperation to you - please do not do it. Do not do anything that may end up jeprodising the time with your baby. You may end up realising that you can't live within your new budget (you obviously couldn't live within your older, larger, budget) - and you may end up having to go back a hell of a lot earlier than planned.

Also, once a baby comes into the mix, you start worrying more. You will worry about this added debt and wish you didn't have it.

You'll be just fine with your current car. People have babies and survive with what they have. You will enjoy walking, and the baby will only be little for a while and then you could buy a cheap stroller which is much smaller and will fit in your car so much easier.

I'm going back to work after 9 months and it makes me *so* sad that I'm doing that because I have debt. If I was debt free, I'd have a pot of savings to get me through an extra 3 months off work. I'll never be able to get that time back. Its so not worth it - nothing you can buy is worth missing out on that.

Baileys_Babe

I have 2 children and have never owned or used a pushchair. I carried them in a sling. Takes up hardly any room in the boot. Also slings are considerably cheaper than most pushchairs.

zenthra

well from what i see you can't afford an 8k car as you already owe 10k! once that is cleared off then yes you can afford it! personally since being on an IVA and selling my car i found it was the best thing i ever did as i save a heck of a lot of cash that otherwise went on running costs.

Happier_Me

Like other posters have said, I would stick with your current car.

There are no guarantees that a 3 year old car isn't going to break down either. Been there done that with a similar aged, low mileage car... It wasn't cheap to buy (VW) and it proved to be the most unreliable and expensive car we have had.