How much does a baby add to your budget?

FreddieFrugal

I've been making a spreadsheet of our current spending and income. I should say remaking, as I had already done one, but lost it due to computer issue.

We are at the moment trying for a baby. I've added an extra section for what our spending would be like with a baby added.

I havent even tried to work out what it would cost for the first few months as it's so complicated with maternity pay etc. I've just done a sort of average monthly spend for a 1 year old once we're both back working normal hours. (we have enough in savings to keep us afloat for the first few months if need be)

I went for worst case scenario like assumed that we'd be going through nappies at the same rate as for a newborn for the whole year.

Anyway I worked out that (taking away child benefit) it would add £436.50 to our monthly bill. (that would actually, according to my spreadsheet leave us with only pennies to rub together at the end of the month so it's lucky that we never seem to spend anything like as much as I budget for!)

However if we had two children, then despite the increased costs the extra child tax credits would actually mean we'd have more money left over at the end of the month, which is mad.

How much did having your first child add to your monthly outgoings?

Thanks for any responses, it's more out of interest than anything else!

Alikay

I'd say the actual running costs of a baby, rather than the loss of income are pretty small. Once you've got the equipment and the initial batch of clothes, (a lot of which tend to be gifts anyway) it's mainly nappies and food. If you breastfeed, then this will be minimal until 5 or 6 months, formula is around £9 a tin and they may get through a couple of tins a week just prior to weaning. Once you're weaning, it's variable: If you're using a lot of bought baby foods it could get pretty pricey but a few spoonfuls of whatever you're having (salt, seasonings etc adjusted) mashed up don't cost much at all.

Disposable nappies are about 10p each (prices vary according to brand and size) and you'll need around 5 or 6 changes most days - more when teething, poorly or during a growth spurt when they feed constantly (and wee accordingly!). Some people say cloth nappies work out cheaper, but you have to factor in initial purchase and laundry costs....probably the biggest saving comes with a second or third baby re-using them. Wipes and toiletries can add up, but you can spend as much or little as you wish: If you use plain mild products, then you'll use the same ones on your baby, and dirty bottoms can be cleaned with plain water and squares cut from an old towel and boil-washed between uses. Or supermarket basics do the job.

GwylimT

We're going to start trying for our last one in January.

Youngest is currently 2.5, nappies £450 for a set that last from birth to being in pants, also used these for our daughter. So I think upto age two that is about £4 a month if we assume half the cost for daughter and half the cost for son. No food costs until around 12 months old, but that is just small amounts of parents food, so a very small increase, until recently our son was tube fed any solids so that was free.

So monthtly
Nappies £4
Clothes £15
Organix goodies £8ish
Toys probably works out at £10
Toddler sensory £20
Swimming £24 (well thats my ticket cost to take him, he doesn't get charged)
Parent and toddler soft play £6
Library reading group £0!

We don't buy wipes, we use a damp flannel when out, at home a quick rinse under the shower head. We also don't buy any special toiletries or washing powder.

Rambosmum

I'm pregnant with our first, and have done similar to you, except I have done it with mat pay too for the first 9ish months - I worked out that I'll get £1089 per month on mat leave, based on savings, pay, and stat mat pay.

After purchasing the necessary equipment the biggest expense for us will be the extra heating whilst I'm on mat leave, I'm due in January and I can add an extra jumper and sit in a blanket but a baby needs a reasonable ambient temperature, which will require the heating on most of the time. We will be using reusable nappies, which will add 2 extra wash loads per week, plus one extra for baby clothes. I plan to ebf but if that fails formula will be the 2nd biggest expense.

Once I return to work, full time child care will be the biggest expense at £800 per month, at this point we won't have 2p to rub together after bills!

Pre child care I've worked out that it'll cost an extra £180 per month, once I return to work that'll go up to £940 - as we'll use less gas/ electric ect. but will need to pay child care.

FreddieFrugal

GwylimT wrote: »

Youngest is currently 2.5, nappies £450 for a set that last from birth to being in pants, also used these for our daughter.

OH! You can buy a huge set can you? Where from? Where on earth did you store them all? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick.

Oh are they reusable things?

I put £30 a month for nappies!

FreddieFrugal

Rambosmum wrote: »

I'm pregnant with our first

Yay! Rambosmum, we were on the 12 week thread together! I'm glad everything's going well!

GwylimT

FreddieFrugal wrote: »

OH! You can buy a huge set can you? Where from? Where on earth did you store them all? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick.

Oh are they reusable things?

I put £30 a month for nappies!

We just have two sizes, but both sizes can be adjusted, so our small ones go from 0-8ish months, the other size can last until around three years old, by which time most are toilet trained. We have 30 of the small size and 15 of the larger size.

FreddieFrugal

GwylimT wrote: »

We just have two sizes, but both sizes can be adjusted, so our small ones go from 0-8ish months, the other size can last until around three years old, by which time most are toilet trained. We have 30 of the small size and 15 of the larger size.

I'm scared of reusables

Rambosmum

FreddieFrugal wrote: »

OH! You can buy a huge set can you? Where from? Where on earth did you store them all? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick.

Oh are they reusable things?

I put £30 a month for nappies!

We'll be using terry cloth squares with a liner and cover - so far had 12 donated from family and picked up 12 from ebay for £11, plus £8 for some covers, so very cheap. 2 extra wash loads per week will be a few quid I guess- need to work out how much our new machine costs per load!

If you aren't fussed about new stuff then second hand is definitely the way to go. I made a spreadsheet of buying new vs getting second hand, inputting as I've bought and so far we've saved £1300 and got 90% of stuff! (we've spent just over £500).

Alikay

FreddieFrugal wrote: »

I put £30 a month for nappies!

You'll probably spend half that if you use Aldi's own, which are great: 8.5p each for size 4....less for the smaller ones

Pixie5740

FreddieFrugal wrote: »

I'm scared of reusables

What scares you about reusable nappies? Is it because they look like ghosts? _pale_