How much does a baby add to your budget?

VfM4meplse

Pixie5740 wrote: »

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

Great for the environment (or perhaps not, given the water taken to wash them) but if you are dealing with upto 12 wet and 12 dirty nappies a day - which you can be for a newborn - it's no surprise that parents decide that life is just too short.

duchy

Babies are pretty cheap - going back to the OP the eyewatering costs are childcare as you've mentioned your wife will be returning to work.

I found it ended up nett better to work 3 days a week rather than 5 once I costed in tax, travel to work and childcare -even ignoring indefinables like more takeaways, lunches and more time to shop so more sensible shopping and less corner shop emergencies as well as more cooking from scratch.

zagfles

As other have said the costs are insigificant, other than the loss of earnings or childcare. Clothes are cheap or free, you'll get loads of gifts and hand-downs from people you know and you can buy sackloads of baby clothes for virtually nothing. If you insist on having everything new it'll be a bit more but not really much.

Our spending actually went down - as we were going out less! And socialising in a different way, eg having people round or going round to theirs instead of going out.

It's when they get older they become expensive!

sweetilemon

Oh no I lost my big long post there. I was just wondering what the £436.50 figure included? I will be taking a wage drop on maternity and have to move house to accommodate our baby and things. I have estimated 3k for the initial equipment - pram, cat seat, nursary furniture etc. After that hoping costs will be minimum with a top up of clothes when needed, nappies and toiletries. Hoping after maternity the grandparents will share childcare until they are school age and then my hours will work in. Food costs I'm hoping to breastfeed then just feed them what we are eating.

onlyroz

As others have said, loss of income or childcare costs overshadow all other costs of raising a child.

onlyroz

sweetilemon wrote: »

Hoping after maternity the grandparents will share childcare until they are school age and then my hours will work in. Food costs I'm hoping to breastfeed then just feed them what we are eating.

You need to do more than just hope. I would never saddle a grandparent with the task of childcare unless they volunteered to do it of their own free will, and fully understood the implications.

roses

There are only two toys you need up to the age of 7 months:

- Fisher price jumperoo
- playmat that plays music with a kick pad

Don't listen to whatever anyone else tells you!!

Also don't be afraid of eBay and charity shops for toys. You will save a fortune.

Most people say you will get so many gifts you won't need to buy anything. However I found most people gave cash which I put in a bank account. I had to buy most clothes and toys myself.

pinkshoes

Boob milk = free
Clothes from ebay and some sleepsuits = cheap
Cot, baby sleeping bags x 2, blankets, baby bouncer, play mat, pram, car seat.

I really don't think the baby stuff actually cost me much at all!

The big cost was nursery when I went back to work - YIKES!!

We are having twins this time, so I cannot afford to work ore than 2 days a week when I return, as childcare would be more than my take home pay as a teacher otherwise. DH earns just over the amount to get any additional help, and we live in an expensive area, so money is going to be tight.

duchy

My Mum was happy to look after my son two days a week however two weeks after I went back to work my Dad dropped dead from a heart attack. She had a fear she'd do the same whilst looking after my son and she'd be lying there dead and he'd come to harm. No matter how illogical it sounds -it was how she felt and we had to rejuggle the budget to find two days childcare . Fortunately we had the extra but it just goes to show you cannot rely on grandparents - even if initally willing to be able to do it til the children start school. I have a friend whose Mum was fine with it until the terrible twos arrived and then found it was too much for her.

onlyroz

duchy wrote: »

My Mum was happy to look after my son two days a week however two weeks after I went back to work my Dad dropped dead from a heart attack. She had a fear she'd do the same whilst looking after my son and she'd be lying there dead and he'd come to harm. No matter how illogical it sounds -it was how she felt and we had to rejuggle the budget to find two days childcare . Fortunately we had the extra but it just goes to show you cannot rely on grandparents - even if initally willing to be able to do it til the children start school. I have a friend whose Mum was fine with it until the terrible twos arrived and then found it was too much for her.

Yes, you should never make assumptions about what people are willing to do. Unfortunately, some Grandparents find themselves unable to admit that they're finding it hard running around after a toddler all day, and end up wearing themselves out.

For me, my mum is happy to help out for a few days during the school holidays but I would never ask or expect her to commit to anything more than this. She is a reasonably fit and sprightly 71-year-old, but I think full time childminding would finish her off.