Help me budget for baby!

ErikaLynn75

I found out last week that the school I work at won't have enough sections for me to be full time next year. So my salary is taking a bit of a hit and I'm looking at our budget, trying to prepare for when my checks are smaller starting in August. 

FTM here, so maybe this is a stupid question, but what are the major routine expenses we'll be faced with in the first 2 years of the baby's life? (I will be able to go back to full-time in 2 years when someone retires). We've already saved enough to cover the medical bills associated with the delivery, and we have purchased all the nursery furniture and basically every other baby-necessity that people buy ahead of time. I finished off my registry. We have a ridiculous amount of hand-me-down clothes up to one-year sizes, and I plan to breastfeed for as long as possible (I know this isn't guaranteed, but let's assume that for now).

So regular expenses that I need to work into the budget would be:

• Diapers/wipes
• Doctor visits
• Daycare

There has to be more than those 3 things. What am I forgetting? 

KBowen715

Diapers/wipes: about $60/month

Doctors: depends on your insurance, could be $0-500/month, really. Have you already figured the cost of adding LO?

Extra utility costs (you keep house cooler in the summer, warmer in winter with a wee one, plus you use more water for baths/bottles/washing urine off): prob $75

Daycare: average between HCOL and LCOL areas seems to be about $1300/month.

Extra groceries (baby foods, bath supplies, etc) $50-$100/month


When I went back to work after having a baby, the expenses were about $1600/month. You have to figure in extra gas, lunches for yourself at the office, etc. When I stayed home, the added costs were about $150-200/month.

Hope that helps.

KBowen715

And obviously, if you do baby music classes, mommy and me classes, etc., that is obviously extra.

tjkdlhb

Have you considered using cloth diapers/wipes instead of disposables?  Cloth can be done with prefolds/covers for about $300 birth to potty.  compared to about $1600 for disposables.  We will diaper our second baby practically for free (except for replacing 2-3 covers)

If you're breastfeeding, there may be a few minor expenses (pump, storage bags, bottles) for baby while you are at work.

Daycare is our biggest expense.  We live in a low-cost area and pay $800 a month

I save money on shampoo/body wash by using Dr. Bronner's soap diluted in a foam pump.  A litre costs me $15, which I dilute about 1/4 soap to 3/4 water.  I also use it for basic cleaning, and it lasts forever!

Hand me downs are a lifesaver!  You will probably get more hand-me-downs as baby gets older, but if not, second hand stores are great for buying gently used baby clothes.

ErikaLynn75

I'm a teacher, so my maternity leave will basically be summer break. So our budget for our own expenses will likely not change much. We've calculated expenses for the 3 things I listed. I was just afraid I was missing something major.  

At what age does the baby really start affecting your grocery bill? I'd like to breastfeed for as long as possible, and hopefully with my extra time, I'll be able to make my own baby food at first. 

And $75 extra for utilities seems like a lot to me. But probably because our house is small, so our electric/water bills combined are less than $200/month currently. Does anyone have an idea of what sort of percent increase to expect?

KBowen715

Percent may be a better estimation. I lived in a 2,000 square foot house an elec was 11.4 cents for my able mentioned guesstimates.

usernewname

tjkdlhb said:

Have you considered using cloth diapers/wipes instead of disposables?  Cloth can be done with prefolds/covers for about $300 birth to potty.  compared to about $1600 for disposables.  We will diaper our second baby practically for free (except for replacing 2-3 covers)

This! I'm in about $200 Canadian, as I made flats and inserts all out of materials I had laying around the house (e.g. scrap fabric, old sheets etc.) and my MIL serged all the edges for me. I bought covers, pail liners, wet bags etc.

Also, if there is any frugal/free mommy kinda site in your area - start looking there, people give so much away for free. I've barely bought any clothes for this LO and I'm basically covered until 18 months. I hope to return the favour to all those mommies one day

pistolpackinmomma

The "free" of EBFing will only last at most 6 months. You still spend money on BM storage (bottles or freezer bags), pump parts, breast pads, bottles for while you are gone, etc. I would also figure in clothes. In the first year we were changing sizes almost every other month it felt like (he hit 2T by 12 months) so budgeting a little for it each month will make it easier when you do need to go up a size. After 6 months they start solids and depending on how you do it will determine how much impact it has on your expenses. By 8-9 months DS was eating almost as much as us. Now he does eat about the same as I do!

jenb_99

We use nothing but Luvs diapers, Sam's Club generic wipes, and either generic zinc oxide cream or plain generic petroleum jelly for diaper rash, so we never spend more than $30-35/mo on diapering.

DS needs a whole new wardrobe about every 4 months. When that time rolls around, I set aside one Saturday morning and buy almost all of it in one whirlwind circuit around my city's resale/consignment shops. I also keep an eye out for clearance deals at Target and Walmart and stock up on the next size/season when they sell $2 and $3 pants and t-shirts.

The "free" argument for EBF irks me. I only BF for 3 weeks but still spent a dang fortune on nipple shields, pads, and lanolin cream. Pumping was even more expensive. Formula was so much cheaper than both of those for us. We used Sam's Club generic formula, which averaged us about $25/mo. And once DS was on purees, I made my own rather than buying prepared baby food. It took me about 30-45 minutes of active prep work a week, far less time than it takes me to prepare his solid meals now.

If you send your LO to daycare, don't forget to factor in extra doctor visits. SAH kids can still pick up bugs (DS is proof of that with 7 illnesses this fall/winter), but statistically daycare kids come down with more at first.

The necessities -- aside from additional health premium and the up-front cost of safety items like car seats, etc. -- really aren't costing us a whole lot. For us it's the accessories -- toys, books, impulse buys, entertainment, etc. Things we could cut way back on if we absolutely had to. Which we will very shortly since I'm self-employed and plan to take 4 months off with this baby.

Mimaloo

ErikaLynn75 said:

I'm a teacher, so my maternity leave will basically be summer break. So our budget for our own expenses will likely not change much. We've calculated expenses for the 3 things I listed. I was just afraid I was missing something major.  

At what age does the baby really start affecting your grocery bill? I'd like to breastfeed for as long as possible, and hopefully with my extra time, I'll be able to make my own baby food at first. 

And $75 extra for utilities seems like a lot to me. But probably because our house is small, so our electric/water bills combined are less than $200/month currently. Does anyone have an idea of what sort of percent increase to expect?

This is just shitty. In my area summer and other school vacations don't count towards maternity leave. I'd call the Department of Labor if you have any questions - I did and was told that days where you are not required to be at work cannot count towards your leave. Maybe it's a regional thing?

ErikaLynn75

Mimaloo said:

ErikaLynn75 said:

I'm a teacher, so my maternity leave will basically be summer break. So our budget for our own expenses will likely not change much. We've calculated expenses for the 3 things I listed. I was just afraid I was missing something major.  

At what age does the baby really start affecting your grocery bill? I'd like to breastfeed for as long as possible, and hopefully with my extra time, I'll be able to make my own baby food at first. 

And $75 extra for utilities seems like a lot to me. But probably because our house is small, so our electric/water bills combined are less than $200/month currently. Does anyone have an idea of what sort of percent increase to expect?

This is just shitty. In my area summer and other school vacations don't count towards maternity leave. I'd call the Department of Labor if you have any questions - I did and was told that days where you are not required to be at work cannot count towards your leave. Maybe it's a regional thing?

I'm fine with it. I guess if I really wanted to, I could take unpaid time in August, but that would just make my job harder when I did go back, having missed the beginning of the school year. My paid leave is 3 weeks and only covers the first 15 work days after the baby's birth. Then I'm able to take 3 weeks worth of sick time (or 5 for a c-section). But it seems silly to do that when I'll get 12 weeks off with the baby anyway this summer anyway.

Tnpeach

Mimaloo said:

ErikaLynn75 said:

I'm a teacher, so my maternity leave will basically be summer break. So our budget for our own expenses will likely not change much. We've calculated expenses for the 3 things I listed. I was just afraid I was missing something major.  

At what age does the baby really start affecting your grocery bill? I'd like to breastfeed for as long as possible, and hopefully with my extra time, I'll be able to make my own baby food at first. 

And $75 extra for utilities seems like a lot to me. But probably because our house is small, so our electric/water bills combined are less than $200/month currently. Does anyone have an idea of what sort of percent increase to expect?

This is just shitty. In my area summer and other school vacations don't count towards maternity leave. I'd call the Department of Labor if you have any questions - I did and was told that days where you are not required to be at work cannot count towards your leave. Maybe it's a regional thing?



I read this differently, that the majority of the time off is summer. I am a teacher too, but I am taking sick time for the last three weeks of school. School board is not touching my summer checks at all. Entirely possible that I am missing the point, anyway.

ErikaLynn75

Tnpeach said:

ErikaLynn75 said:

I'm a teacher, so my maternity leave will basically be summer break. So our budget for our own expenses will likely not change much. We've calculated expenses for the 3 things I listed. I was just afraid I was missing something major.  

At what age does the baby really start affecting your grocery bill? I'd like to breastfeed for as long as possible, and hopefully with my extra time, I'll be able to make my own baby food at first. 

And $75 extra for utilities seems like a lot to me. But probably because our house is small, so our electric/water bills combined are less than $200/month currently. Does anyone have an idea of what sort of percent increase to expect?

This is just shitty. In my area summer and other school vacations don't count towards maternity leave. I'd call the Department of Labor if you have any questions - I did and was told that days where you are not required to be at work cannot count towards your leave. Maybe it's a regional thing?

I read this differently, that the majority of the time off is summer. I am a teacher too, but I am taking sick time for the last three weeks of school. School board is not touching my summer checks at all. Entirely possible that I am missing the point, anyway.

Yeah, my checks won't be affected at all. Unless LO comes early, my 3 weeks paid will get me to the end of the year, and that's pretty much it. If he comes early, I'll use some of my sick time. I really couldn't ask for a better situation, actually. 

ho11yday

Formula is what got us. We were probably paying $120 a month in addition to our normal food costs at about a year, so o breast feeding helps. Diapers got more expensive by age 2 but the first year was under $50 a month. Just watch sales or shop discount stores.

I havent worried about daycare as DH stays home and utilities because DH keeps it comfortable regardless.

As with our insurance, the most costly thing id was the physical therapy for torticollis and the helmet. Otherwise our visits were between $10 and $80 per visit.

ErikaLynn75

ho11yday said:

Formula is what got us. We were probably paying $120 a month in addition to our normal food costs at about a year, so o breast feeding helps. Diapers got more expensive by age 2 but the first year was under $50 a month. Just watch sales or shop discount stores. I havent worried about daycare as DH stays home and utilities because DH keeps it comfortable regardless. As with our insurance, the most costly thing id was the physical therapy for torticollis and the helmet. Otherwise our visits were between $10 and $80 per visit.

I don't understand how one person says they spend $25/month on formula, and someone else says $120/month. Is there that much price difference between brands?

pistolpackinmomma

ErikaLynn75 said:

ho11yday said:

Formula is what got us. We were probably paying $120 a month in addition to our normal food costs at about a year, so o breast feeding helps. Diapers got more expensive by age 2 but the first year was under $50 a month. Just watch sales or shop discount stores.

I havent worried about daycare as DH stays home and utilities because DH keeps it comfortable regardless.

As with our insurance, the most costly thing id was the physical therapy for torticollis and the helmet. Otherwise our visits were between $10 and $80 per visit.

I don't understand how one person says they spend $25/month on formula, and someone else says $120/month. Is there that much price difference between brands?

DS was on a special formula that cost $30/can. We went through 2 cans a week. I do not know how anyone could only spend $25 a month. Even the generic stuff is like $10/can so without a shit ton of the formula checks and coupons $25/month is not realistic, IMO. If you do have to go the formula route though check with your insurance. So long as the pedi wrote a script and we went through the insuance's mail order deal we got 10 cans of his special formula for $5.

ho11yday

ErikaLynn75 said:

ho11yday said:

Formula is what got us. We were probably paying $120 a month in addition to our normal food costs at about a year, so o breast feeding helps. Diapers got more expensive by age 2 but the first year was under $50 a month. Just watch sales or shop discount stores.

I havent worried about daycare as DH stays home and utilities because DH keeps it comfortable regardless.

As with our insurance, the most costly thing id was the physical therapy for torticollis and the helmet. Otherwise our visits were between $10 and $80 per visit.

I don't understand how one person says they spend $25/month on formula, and someone else says $120/month. Is there that much price difference between brands?

We were buying enfamil and going through 1- 1.5 tubs of formula a week (maybe more, I just don't remember) by the time DS was a year ans before we transitioned to milk (which was its own issues). Each tub cost about $35. That means it cost anywhere between $120 and $200 for formula monthly, especially at the end. (I don't do the shopping usually so this is estimated from when I do it.)

Like @pistolpackinmomma said, I don't understand $25 unless you are using both breastmilk and formula or switched to solids/milk sooner than recommended. (I'm sure there is some other rationale that I'm not considering but....)

(We didn't use generics, though we tried, as DS ended up with a lot more reflux with generics and similac.)

dragossoul84

I wanted to breast feed  but it was a no go with my body my milk just never came in and formula is expensive. Cloth diapers will save you a ton in the long run. Depending on how fast your child grows clothes can be a real expense as well. I went to consignment stores like Once Upon a Child they have clothes that are great quality some times they have never been worn. Over the counter medication like teething gel, baby tyenol, vapor rub, saline for noses, diaper cream, etc. Toiletries for baby as well shampoo, wash, lotion, tooth paste. My son had ezcema and we had to pay a bit more for lotions and such that would sort out his skin for him. Baby proofing is not a regular expense but it can cost a fair amount depending on the house you live in. We have 3 stories so we needed a bunch of gates, outlet, covers, cabinet locks and door knob covers. 

kb2bkk

We made it through the first year with just the bath supplies we got at the shower.  They were on the smaller side, and DD1 got a bath every day.  

As far as food, I made all DDs food (and froze them in Ice Cube Trays), and I didn't notice much of an increase in our grocery bills at all.  Now that she is 2.5 I still don't really.  

ErikaLynn75

Thanks for all the advice, guys! We've already planned for and set aside money for all the one-time expenses (convertible car seat, baby-proofing, breast pump, etc) and we've started stocking up on diapers, wipes, bath items, bottles and anything else we can. I don't want you guys to think I'm a total slacker on finances.  

We've also already put money into a flex spend account to use for daycare and medical expenses this year, so we feel ok about that, we'll just need to re-assess how much we contribute to those in 2015. 

We chose a daycare that doesn't offer half-day care in the infant room, and already paid them $625. So for right now the plan is to keep him there, and I can use my extra time in the afternoons to do things that might help us cut back on our budget, like cooking dinner every night so we don't eat out as much, and making our own baby food, packing lunches, clipping coupons, etc. Luckily the baby will be 3 months old before my checks get cut, so in the very beginning when we're sleep deprived and just want to order pizza instead of cooking, we will be able to do that. After a few months, we will re-assess our financial situation and have the option of switching daycares to someplace that will take him for half days. 

But it's really good to know that breastfeeding can be a regular expense, and that our grocery bill and utility bills might go up immediately. That will help me plan ahead. I think we can accommodate those expenses if we just tighten our belts a little on things like eating out, miscellaneous entertainment items, and making smaller payments on my student loan which we've been paying way over minimum on for a while now.  

I'm just hoping and praying that breastfeeding comes easily for me, so we at least won't have to buy formula! 

pistolpackinmomma

Keep in mind (hopefully you haven't already opened and washed all of the bottles) that baby may not like the bottle you like. We tried a few different ones before finding one DS liked. Then around 8 or 9 months he changed his mind again.

ErikaLynn75

pistolpackinmomma said:

Keep in mind (hopefully you haven't already opened and washed all of the bottles) that baby may not like the bottle you like. We tried a few different ones before finding one DS liked. Then around 8 or 9 months he changed his mind again.

All of the bottles we have right now are hand-me-downs and a couple that were gifted new, but they're already out of the package because they were part of diaper cakes. So we have several different brands, and we will just buy new nipples one at a time until we know which one will work best. 

Mittens14

ho11yday said:

ho11yday said:

Formula is what got us. We were probably paying $120 a month in addition to our normal food costs at about a year, so o breast feeding helps. Diapers got more expensive by age 2 but the first year was under $50 a month. Just watch sales or shop discount stores. I havent worried about daycare as DH stays home and utilities because DH keeps it comfortable regardless. As with our insurance, the most costly thing id was the physical therapy for torticollis and the helmet. Otherwise our visits were between $10 and $80 per visit.

I don't understand how one person says they spend $25/month on formula, and someone else says $120/month. Is there that much price difference between brands?

We were buying enfamil and going through 1- 1.5 tubs of formula a week (maybe more, I just don't remember) by the time DS was a year ans before we transitioned to milk (which was its own issues). Each tub cost about $35. That means it cost anywhere between $120 and $200 for formula monthly, especially at the end. (I don't do the shopping usually so this is estimated from when I do it.) Like @pistolpackinmomma said, I don't understand $25 unless you are using both breastmilk and formula or switched to solids/milk sooner than recommended. (I'm sure there is some other rationale that I'm not considering but....) (We didn't use generics, though we tried, as DS ended up with a lot more reflux with generics and similac.)

I don't get it either.  DS was Formula Fed and we would go to BJ's once per month and spend $300 on formula, diapers and wipes.  Those were the only 3 items we purchased, the wipes were about $20/box and we bought 1, diapers about $35/box and we'd buy 2, so that leaves about $200 that we spent in formula.  He was on Enfamil Gentlease, so it was one of the major brands but not expensive like alimentum or nutramigen or anything like that, it was the same price as regular Enfamil.  And DS has always been average size and not a big eater, so I have no idea...

jenb_99

Sorry, we averaged $25/mo on DS's formula bc for the first 4 months he was also getting breast milk and we were using up samples. I never clarified that. The short time he was exclusively FF (after I stopped pumping and before he started solids, when he was taking about 35 oz of formula per day) we spent about $60/mo on formula. That came out to a can of Sam's Club generic every 10 days or so. But that was the most we ever spent on formula in one month.