Several moments of financial panic this weekend...

sfitz0711

So I'm going about with my happy pregnancy when I look at my checking account.  And it hits me, oh my God are we REALLY going to be able to afford to have twins?!  How on earth are we going to make it work?  We have learned to do alot with a little, but what a scary thought.

Then I'm looking over our registry at all the things we didn't get and it hits me, oh my God we still have SO MUCH STUFF TO GET.  And then it hits me harder, holy crap we have 18+ years of paying DOUBLE for everything.  How on earth are we going to make it work?  What a scary thought.

Then I'm looking at all the clothes in the closet, specifically the newborn and 0-3 month and it hits me, oh my God there are TWO babies to dress everyday.  They need more clothes!  How on earth are we going to make it work?  What a scary thought.

Ohhh the panic that twins bring...and I've known since 6 wks that they're twins.  eeeeeek I guess it's just the getting closer to the EDD that is freaking me out.

FullersGirl

You're much closer than I am, but I had that same panic for the first time this weekend.  I'd been saying all along "how are we going to do this, how are we going to do this?"  But this past weekend I woke up sweating with my heart pounding literally scared out of my mind, it was like I was a different person. 

I think my husband is clueless about how much it is really going to cost.  We though we were ready for one baby... with a little scrounging required... but SURPRISE!  We got two!!  Ug. 

I feel soooo blessed and I know it'll be wonderful to have two children, but oh my gosh has the panic set-in!!

Temp6313048411121614

Most baby gear is optional stuff that's just for convenience.  I haven't had my babies yet (obviously), but I highly doubt you need 2 of everything, and craigslist is your friend.  Bouncers and swings for example, just get 1 of each to start and just switch the babies from one to the other.  You don't need a tummy time mat, the babies will have more fun looking at you and each other than they will at the toy bars above them.  We already have a ton of baby gear from having DS, but otherwise I'd be going as minimally as possible (most of it just got in my way anyway IMO).  GL, it'll all work out. 

LoveTravel

I try to take it day by day, but not oblivious to the fact that we're going to pay double for 18 years! ha-ha  We must of found out about our twin pregnancies relatively at the same time from looking at your ticker, we found out at 18 and half weeks it was a shocker, but we're thrilled and it finally has somewhat sunk in....ha-ha

I've been getting a few items off Kijiji instead of buying brand new everything for example the bumbo's and I have a friend that had twins that I've been fortunate to buy some clothes and shoes stuff ALL in great condition so it has helped

I was also told that you probably won't need too much 0-3 months clothes as they outgrow them very quickly, not in every case, but alot...so I try to get bigger sizes...don't panick and take it a day at a time

 

carissasmom

But just think, if you were to have 2 kids you would still be paying for everything twice over 18 years.  You're just getting to do it at the same time.  But I do know exactly how you feel.  We were financially ready to have a 2nd and I knew we could pay for daycare, etc w/out worrying.  Then surprise its 2.  I think we have everything worked out but I know everything never goes as planned. 

sfitz0711

Luckily, we are very blessed in that we got the majority of the large important items for our shower (i.e. carseats, stroller).  I'm thinking more along the lines of diaper changing necessities, bathing necessities, the medical necessities.  It just really adds up so quickly!  Like you other posters, we knew we could handle 1 but it was SURPRISE 2!  Ahhh good grief

Rinnie

We were lucky in that we had some stuff that we used from my DD.

Not much but some.

We were also lucky that people were willing to offer to let us use stuff or give us stuff.

We got 2 cribs as DD is still in her's.  And extra car seat.

My girlfriend & her sister have 5 boys between them - I got all the clothes.  Although everything is for different seasons.  Right now I am trying to make it work.  Onie's is what they are living in now - so I just pull them all out.

I have had to buy some clothes and we bought a double stroller.

I also BF which helps a lot money wise.

The diapers & the wipes are what drives me nuts.  I go through a package of wipes every other day.

I am sure it will get more expensive the older they get, but we just try to cut back on take out etc...

omalley

The stress of the financial strain hit me at about 4:00 am the night we found out we were having twins so I understand the panic you are feeling.

I think the biggest thing that has saved us is the fact that we cannot live like we used to - it is physically impossible - No more mid-week dinners out or happy hour drinks or fun weekend get-aways.  We have no time for any of those extra things so that saves us a ton.

I don't know if that will help you are depress you....I think I am depressed now just thinking about that ;-)

kelliwill

I have panicked many times about money since finding out we're having two.  But the reality is that many people do it and many people have two children, we're just doing it all at one time!!  I have already bought things on craigslist (DSNG and car seats as well as a chnaging table), which is not really something I thought I would do if it was just one and I have family/friends who will be throwing me three showers (all seperate loctaions and guests:  One in my hometown, one in my current town and where in-laws are, and a work one).  Hopefully that will help along with if we find out they are girls I have lots of friends who are done having kids and have a ton of girl stuff to give me.  I say, take what people give you, don't get two of EVERYTHING, just the needed stuff, and cut back.  My hubby and I have already started cutting back for when I'll be off work and no more eating out and now living on a budget (something we didn't have to do before).  It all works out but it is certianly scary to think about at times!!  In the end the babies are worth it!!

sara1014

I have the same thoughts.  Fortunately, we were very lucky to have 3 fairly large showers at which we received our carseats, swing, bouncers, cribs, and other large items.  

I stress over the feeding and diapering of them!  I have about a 50/50 shot at BFing due to breast surgery...so I can't rely on that to save money.  

We have discussed that we will just have to change the way we were used to living...which is a given anyway once there are 2 babies here!  Fewer dinners out, really having to plan for a vacation to save money.  

What has helped me is I've been looking at all the cheap/free fun in our city that I had previously overlooked.  For us, year passes to the zoo are really cheap and will provide loads of weekend fun, feeding the ducks by the river (FREE with our stale bread!), our bigger museum has an awesome area for children and I think their membership is also fairly cheap.  So looking into those things that WILL be possible for us to do has helped me feel better.  

 

pea-kay

uh. yeah. ha ha!

it's hard, but you can make it work. we don't make a lot of money, but we do make it work. it does suck when you want to buy a cute outfit, but you can't, because it's not the $, it's the $x3! (or 2, in your case.) if i had one kid, we'd be RICH! ha ha!  (how did i ever think we were broke before we had to pay for three kids???)

MawrtyrB

I'm more panicked at the thought that my DH "forgot" to put me on the Alfac policy so I have no short term disability coverage.  I have a small panic attack everytime I think of the potential bedrest.

Yes Craigslist. I already scored a triplet stroller off of there. I'm on it daily now.

lib1978

I woke up in a cold sweat this morning thinking about the babies and money - it is hard not too! As pp - you won't have time for some things any more - dinner, drinks, etc.  Coupon clipping will be your friend!

 

 

sfitz0711

Thanks for all the responses!

The scary thing is we've been doing alot of the suggestions already- coupon clipping, not going out to eat as much.  I know we'll be fine though.  I'll just breathe through it!!  As long as I don't wind up living with the ILs I'll be fine haha 

kelliwill

MawrtyrB:

I'm more panicked at the thought that my DH "forgot" to put me on the Alfac policy so I have no short term disability coverage.  I have a small panic attack everytime I think of the potential bedrest.

Yes Craigslist. I already scored a triplet stroller off of there. I'm on it daily now.

I have a similar situation. I signed up for short term disability in April 2008.  This happened to be the same month we got pregnant and I was told that any disability related to my pregnancy won't be covered for 10 mos after the start of the policy.  So, the fact that my babies are due 1/6/10 and we will likely deliver in Dec any coverage won't start til Feb 2010 which is when I won't need it.  I'm so angry about it!!

mnj917

The good news is that you'll be so tired and unmotivated that it will take at least a few months before you are physically able to leave the kids to go out.  So you'll save a lot of $$ on that!  My boys are 10 months now and I think we've only been out 4 times since they were born without them.  But, now we are a little more wiling to go out and have an awesome sitter, so hopefully that will change soon!

Also, you probably have enough clothes if you have 5-7 outfits for each - I do laundry all the time - probably every other day or so, and I found that I had plenty for the boys to wear, but I put them in sleepers almost exclusively for the first 3 months or so.  Don't forget to register with Enfamil or Similac - or what ever formula you plan to use (unless you are BF - that saved a TON of $$$!) and you'll get the coupons in the mail.  Also, if you belong to Sam's or BJ's or what ever - the diapers and formula is way cheaper and comes in larger quantities there. 

It was scary, but you know, no matter what - those babies are so worth every single sleepless moment and every night in that you spend.  Life is so much more rewarding when those happy little faces smile at you!  : )  It will all work out and be okay!

Tahiti35

I was scared of this too,  but it worked, I thank Costco everyday for diapers and formula... and also friends of mine who let me borrow a lot of baby stuff oh and a very nice shower in which I got a ton of stuff.   

Not being able to go out and do things does save a lot of money too, hang in there,  it will all work out because it has too!