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the economy is depressing me

BridezookieBridezookie
in 1st Trimester

I hope I don't come off as whiney, but I am having the worst week ever, and the pregnancy hormones are really raging. I can't stop crying. In the past week, a piece of my roof blew off in a wind storm, my car stalled twice in two intersections and is now in the shop, and yesterday my company issued a pay cut to all employees effective immediately in lieu of layoffs. I went home crying halfway through the day! I can barely even watch or listen to the news now because as soon as I hear about how dire the economy is, I start to cry and worry that my husband and I can't afford a baby right now.

Do any of you feel like this is the scariest time (financially) to have a baby? It's my first, so I have no idea how much diapers, formula, daycare, etc all cost. I'm kinda freaking out. Which I know isn't good for the pregnancy. So on top of nervous, I feel guilty for all the worry and tears. I know I should be thankful that I'm still employed at all and that I have a baby on the way! Help! Any comforting words??

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Re: the economy is depressing me

  • JCM052707JCM052707
    I worry sometimes too, but there are things you can do to cut the huge expenses of diapers and formula - cloth diaper and breastfeed.
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  • MrsPreKMrsPreK
    JCM is right. There are things you can do to cut back financially, including buying baby items off of cragslist and second-hand stores. It is a scary time right now for everyone. GL!!
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  • Sept2009BabySept2009Baby
    I feel that same way too sometimes, but then I have to remind myself that when there is a will there is a way.  I know it's going to be a challenge because truthfully we really werent trying to get pregnant, but we are determined to enjoy this pregnancy and our new baby and not worry...not that it will be easy.  I think it helps to know that you are not alone in those fears.
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  • Samantha82Samantha82

    The economy goes through downturns on a regular basis.  It cycles up and down.  This one may be deeper than the ones in the early 2000's or in the 90's.  But while you hear all the scary stuff on the news comparing it to the great depression, many economists do not think it will get that bad and are saying it's a lot like the one we had in the early 80s.  What is different about this one is the media.  They are just hyping it up and making it worse for people.

    We've gotten through all the other recessions, we'll get through this one too.  I was born in the middle of the '80s recession, and my parents made it through ok (and they were college students with no jobs).

    I would stop listening to the news on a regular basis.  Do what you can with your own finances, but try not worry about the economy as a whole right now. 

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  • Michelle110Michelle110 member

    It is scary for everyone, even those of us who have decent jobs. My DH and I both have written down and kept receipts for all expenses for the month and came up with a pretty strict budget. We save as much as possible because you never know when one of us will lose a job, and we cut corners in a lot of places. Entertainment besides renting $1 movies from the local grocery store is out for us, as is eating out more than twice a month. We take our lunches to work every day. I also don't buy things simply because I want them - only if I need them.

    I also plan on BF just as I did with DD. I tried cloth diapers but I found that for me it took more time than I wanted to spend in cleaning them. (flame me if you want) We used generic store-brand formula and diapers, and I bought a lot of clothes at garage sales and second hand stores, especially shoes.

    Write down EVERYTHING you spend during the course of a week or a month, even down to the penny. Compare that to the income that you have and save as much as you can. If you can't or don't want to contribute money to a CD or other account that you can't touch in case of emergency, try looking into putting money into a money market account at a credit union.

    Good luck - and you're not alone. It just takes planning, not worrying, to get through this.

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  • HeyyRedHeyyRed
    I'm self employed and while our economy isn't as hard hit in Canada as it is in the US, the stories we keep hearing from the US are having repercussions here on the spending attitudes of people.
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  • dnewtondnewton

    i totally here you. ?i just posted something similar on 2nd tri and hoping i dont get flamed for it. ?i have been so depressed this week. ?i still feel like crap, my work hours have been cut down to 17, we cant sell our condo and dh's parents are getting divorced. ?

    on top of all of that, i have been feeling really guilty about being pregnant and worry that we wont be able to handle it financially. ?i have been crying for 2 days straight.

    i dont know what to say to make you feel better other than let you know that you arent the only one who feels this way.?

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  • curlywormscurlyworms

    I am so with you on this, we found out I was pregnant on Monday and then yesterday at work we found out we have to go to 35 hour work week. It just really put a huge black cloud on our happiness for a little while. I hope it is temporary and I know it will all work out somehow but I just dont need the added stress and worry right now.

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