Life after baby budget?

Re: Life after baby budget?

• melodylb member

  June 2009

  I don't have a baby.

  But they cost A LOT!

   

  
  

   

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• Abc15379 member

  June 2009

  Those costs are all relative to each family. It depends on where you live, the cost of supplies, whether you will breastfeed or not, whether you need childcare or not, etc etc ETC.

  If 100 women on here told you what they spend per month on their baby, that will tell you next to nothing about what you will spend. 
  

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• Monkeybuttwhat

  June 2009

  It depends how you diaper and feed. But you never know what can happen (the baby may reject breastfeeding, your supply could tank, etc.) so you need to estimate high and for formula and disposables.

  Let's just say your baby can't do generic formula or diapers for allergy reasons.  With crazy BRU coupon doubling you will spend about $200 a month on formula, wipes and diapers. That is bare minimum. You can do clothes on the cheap consignment or good will. Even doing that will cost you at least $100 every 3 months that is like 3-4 days worth of clothes you will have to wash that often. They grow out of their entire wardrobe every 3 months. The odds and ends. Tylenol, medication they might need, doctors visits, at 6 months $3 in baby food cost ready made or made yourself. So that is an extra $100 a month. By 6 months you are looking at basics being around $350-400 depending on your health ins (this is if it is really good). If it is not you are closer to $500.

  Oh and I forgot daycare because I SAH. But if you need daycare add whatever that is to the $500. My daycare would have been $920 a month.
  

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• 2.red.heads member

  June 2009

  for us the biggest change was having our income cut in half when the baby came and i became a SAHM (DH and I both had the same carreer, same pay). 

  otherwise, i personally don't think having a baby costs all that much.  i shop less for myself now w/the limited budget and baby clothes really don't cost that much.  my MIL loves to shop and is always getting DS a new outfit or new toy a few times a month.  i've gotten some hand-me-downs from cousins and my showers were incredible; got so much useful gear (didn't know the sex, i.e. skipped all the pink or blue).  we can't eat out as much or go to happy hours/nights out at the bars like we might have a few years ago so that money goes farther at the grocery store (speghetti dinner and $6 bottle of wine).  we do get to go out a decent amount but always ask friends or relatives to babysit (we rarely pay a sitter).

  like a previous poster it just all depends (where you live, how materialistic you are....).  when we bought our house we bought it knowing we could afford it on one income.  we only have one car payment at a time, that kind of stuff...

  i'm not gonna lie, it was HARD to adjust for about the first 10 months.  over the last year though it just seems normal.  you get used to shopping in a certain way and going without.  for instance, i try to only go to walmart (or the like) twice a month and to the grocery store about 3 times a month.  i've found that the more often you go the more likely you'll waste money on stuff you don't need.

  i was fortunate to be able to bf for 10 mo. - HUGE money saver to me.  after a few months i switched to 'Luvs' - so much cheaper than huggies and pampers and work just as well.  i've never bought the gimicky 'gerbers graduates' stuff - you can find almost the exact same stuff (like a full can of soup or a big box of 'adult' crackers...) for way less. 

  you just have to be thrifty!  i take pride in a good deal and seeing how i can stretch my dollar.  i'm VERY thankful i don't have to work full time for a while.

  good luck!

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