Starting a family of your own is such a beautiful and inspiring experience, but it’s also one of the most expensive ventures you can undertake in life as a whole. There are so many hidden financial costs that you might not have considered, and being ill-prepared for these scenarios can leave you in a difficult situation. It’s therefore important to start planning for a baby financially while still pregnant – or better yet, before that.
But what does this “plan” look like?
If you’re hoping to start a family and want more guidance economically to provide your little one with the best life possible, then keep reading. Below are some of the best top tips to help you begin your journey to parenthood!
Figure out the costs
Before you start trying for a baby, sit down and try to figure out an estimate of the price of each different step to come up with an overall spend. To start, find out the cost of IVF or another fertility treatment if this is part of the process.
Determining the cost estimates for home insemination and IUI (intrauterine insemination) is also a great idea, so you have a general overview of the options that are within your budget.
Then, factor in any other hospital visits or treatments you might need in the run-up to your child’s birth. From this moment, the prices begin to rise, as there are many things the newborn needs to live comfortably in their first few months of life. They will need an almost endless supply of diapers, for starters.
And then there’s the furniture for their bedroom, such as a crib, as well as at least one car seat so that you can safely transport them from A to B with no issues. They will go through clothes like it’s going out of fashion too, as every couple of months their growth will bump them up into the next age category, thus requiring a whole new set of outfits.
Thankfully, there are many helpful resources online that can help to explain all of the different bases to cover. These details will give you a more specific idea of the overall costs you’ll incur as a family.
Make some lifestyle changes
When you have a child, you must make some changes to your lifestyle to better accommodate them and their needs, as their wellbeing is your responsibility. Being a parent is largely about sacrifice, so get into the cycle beforehand by cutting out any non-beneficial money drains, such as alcohol and fast fashion.
Cutting back on your own personal expenses will help you to save enough money to pay for what your little one needs. Then, as they get older, you can begin to introduce these treats back as they will incur fewer costs overall.
If you aren’t ready to make some changes to your lifestyle for the benefit of your unborn baby, then you may want to reconsider whether you are seriously committed to bringing a new life into the world. The decision to be a mom isn’t something to take lightly.
Planning for a baby financially: Your thoughts
What are some other ways to get yourself ready financially to accommodate a new arrival to the family?
Great advice
A lovely post, Christy, but don’t be fooled. They get more expensive as they get older, not cheaper. They are then the ones who want the fast fashion items, cell phones and often help with school too.