Are you ever really ready?

Question

I’ve been thinking about having a baby. My worry is that I’m not financially prepared enough. In a fantasy world I want my debt paid off. I want to be able to provide the best of everything to my child. Not struggle like I did growing up or allow my child to feel that struggle. But is anyone ever fully prepared financially and/or emotionally? Or do we just go through life saying this is what we want now and everything else will fall into place?

Answer

We waited until we'd bought & renovated our dream family home, got married (we paid for the whole thing ourselves) AND my husband was able to support us so I could have a full year off work. I'm pregnant again and won't be returning to work. BUT that's all more him than me. I would have had a baby years ago, when we weren't as financially well off / weren't married / weren't living in our dream home. He's very traditional and wanted to be in the position we are. Also we're both very independent and have worked since we were 15 so we would hate to have to ask our parents for money / get a credit card or overdraft etc. So I think it very much depends on you as a couple.

Answer

I had been with my husband for almost 2 and a half years when we got pregnant. I quit birth control after we were married. We decided months prior that we both really wanted a baby. I had been wanting a baby for a while. Lol. Don't wait for "this and that" or give stupid reasons to delay it. As long as you and your partner are for sure and y'all have steady income, reliable vehicle (s), enough room for baby then go for it.

Answer

I was definitely financially ready (but also live in a country where having children is much cheaper than in the US). I was emotionally ready in that I had dealt with a lot of my own skeletons and had created a stable loving environment for a child. But it was still a violent shock and a huge change those first few weeks with a newborn. It didn’t help that we had to move to a new apartment five weeks in either. 
But I still am glad I am having children later because I got to travel, to establish my career, to be confident I got the right guy to be their father.

Answer

Well, I felt that way and waited until now to have my first.  Sure, my business is established successfully, I’ve travelled, learned activities and fun skills I’ve always wanted to learn, but finally the scary thought that I might never be able to have one when I was ready made me just jump in and do it at 38 years old....honestly I would have never been “ready”.  Now that he’s almost here I’m sooooo ready! And kinda wish I wouldn’t have waited so long because it’s been super tough on my body.  I think I physically would have handled it better at 30.  Also, now I’ll be 50 when he’s 12. 😳

Answer

i think life is a trade off. but it would be better if you had a few plans made prior to a baby. How are you going to budget for medical bills? how much time can you take off? do you have a support system? material things come and go. and babies grow out of them so quick. i don't remember my nursery, crib, or baby clothes. all i remember is the fun weekends with mom and my grandma picking me up from school. Its a lot less stressful when you have some of these things figured.

Answer

I don’t think anyone is ever prepared for a baby. I wanted a baby so bad and then when I got pregnant I freaked out! I was like how the heck am I gonna financially support this baby. You just have to save up as much as you can and budget extremely well. I used to be terrible with my money and a complete online shop addict! I would spend so much of my pay on clothes/makeup things I literally didn’t even need. Once I knew the baby was coming I stepped right up! Cut off the online shopping, cut down on groceries and just tried to save as much money as I can.

Are you ever really ready?

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