Curious... Cost of Baby??

Question

I'm just reaching out into a community where options are safely expressed.... How much money does it really take to raise a baby? I'm worried that I'll never be financially prepared for a child.... My husband & I both have great jobs and we have a GREAT income, but I'm so afraid the cost of raising a child would be too much to handle. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? How expensive it is really to raise a baby?

Answer

They say about $10,000 a year while they are little. Here's the thing though, you aren't paying it all at once. Is anyone truly 100% ready for a baby though? What I really hate is when everyone says make sure all your debts are paid off before having a child. I have a $30,000 student loan. By the time that's completely paid off I'll be in my 40s at least.

Answer

Honestly there's never a good time. Just do it if you have a stable life. Sure its a little expensive but if you have a good job it wont be that bad. The supplies like crib, car seat, etc are one time purchases and then the stuff that gets expensive is the diapers, wipes, and milk.

Answer

I mean it's expensive idk how to really put a monetary value on it. Would your breast feed or bittle feed because formula is about 15 a can and I use about 9 a month so that's roughly 150 a month. Then I have daycare that's about another 700 a month plus their health insurance, clothes, furniture, the hospital stay itself and then they grow up and need more health care dental work, maybe your kid will need braces? Are you saving for their college or not? Will you buy them their first car or not? Do you want your child in extra curricular activities? And then what if, God forbid, your child has health issues...so yes it's expensive as hell. Will you ever truly be financially able? Probably not but you'll manage like the rest of us

Answer

I'll say this you can never be finically stable because you have no idea what needs your baby may or may not have. You just need to make sure you can afford the usual diapers wipes blankets clothes ect.

Answer

It really depends on how much you choose to spend....you could spend 50-100k if you really wanted to.  I'm frugal....i buy disposable diapers with coupons, cloth diaper at home, breast feed 98% of the time.....and buy gently used clothes and such.....i would say a baby can cost as much as you want or as little as you want.....the most expensive part of raising a child is Dr. Bills and daycare if parents are working...and remember things can be used from child to child.....just remember a car seat is best new and always watch for recalls on any baby items!

Answer

Just keep in mind, there are ALWAYS ways to curb the costs. Like....Don't buy new. Baby stuff is expensive, yes. But instead of paying 35-50 bucks for that bumbo seat, buy one used. My friend find one at a garage sale for two bucks.

Use what you already have. Search for deals. I got my rock-and-play and my car seat both at half price, NEW, because....They discontinued the style. I don't give a crap if stuff matches, I just need it to hold up to spitup and use!

My crib came from a neighbor whose daughter never even used it. My pack-and-play, tummy time playmat, bouncer, and high chair came from craigslist and Facebook trade pages at a quarter to a third of the price, and still in great condition.

Just don't buy into the consumerism BS that is the baby industry and you will but sound nearly that much. Your biggest expenses will be diapers, formula if you need it, and daycare.

Answer

I read a report and it said $200,000 from birth through college. But no one is ready we would be extinct if everyone waited. You just figure a way out

Answer

It depends on so many different things, like how much daycare costs in your area (assuming you keep your job), if you breastfeed or use formula, if you cloth diaper or don't, if you can restrain from buying all the cute stuff they don't really need. I'd say if you're pretty stable in your life/jobs and you're both ready, it's a good time.

Curious... Cost of Baby??

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