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evrythng4areason
And then there were 4

Member since 1/10 5224 total posts
Name: Kayla
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can i secretly crash for a minute?
fh (!!) and i are getting married this august, and we'd love to start having kids immediately-we're having a short engagement solely for the purpose of trying (shhhhhh)..we're sure we want at least two, but go back and forth on even having a third or fourth-we're still pretty young, but we know we're getting older if we want to have 4...
realistically though, how much more should we attempt to budget for kids, say for the first year?
we'll have no daycare costs, and god willing i want to breast feed..
i know there are a ton of factors, but i'm trying to get ideas of numbers to which i don't know much about..even if they're roundabout fluctuating numbers
tia
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Posted 6/25/12 10:25 PM |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
SummerMom
Now a mom of 2!

Member since 6/07 4970 total posts
Name:
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
Eh. You don't have to worry about it too much. The money you spend on diapers, etc. is about equal to the money you spend NOW on movies, going out to dinner, etc., that you aren't going to do that first year. So overall it works out pretty even. (I'm assuming you have friends and family around who will throw you a shower and help you stock up on baby gear)
You should think about how much time you'll want to take off of work, though, and how much of a dent that will put into your finances. If you want to take off 3 months, think about how much salary you would make in those 3 months and try to put away money in savings so you'll have that on hand.
And congratulations on all this life-changing stuff! It's a fun time. 
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Posted 6/25/12 10:58 PM |
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mamabear
LIF Adult
Member since 3/08 4539 total posts
Name:
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
congrats!!!!
without daycare, it isn't much more. daycare/preschool is what hurts us. for two kids, it is more than my mortgage, taxes, and home insurance combined. without daycare cost, we wouldn't have much of an impact.
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Posted 6/25/12 11:06 PM |
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BeachGal
LIF Adult

Member since 2/10 2827 total posts
Name: J
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
I agree with the above! I stock up when there is a sale because I dont go to the store too often so I spend $50-$100 once in a while to really stock up on formula, diapers, wipes and food so we dont feel it at all. I pay for child care for only 4 days and 1 LO and its more than my mortgage which is annoying but its not forever.
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Posted 6/25/12 11:31 PM |
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nycgirl
Angels!

Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
Diapers, wipes & formula: about $200 a month now that DD is on full formula.
You can get a lot of baby stuff used for almost no cost (and it's really FINE), or even get stuff as hand me downs.
I agree: it doesn't cost that much.
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Posted 6/26/12 8:49 AM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue

Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name: Melissa
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
Formula is expensive but you can do things to mitigate it. And if you are EBF even better(I did for 6 months for one of mine and my other son needed to be on prescription formula for allergies so that gets expensive) Sign up for amazon Mom and subscribe and save for diapers, wipes and formula. Childcare is definitely the most expensive part
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Posted 6/26/12 9:02 AM |
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baby-o
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/08 592 total posts
Name:
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
I know I might be in the minority here, but I don't think that breastfeeding has saved me all that much money. I formula fed DD#1 and am breastfeeding DD#2. If you buy formula at BJS (assuming it's not Nutramigen/Alimentum) it's about $100 a month...=$1200 a year. When I think about all the breastfeeding accessories I had to buy (a pump- $400 right there), storage bags, a hooter hider, breastfeeding bras (close to $150), it's really not THAT much of a savings. And most of the time, people who breastfeed hire a lactation consultant...more $! Daycare is what's going to be your biggest cost.
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Posted 6/26/12 9:13 AM |
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BabyHopes15
Thank you St. G for my boy PJ!

Member since 5/10 1756 total posts
Name: Aim
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
I agree with the ladies...
Breastfeeding saves so much money!
one mani/pedi = container of formula ($28.99 last about a month for my 11 month old)
one haircut = box of diapers ($40.00 last about a month)
If your blessed with loving friends and family, they'll shower you with all the baby items and clothes!
Daycare kills!
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Posted 6/26/12 9:19 AM |
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dlj97
LIF Adult

Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
Name:
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can i secretly crash for a minute?
Really you can spend as much or as little as you want - it all depends on what you want. Furniture can be a few hundred or a few thousand. Clothes can be $5 for a sleep and play, or $50 for a fancy one. It really all depends what you want to spend. Diapers are like $40 a box and we have used a little more than a box a month. I EBF but am a FTWM, so the pump and bottles and all that stuff were still a few hundred. Like others have said, you will get a lot at your shower, and people buy gifts when the baby is born too. Child care is definitely our biggest expense by far.
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Posted 6/26/12 9:41 AM |
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dlj97
LIF Adult

Member since 7/10 4399 total posts
Name:
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
Posted by baby-o
I know I might be in the minority here, but I don't think that breastfeeding has saved me all that much money. I formula fed DD#1 and am breastfeeding DD#2. If you buy formula at BJS (assuming it's not Nutramigen/Alimentum) it's about $100 a month...=$1200 a year. When I think about all the breastfeeding accessories I had to buy (a pump- $400 right there), storage bags, a hooter hider, breastfeeding bras (close to $150), it's really not THAT much of a savings. And most of the time, people who breastfeed hire a lactation consultant...more $! Daycare is what's going to be your biggest cost.
Totally agree. I just said we spent hundreds on all that stuff. Luckily my pump was covered by my insurance company though! Also, there are always promo codes for a free nursing cover, which I got and was fine.
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Posted 6/26/12 9:43 AM |
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maybesoon
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 5981 total posts
Name:
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
Posted by dlj97
Really you can spend as much or as little as you want - it all depends on what you want. Furniture can be a few hundred or a few thousand. Clothes can be $5 for a sleep and play, or $50 for a fancy one. It really all depends what you want to spend. Diapers are like $40 a box and we have used a little more than a box a month. I EBF but am a FTWM, so the pump and bottles and all that stuff were still a few hundred. Like others have said, you will get a lot at your shower, and people buy gifts when the baby is born too. Child care is definitely our biggest expense by far.
Ita
Now the kids are costing $$$$, I have a nursery school tuition, toddler class, and other activities making us go broke The first year is not bad especially if you don't over buy
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Posted 6/26/12 10:01 AM |
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DiamondGirl
You are my I love you

Member since 7/09 18802 total posts
Name: DiamondMama
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Re: can i secretly crash for a minute?
Posted by DavaDay
Eh. You don't have to worry about it too much. The money you spend on diapers, etc. is about equal to the money you spend NOW on movies, going out to dinner, etc., that you aren't going to do that first year. So overall it works out pretty even. (I'm assuming you have friends and family around who will throw you a shower and help you stock up on baby gear)
You should think about how much time you'll want to take off of work, though, and how much of a dent that will put into your finances. If you want to take off 3 months, think about how much salary you would make in those 3 months and try to put away money in savings so you'll have that on hand.
And congratulations on all this life-changing stuff! It's a fun time. 
ITA...we got so much stuff at my shower I didn't even buy diapers until like 4 months. I still don't need to buy clothes, we have a full wardrobe for DS up to like 18 months, and some stuff even up to 24 months! People are crazy generous with babies. DH and I are very social and pre baby we were out every weekend spending $$$ so honestly we really don't feel it (well Im not working so we DO see the difference but it is not bc of baby expenses really more the loss of my salary).
Congrats!!
Message edited 6/26/2012 10:09:17 AM.
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Posted 6/26/12 10:07 AM |
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