TTC and Money!

Did having enough money play a role in your decision on TTC?
Did you save a certain amount or pay off so and so amount?

I feel you can save and save but will never have enough money, unless of course you are a millionare.

What's your thoughts on this???

Re: TTC and Money!

We were doing OK...would have liked more...We spent every dime we had to finace our IVF after two years of TTC and now we have very little again, but thats what it took and we will deal somehow.

I dont think you will ever have "enough"....

Re: TTC and Money!

Re: TTC and Money!

Money is definitely playing a factor in our plan to TTC. Right now we want to TTC so bad but I don't feel comfortable with starting because of the cost of daycare. Although we could probably swing it, it would be very tight and stressful and we would not be able to save. So it is on hold until July when we can pay off more debt, save more, and hopefully, DH will get the promotion he is working toward which would result in a significant increase in pay!

However, I agree that we will never have "enough" and I will never feel 100% comfortable.

Re: TTC and Money!

i think DH brainwashed me.
For a while, i was so focused on the idea of a baby that i didn't care about anything else- savings, travel, etc. All of the things that i had originally wanted, i threw out the window because i had my mind set (and i tend to be stubborn at times ). I figured- the timing will never be perfect, there will always be something that comes up, etc... And, i do still believe that.

But, while there's no such thing as the perfect situation, i do think that there can be a 'better situation'. We have no debt, very little overhead cost, and an okay amount of savings (i don't think you could ever have too much savings )... BUT, getting PG now would jeopardize both my school situation, and the baby's health (my schedule gets crazy, and i tend to lose sight of my own health), and, being able to bank another years whole salary plays a significant role in the type of lifestyle we'll have once the kids come- we feel like we'd rather start out in the best position possible, rather than just getting by and always feeling like we're trying to play a game of catch up.

also- money aside, and while we don't intend to stop traveling once we have kids, its something we really enjoy together right now, and there's still a few places that we want to guarantee that we see before we take that plunge.

it's different for everyone's situation, and i do still sometimes wish i could fast foward time, and i also worry about waiting and then dealing with IF, as some people that are very close to me have. But, i was also only 24 when we got married 2 years ago, so i think that that alleviates some of the pressure, too.

you and your DH just have to weigh your priorities. If having a baby is the greatest priority to you, then you'll find a way to make it work. Moms are good at those kinds of things

Re: TTC and Money!

You know I think that everyone wants an ideal situation. We are not rich and having two will be tight but manageable. My carefree days of buying Dooney on a whim are gone and you know what I am fine with that.

We have debt-most definitely-with a house you kinda get it.. For both we pay out 650.00 in CC debt combined but they are on 3.99-5.90 fixed rate cards. Luckily we dont have car payments. We both have a 401k . As for other savings-we have a little something for emergencies and will be banking our entire tax return now that we are preggo.

I had an important life lesson when I first started working a few years ago. I worked for a very successful woman who had everything I could hope for but a child. No matter how much property or money she had saved-she couldnt get pregnant-I learned that you can plan for life but life doesnt always plan for you.


Plus I have a weird philosophy-If I die tomorrow there is a part of me that will be content knowing I experienced motherhood-dont want to die but its the ultimate thing i wanted to do in my life so the sacrifice is worth it for me

Message edited 1/21/2007 10:43:45 AM.

Re: TTC and Money!

In some regards the answer is yes. I really wanted the house first. Was it a necessity, no, but it was something I think we both wanted first. I personally would like to see the bills laid out in front of me to be absolutely certain we could manage. I am somewhat of a worry wart. No that we are almost in contract for our first house, I feel much more comfortable with saying "whatever happens, happens."

Re: TTC and Money!

We wanted to pay off our HELOC (we bought almost a year ago and put in a new kitchen and bathroom) and the little credit card debt we had and KEEP it away.

The HELOC will be paid off by March (that was our goal, 1 year); the cc debt has been paid off since last month. Now we just have to be vigilant on keeping it that way

But, to be honest, neither were such grand amounts that we would have not TTC'd, the timing just works out well with when we wanted to start anyway. For us, like neenie, travel played a big part. And not that we will not continue to travel with a baby but we probably won't have the $ as often and the vacation time definitely at least that first year. DH and I each had a place we wanted to visit before. We did his in November; mine will be in April and that's where we're starting

Re: TTC and Money!

our situation is by no means perfect, but we are not horrible off either. dh wanted the house first, and that is no where near close to happening. we started TTC b/c we agreed that if we have a baby, we'll rent a bigger place for a few years then work on the house. since we are 5 months pre-wedding, any money we get goes towards paying down the cc. not that we put anything on cc for the wedding, but we would pay the minimum every month b/c we were trying to save.

and as another poster said, if we have one nw, we'll make it work.

Re: TTC and Money!

We wanted a house first - which we have, and I wanted to have enough $$ saved to have the option to stay home for the first year of baby's life, which we do - now we just need baby!

Re: TTC and Money!

we definitely considered our finances when deciding about ttc, although our financial situation is very cut and dry. right now, with both of us in medical residency, we are in the poorhouse. 2-3 years from now, when we finish residency and go into private practice, we will be comfortable. so if we got pregnant this month, there would be a good year or so where we would have to afford day care on our measly salaries. that is going to suck, but we figure we'll cut lots of corners elsewhere and make do with what we have...