Are you scared-financially

Is anyone else not considered to be well off at least a little worried financially about having a baby. Its easier when you are making tons of money but is there anyone else who is middle income or less who wonders about how they will manage but knew you wanted a baby.

My BF confided that they are living paycheck to paycheck with their new baby. She just went off maternity leave but it left their savings depleted since she took 12 weeks.

Re: Are you scared-financially

i think everyone has some sort of financial concerns.

no matter how prepared you are, its never enough. Anything can happen, and what you had saved can disappear like that.

We live paycheck to paycheck for the most part and I wouldn't change our lives for anything. I have been able to stay home part time for the past 9 mths and it has been wonderful.

Re: Are you scared-financially

Petrified...I want to take 12 weeks, but I'm not sure we can do it financially...and I fear between mortgage and day care...there won't be too much left....I guess maybe on some level we're all worried...

Re: Are you scared-financially

Re: Are you scared-financially

I think I am more scared than DH, or at least more than he'll admit. I just stopped working (today's my first day off) and I am SO afraid about getting the bills paid and running out of money.

I even told DH last week that I may only take off the amount of time that is "paid" not the full 12 weeks, that's how worried I am about money.

DH constantly tells me not to worry about it, everything will be okay. He even talks about getting a 2nd job. But I hate that he's the one burdened with that.

Re: Are you scared-financially

how long is everyone taking off, how long do you think is necessary to form tha initial bond with your baby, i am a teacher so i guess i have good job for actually working, i mean ill be home by 3...i dont know, we are def. sacred though...its sad because together we have pretty good income but living on LI is insanely expensive

Re: Are you scared-financially

We have definite concerns, especially considering we just took out a mortgage as well. We have decided to cut back on our luxeries/dinners out etc....so hopefully that will help. Plus, I want to start saving for the child's college funds

Re: Are you scared-financially

Re: Are you scared-financially

Well, it's always a concern. We are doing fine but you just never know. I am not on bed rest but have had to use all my vacation during this PG for "bad days".

So I will have none saved for the time after the STD. I plan on doing FMLA but won't be paid for 4-6 wks. That's assuming I am not going on Bed rest prior to delivery.

It's a lot of what ifs. I may not have a job after I come back. They may decide they can do without me. Who knows? I am also switching career to work P/T (and make more $$) but it takes time to establish too.

That was one of the major consideration for me rethinking the expensive nursery furniture, etc... I have been very frugal.

Re: Are you scared-financially

The maternity leave is what is worrying me. We do okay the rest of the time but $170/week on disability? That's pennies. I just put $35 into my gastank this morning and I only have a CR-V! Ridiculous...

Re: Are you scared-financially

Posted by Mrs. Patticakes

The maternity leave is what is worrying me. We do okay the rest of the time but $170/week on disability? That's pennies. I just put $35 into my gastank this morning and I only have a CR-V! Ridiculous...

Re: Are you scared-financially

We don't make a ton of money and I only made $12,000 last yr because I was out of work for almost 7 months. Looking back I don't know how we did it but we did.

I honestly don't think Andrew costs that much money. He is almost a yr old and I know as he gets older things will change but you get by.

Re: Are you scared-financially

I use to loose sleep and stress out intensely about this.

Talk about curve balls in life! I freelance, as that's the situation I'm currently in. Therefore, if I don't work, I don't get paid. So far, I have this assignement until May 4th. If it ends, so does my paycheck.

DH makes good $, but not enough to keep all 3 of us and the life we've been living. Of course we'll have to make sacrifices, but, I'm happy to do so.
I decided not to loose any more sleep over it and take on the "whatever will be will be".

I will try to seek a full time job after the summer, so we know I could be unemployed for months!!! That's not even the measley $170 a week! I hate that I'm in this situation, and I hate that my DH will be responsible for everything. My saving grace is, we have no debt. Minus my cell phone bill/gas regular stuff, I don't have a credit card bill every month.

Re: Are you scared-financially

I am totally scrared, but my hubby is willing to work his butt off to make it all happen. However if someting were to happen to him...oh my, we would be in trouble. We make a decent income between the both of us, but long Island...well.....in about 4 years, we are outta here!

Re: Are you scared-financially

petrified

Re: Are you scared-financially

I'm not scared, but I know I'll have to watch our finances. I won't be out going crazy shopping after the baby is born.

Re: Are you scared-financially

Not scared but nervous.
I plan on being a SAHM but if we find ourselves struggling too much, then I will go back to work.

Re: Are you scared-financially

We're worried but we'll make it work. The cost of daycare is what worries me the most. The other things we can easily handle.

Re: Are you scared-financially

Re: Are you scared-financially

For my first - it was what kept me BFing for so long. I kid you not. The thought of $100-150 a month in formula was too much for me!!!

Re: Are you scared-financially

Re: Are you scared-financially

Posted by MsMBV

Posted by MsG

We're worried but we'll make it work. The cost of daycare is what worries me the most. The other things we can easily handle.

Daycare is what is killing us too. If DH had better medical coverage i'd stay home, but my job is what provides our retirement plans, 401k for me, aflac, and medical coverage with the FSA. So for me to not work I'd lose all of that

Re: Are you scared-financially

We worry about it all the time...but know that our concerns are what will keep us on track.

We cannot afford for me to take any unpaid leave so after 7 or 9 weeks (depending on how I deliver) I will have to go back to work and DH will take vacation to stay with the baby for another 5 weeks.

We started budgeting and reducing our credit cards so that we can get into a routine and habit of maintaining our expenses - hard but not impossible.

Still we worry all the time.

Re: Are you scared-financially

We worry about it a bit. DH and I are trying to make some wise investment decisions and save as much as we can so MAYBE I can stay home.

I am also trying to get into a small business venture so there can be some kind of income.

Re: Are you scared-financially

DH was laid off for most of last year. He was still laid off when I found out I was PG. We are still recovering from that financially.

We live paycheck to paycheck - we have been working very very hard to get some money saved up in savings - but everytime we do, something happens. We save up for rent every month, so thats a priority. Then the other expenses start piling in...We needed a new dryer... now we need to fix the car... it gets to the point where we say - ok - macaroni and cheese for DH's daughters should get us thru the week... and DH and I go thru saving our food for the week and buying things that wont go bad so it will last longer...

We don't answer our phones because we know they are creditors. We pay less than our minimum payments sometimes.

scary, yes... but I know things will get better one day. I am 33. DH is 43 with 2 kids from a previous marriage and has child support. If we were going to wait until we were financially ready to have the baby, then it would never happen.

ETA: I am not taking any unpaid leave, obviously. And daycare is going to be really difficult. Its the lesser of 2 evils - not working, or paying for daycare!

Message edited 4/27/2007 1:37:08 PM.