Lifestyle changes

So here is my question to you ladies..knowing that you want to have a baby, have you changed your financial lifestyle at all? If so what are you doing?

Re: Lifestyle changes

I should say....are having a baby...

Re: Lifestyle changes

honestly... no... dh and i live a pretty spartan lifestyle as it is because we're still doctors in training and our salaries are less than plentiful...

but in a few months we'll have graduated and our means will become much greater, at which time i think we'll be alot more focused on saving $$ than we would have been if we didn't have children...

Re: Lifestyle changes

I have been trying to save more..but nothing crazy. I figure everything will work itself out.

Re: Lifestyle changes

we've been trying to save more now for 2 reasons.
1- I get no paid maternity leave- only my vacation time saved up.
2- we want to move into a bigger house.
Other than that we probably wouldnt change anything.

Re: Lifestyle changes

I try to save more, but its so hard.. I teach for a non-profit school.. so pay sucks.. have school loans, car loans.. and life bills... so... it's hard.. but like JennyPenny said ITA it will work out!

Re: Lifestyle changes

No, I think our lifestyle has stayed pretty much the same. We weren't big spenders beforehand though so I think that makes a difference.

Re: Lifestyle changes

When I was pregnant with DS my lifestyle did not change, I did however save money for him so that he would have a nice savings acct when he was born. I can tell you ONE thing my lifestyle changed alot after he was born. Once I became a Mom I had no interest in material things or even really shopped for myself (except for necessaties of course). Once I became a mom everything was about DS. I dont even care if I recieve Bday gifts or xmas gifts. Now with #2 I am saving money so we can buy a bigger house and they too can a savings acct when they are born.

Re: Lifestyle changes

My life has changed right now b/c I took an early maternity leave. So we have less money. However, I have more time to do things that help save money, like food shopping with coupons and sales, cooking at home, etc. But we are fine for now, haven't really restricted ourselves too much. Luckily, we are not big spenders, but we like to do what we want.

However, I know that it is important to have a strict budget, which will be hard. We will be facing a perfect storm of finances - new baby, hopefully buy a new house, new car(s) (my car has 165,000 miles). The only way to be sure that we don't turn around one day and say "Where did all our savings go????" is by having a budget. This will be very difficult for both of us, but it is one of my goals.