How do people afford babies?

[Jods14]

His exclusion period lasts until Oct 2013. We have quite a way to go. We too payed off everything. And I'm so glad we did because we would have lost everything by now. We had to downsize our menagerie from a cat, duck and two dogs, to just the two dogs. It was the hardest and saddest thing taking them to the pound knowing they wouldn't be rehoused because they were too old. But I had to do it to survive, but I could never do it again.
I've never heard of Pay it Forward, but I'll go check it out, it sounds intriguing. And I regularly pop into our local op shops for goods, cant afford to buy full price and I've never been one to wear the latest fashions thankfully and tend to choose for comfort and functionality rather than fashion. My partner is always going crook at me because I have so many old clothes that are still OK and thinks I should get new stuff! I'm one of those people who will wear stuff until it falls apart or I grow out of it!

[kath2012]

When I went on mat leave, I reviewed ALL of our bills. I stitched suppliers, negotiated discounts, used direct debit etc to save money. It's surprising how much you can save by doing this. Here are some tips
https://sites.google.com/site/mummie...iew-your-bills

Also, do you or your hubby have time to do online surveys? If so, you can earn some extra pocket money. I've done well with WDYT and Rewards Central (over 6 months I've "earnt" about $150 in cash and giftcards!) Here are some links if you are interested:
https://sites.google.com/site/mummie...a-money-online

regarding maternity clothes - I found raiding my hubby's wardrobe worked At least for clothes to wear around the house.

Good luck!

[Jods14]

I make sure all of the bills that can be taken out of my pension before I get it are. It only leaves car, house and health insurance to pay and rego when it comes up. I'm so glad I do it that way. It would be way too hard otherwise. The others come out as a direct debit, I just have to make sure that the money is there.

I do online surveys and have supermarket reward cards, so as soon as I have enough points I usually cash in for a voucher. And they seem to come when we need them most.

As for fitting into my partner's wardrobe, that would be a sight! It would probably take 3 or four of me to fill his clothes and I don't plan on getting that big! Well not with one anyway. I could probably cut them down and remodel them to make something that would fit me. That could be a fun exercise in itself!

[lil]

I third Freecycle! Kind of like Pay it Forward. People are so generous. I always make sure I contribute as well...makes you feel good too. I don't have all the things others have for babies....dining table doubles as change table (I was given a change table mat thing, so sit that on the table), bathroom (baby bath is a nice height on the table...and bath can just be one of those plastic storage tubs!). I was given a bassinet and cot, I make do with two cot sheet sets (also given to me) and only had one sheet for the bassinet. Baby doesn't care if its sleeping on a muslin wrap or a proper bassinet sheet . I don't use any soaps or powders on the kids, so there's no toiletry expenses, facewashers for bum wipes, and I also try to be a bit creative with toys...an empty sauce bottle cleaned out and partly filled with rice or pasta makes a great rattle, an old sock stuffed with some crinkly packaging and a knot tied in the end gives hours of entertainment, a strawberry punnet was a favourite with DS for weeks! I did spend the money on an Ergo baby carrier, but I do a LOT of walking. You might like to look at using wraps/slings (which can be made at home) instead of a pram, though I'm not sure if that would be possible for you. DD is almost 7 months old and has never been in a pram...and we're out virtually every day walking for a couple of hours. Neither of my kids have been in childcare so we save there as well. I very rarely use the car (easier with two under two IMO!) and playing at the park is a nice change of scenery for everyone as well as allowing socialisation and EXPLORING!! I take a picnic blanket for DD and she plays on the ground while DS plays on the equipment.
I'm also taking full advantage of my time at home and studying which should allow me to work from home in the future.

[Jods14]

Yeah, we will be making do with a lot of the things we have around the house. I got a flannel backed table cloth at Spotlight the other day for $1 and I figured it wouldn't be hard to make a change mat from that, especially since I have lots of wadding in the cupboard that is too thick for quilt making!
I joined my local free cycle, just getting my head around how it works, but haven't posted for anything yet, mainly because I don't know what to say! I'm sure once we start on Bub's room, we will have lots to give away too.
I would like a baby carrier, I think it would be a lot easier than a pram in many situations, especially when grocery shopping and walking the dogs. But I'm not sure how my body would like it. Sometimes with my fibromyalgia just the touch of a sheet can send pain waves through my body, so I'm guessing there would be days where I wouldn't be able to tolerate carrying Bubs for long periods of time. I just wish the only way to find out wasn't having to wait until Bub's is born to try it.
I hope that between now and when Bub's is born I can get things together and make some stuff to sell at markets or online, so I can generate some more money and do things in my own time. Hopefully then I wouldn't have to go back to work at all. Well at least if I made enough to top up my pension. Will have to wait and see what happens there.
It's kind of funny how kids like the simple things, give them a present in a box and they'll play with the box of hours!

[hdenise]

Quite frankly, having a baby was probably a great eye opener for me and a couple of other parents I know from our circles. It was not long when I had very little value for money and how it was supposed to be dealt with and now that I have a 2 year old, I just can't let it get the better of me. It is really meant to be that way and I am sure that even those who are not up for it will come into sense once they have it.