cost of having kids?
nick205 - 15/10/04 at 10:15 AM
Morning All,
Something a bit different from my usual line of question!
Me and my good lady are hoping to start a family next year and have been taking a serious look at our finances. I'm sure many of you have faced
a similar transition from 2 reasonable incomes, no dependants and a pretty good level of disposable income.
So my question is how have people found the change to a single income and the expense of children?
Have you got any pearls of wisdom or tips for making the money go around?
Cheers
Nick
marktigere1 - 15/10/04 at 10:36 AM
Hi Nick
I know exactly where you are coming from re: the finances.
All I can say is that with a boy of four and a girl of nearly three, I wouldn't swap them for anything. Even a 7!!!
As for the finances, you manage. We have to watch every penny and budget carefully, but you get by and when you are kicking a footy ball round the
garden and rolling on the floor with them beating seven bells of cr@p out of you, its definately worth it!!!
The only thing that winds me up are people who describe children as a lifestyle choice.
Which in my opinion is Bolox!! If people stopped having kids, then this country will have no one left to work and keep the economy going. So
there!!
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Mark
ned - 15/10/04 at 11:03 AM
quote:
Originally posted by marktigere1
Which in my opinion is Bolox!! If people stopped having kids, then this country will have no one left to work and keep the economy going. So
there!!
ah, but in 60+ years time, the pension situation might get better 
Best of luck Nick, don't forget to practise 
Ned.
nick205 - 15/10/04 at 11:18 AM
Mark
thanks for the positive thoughts, I have to say my feelings are the same!
Ned,
Practising already and the best thing is it's free!
Cheers
Nick
Spyderman - 15/10/04 at 12:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Mark
thanks for the positive thoughts, I have to say my feelings are the same!
Ned,
Practising already and the best thing is it's free!
Cheers
Nick
No it is definately not free!
It might seem like that now, but you will pay for it at some time!
As for having kids, the more, the merrier!
I have four. Ages 8 down to 3. Boy, girl, boy, girl.
They are the best thing I've ever done!
All being close in age means they play happily with each other and look after each other.
It gets expensive at Christmas, but it just means more toys to play with!
Terry
[Edited on 15/10/04 by Spyderman]
David Jenkins - 15/10/04 at 12:50 PM
As for planning your budget - don't get bogged down, 'cos you'll never get it right!
Just go with the flow, don't get silly with money, and you'll cope - just like everyone else!
Good luck...
David
(father of 2, now grown up - the kids that is, not me )
stephen_gusterson - 15/10/04 at 02:02 PM
what a big question!
My kids are 18 and 16. I wouldnt swap them for anything. The older they get, the more like mates they become. In fact my wife tells me off that im not
16, and shouldnt behave or talk like that.
bugger that - im 45 and im not gonna give up quite that fast.
its said that kids are a big expense - and its hard to quantify. We had to reduce our income in the mid 80s to approx 60% overnight. You think its for
a couple years, and then it will get better, cos the wife can work. Its not that easy. After 18 years my wife still has a part time job on crap per
hr, and is studying for a degree to get something better. We got by as we remortgaged several times using up the equity on the house during the 80s
boom. my house went from 30 to 68k in 4 years!!!!! I also have a techical management and design job that makes up for the lack of income on my
wife's side. Its a team effort. Im Theirry Henri, she's sol campbell. One scores more goals but all the fffort counts.
Dont overlook the effect on your relationship with your wife. It has a HUGE effect. You go from a couple with time to yourselves, and I mean the good
private times to having a little bundle that will take up all her time. You, quite rightly, will be second. Women take the welfare and needs of
their children first - its a maternal thing. You have to get used to a 3rd person in the relationship. As they get older, you then end up living with
two adults!
your life will change in a BIG BIG way, not in a bad way, but things will be totally different.
When you would pop out to the shops for an hour, it will take you another hour to get the baby ready, pack all the nappies, feeds, all that stuff.
atb
steve
[Edited on 15/10/04 by stephen_gusterson]
Viper - 15/10/04 at 02:09 PM
If you realy want kids you will afford it simple as that.
I got 3 and and bloody glad i have.
MikeRJ - 15/10/04 at 02:25 PM
All respect to you guys. I always think there must be something wrong with me, I have no desire to have kids at all. I feel knackered all the time
anyway, and I don't think I could cope with the 24 hour attention they need.
I do love kids generaly though, and enjoy looking after and playing with my nephew but it's nice to be able to hand him back to my brother
afterwards.
David Jenkins - 15/10/04 at 02:43 PM
You do have to be in the mood to have kids - or an SO who's in the mood...
David
"in the mood" = "broody"
DaveFJ - 15/10/04 at 04:06 PM
Err.....
Your social life,
Sleep
Designer clothes
Any dream of spending time in the garage
Sleep again - you loose a lot of this!
spontaneity
Your dignity
Your sex life,
Your Beer life
All the money you can possibly ever earn.
But worst of all - your MK ! 
sorry to say it but most end up selling there 2 seater and buying a "family car" - good bye wind in your hair - hello sick on your
shoulder!
So.... would I do it again?
bet your life I would
[Edited on 15/10/04 by protofj]
[Edited on 15/10/04 by protofj]
nick205 - 15/10/04 at 07:28 PM
excellent feedback guys!
I'll get right on with it!
Cheers
Nick
Mark Allanson - 15/10/04 at 07:48 PM
My kids are 19 and 21, both at uni, I have spent in the last 30 days
£2080 in accomodation fees
£148 in transport cost getting them there
£285 in supplies to keep them fed for the next 13 weeks (initial setup, not total cost)
£780 in tuition fees
£180 in lost wages due to time off sorting the above.
Their combined age is 14610 days, at this rate they will cost you £402,057.63. Or £27.51 each per day of their lives. But they are worth every
penny.
Apparently Haynes are bringing out a book how you can do all this for £250!! - must get that book - or do I have it already?
stephen_gusterson - 15/10/04 at 10:37 PM
there is actually a haynes book on babies, done in same style
atb
steve
Cita - 16/10/04 at 05:44 AM
I'm to old to get kids now (nearly 50)but love to have the 2 kids of my wifes brother in the house....and love "the sound of silence"
when they are back with mamy and daddy!
The reason that keeping the kids for a couple of days is stressing is lack of experience and overcaring.
I would'nt like to miss those weekends for a zillion dollars but....i'm glad that i'm the uncle and not the dad.
phelpsa - 16/10/04 at 09:45 AM
quote:
Originally posted by protofj
But worst of all - your MK !
sorry to say it but most end up selling there 2 seater and buying a "family car" - good bye wind in your hair - hello sick on your
shoulder!
All you have to do is get them interested in cars and then (when they're twelve) they'll want to build one for you.
Adam
stephen_gusterson - 16/10/04 at 10:05 AM
having to build a car for your kid consititutes a very expensive kid!
atb
steve
bob - 16/10/04 at 08:15 PM
If i hadnt got married and started a family i would probably have a bigger powerboat and be flying big planes now
all in all my 8 & half year old son is is just tops and like steve says probably wil end up my best mate.
When mrs bob didnt go back to work after maternity leave i was crapping myself,but its ok as others have said you cope and when your partner/wife goes
back to work part time after a the nippers start school you appreciate the extra money more.Just remember to have a nice holiday with plenty of
pampering before you start the family,because you wont be having another one for a few years