Someone told me you are NEVER ready, but did you have a baby a little too soon? Were you able to pull things together before the baby arrived?
2006-12-28 05:40:59 · 31 answers · asked by Sweet Belly 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
yes!
my husband and i had JUST gotten married and literally had our son 9 months later. we are convinced he was conceived on our wedding night!
we were so unprepared for a baby. my husband is a sgt in the marine corps and so, i had to move to where he was stationed. that meant money to move, quitting my job and helping to pay the bills until i found a job. i found a job, but it didn't pay nearly what i was worth, but i took it b/c i didn't want to be majorly pregnant and still in need of a job.
we managed with a tight budget and didn't have a lot of extras. we didn't eat out very much at all and didn't really buy clothes or anything except for maternity clothes for me.
the hardest part was when i was off work for 3 months. that was rough, but we got through it and now i am making more money, my husband just got a pay increase and we will be doing just fine by about march or april of next year.
i would say that as long as together your income is at least $40,000/yr you should be able to get by and maybe even save a little.
even though we had some rough spots i don't regret having him when we did. i wouldn't change a thing b/c he is totally provided for and happy and healthy. we are such a happy little family and i wouldn't change anything.
"they" are right...you are never truly "ready" for a baby, but i definitely want to plan the next one.
take care:)
2006-12-28 05:52:58 · answer #1 · answered by joey322 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I did .. I was only 18 when I found out I was pregnant. Thanks from wonderful friends and family members who donated a crib etc we pulled things off incredibly well. I would not suggest having a child before you are prepared financially but after it happens then kudos to you if you settle down and do what you have to do. I am 22 now with a 3 yr old and also a 10 month old. I am proud to say things pulled together so nicely that we are even stable enough for me to be able to stay home with both of my boys... something I thought I would never be able to do a couple of years ago! And you are right they do say that you are never financially ready. Just make sure that the bills can be paid! As long as you can provide food and a roof over their head the only other thing they NEED is love.. lots and lots of love!
2006-12-28 05:48:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We had our first child before we were married. I was unemployed and my fiance was working at an $8/hr job. His parents helped us out some and I miraculously got a job at 6 mos pregnant so things were tight but started getting better. By the time our 2nd child was born 4-1/2 yrs later, we were married and owned a home. During that time my husband was going to engineering school full-time and working part-time while I was working full-time at a good job that was able to support the family. Two years later he graduated from school and I became a full-time mom. We now have 4 children ages 12,7,5,and 2 and live a blessed life. I think that having a baby a little too soon encourages you to do better than you may have if you were on your own.
2006-12-28 06:31:28 · answer #3 · answered by J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always told my friends and family that my husband and I were waiting to get pregnant until we were financially ready. But, of course, we got pregnant unexpectedly and here comes baby! Were we financially ready? No. Did we make ends meet? Yes. Ask your doctor about a monthly payment plan for what your labor and delivery costs (not covered by insurance) and pay it before you have the baby. My OB not only provided it, they required it and it really help us manage all the hospital bills effectively after our bundle was brought home. Start saving now for little things like co-pays and medications. Ask for more practical things at your shower like diapers, special laundry detergents, and formula (or storage bags for breastmilk.) These are the little day to day things that are hard on the wallett. Most importantly, don't stress too hard over money. Money problems are the #1 cause of divorce in America. Enjoy your little one and don't be afraid to ask family and friends for help. You will make it through, no matter how hard you think you have it.
2006-12-28 06:07:40 · answer #4 · answered by dinade82 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I got pregnant, my husband and I were both laid off from the same company. Then, my husband got a job paying $25 in California, so we moved. One week after the baby was born, the job ended and he was laid off again. So we moved back to Oregon, stayed with family, he got a new job, and we moved into our own place. It has taken this long to even get remotely caught up and we are still struggling! I don;t think that we will be financially ready until the baby starts school and we can both work full time! Good luck! =)
2006-12-28 06:30:34 · answer #5 · answered by kendalandsam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. You are NEVER ready. Hubby and I got pregnant at 17 and 19. He made only 8.36 an hour and I couldn't work because I had to finish high school. It was rough. But we did it. I look back now and wonder how we were able to buy diapers and food and still pay our rent and utilities. We were not on any government assistance and we did it. Somehow you find a way. And in the end, you don't even see any extra money gone for the baby. It is amazing.
2006-12-28 05:44:25 · answer #6 · answered by Mrs. Always Right 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We were in no way financially ready. My boyfriend and I had both gone through a long period of unemployment during 2001-2002 when jobs were scarce. Neither of us had a penny in savings and to make it worse, I was laid off two weeks before my son was born. Nonetheless, we managed to stay home with our son until he was 14 months old (I was home for the first 7 months, my boyfriend the second). Somehow we got through it and we're are much more solvent today (our son is two).
There are a multitude of ways to ease the financial burden. We live in Los Angeles and there is healthcare for children of families that don't qualify for government assistance, yet don't make enough to afford healthcare.
Mom's groups and craigslist will give you access to free or cheap baby gear & clothes. I posted an ad offering to trade graphic design and got a free crib and exersaucer from kind people that didn't even need my services.
Somehow you manage, and it's definitely worth it!
2006-12-28 05:47:24 · answer #7 · answered by eli_star 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have three kids and I am definately not financially ready. We are always scrounging for money. If it wasn't for my mom helping us, there would have been no Christmas this year. The sad thing is that we make pretty good money. It just has to go to pay for everything else. We live from paycheck to paycheck and hope that the car doesn't break down or have a flat tire. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to work on a budget and try to save some money. Good luck. And they are right, you are NEVER ready.
2006-12-28 05:52:04 · answer #8 · answered by rhainnedroppe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I was in the middle of college when I got pregnant. I got married and started working immediately. It's been 5 years and I'm doing very well now.
I plan to go back to school soon. And yes you are rarely never ready to have kids. You basically HAVE to pull things together, you are responsible for a helpless life now.
2006-12-28 05:50:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had my son last year before christmas. My husband is the only one working and I am going to school. We were having trouble paying bills before he came and there are times now where we still have trouble and I have to suck up my pride and ask family for help. So they are right you are never ready for when a baby comes financially or other wise but you learn to adjust and make it work so that your baby has the best that you can give them.
2006-12-28 05:50:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋