You and the missus are thinking of trying to start a family, you are probably wondering the best way to save for a child(ren). It is very smart that you are actually looking for things to consider before things to consider starting a family.
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How much should you have saved before having a child?
Whether you are starting a family at 40, 30, or at 20 the truth is very few of us are fully financially prepared, there are so many things to do before starting a family. In this post we shall focus on the financial part.
Hospital charges
- Call the billing department at the hospital you plan to have your baby. Ask for charges on things like cesarean section, epidural, extended neonatal stay etc.
- There is a small chance of baby staying in neonatal care even in healthy pregnancies.
- Set aside payment for a doula as well if you are planning on using one.
- Some hospitals will bill the baby as their own person. Ask your Obstetrician/Gynaecologist to provide you with a list of charges for both vaginal and cesarean births. Just to get ideas.
Can you get free insurance if you are pregnant?
- It is important to find out what your insurance company will cover in addition to deductible, and maximum payment out of pocket. Hospitals are required to set up a payment plan when one can not afford to pay the bill in a lump sum.
Insurance policies differ, some insurance companies have everything baby related under mom’s policy up to 10 days post birth.
- Check if your employer has a paid short term disability plan; what does it look like? Some employers cover 5 weeks of pay for a vaginal delivery, and 7 weeks of pay for a cesarean section at 60% of your income.
- Some moms purchase short term disability insurance before they get pregnant, then change their health plan to the lowest deductible. This saves them money before they even get pregnant.
For example, if your baby is due the following January, you will out of pocket will be taken care of. This depends what insurance company you have.
How much does it cost to deliver a baby without insurance?
- In the United States, a regular delivery without insurance, can total $ 30,000. While a Cesarean section delivery without can cost you upwards of $ 50,000.
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How do you start a family budget?
- You will need support when the baby arrives. Ask your spouse to check their employer’s policy on paternity leave.
Some employers offer two weeks paternity leave, which comes in handy. Budget for time off for your spouse. In case the employer does not offer paternity leave.
Now might be a good time to intensify paying off those student and personal loans to free up more money.
- When it comes spending on baby accessories, you choose what you want to do how expensive or not you want them to be. Read up on breastfeeding. If you can do it, it will save you a lot of money on formula.
- Take a breastfeeding class beforehand to know what is ahead. Lactation consultants are good resource if you can afford them. If you can’t breastfeed, remember that generic baby formula is approved by the FDA.
- Some moms make their own baby food, buy used clothes, cloth diapers and other baby gear. While others have professionally decorated nurseries and $1000 car seats,baby cots,strollers etc.
- Never buy second hand off car seats from someone you don’t personally know. You do not want to buy something that was involved in an accident or stored in unsafe manner.
- Consignment shops have brand new baby clothing. Ask for diapers and large size clothing for your eventual baby shower. Babies grow out of clothes very fast.
Is it worth spending a fortune on that cute outfit when it’s going to be outgrown within few months.
Check out websites like Ebay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Garage sales for cheap baby clothes.
Where can you get free baby stuff & deals?
- Many moms start couponing and checking for deals and sales, samples on formula, diapers and other baby stuff right away. There are many companies that send free baby stuff and samples.
- Stock as many diapers as you can in different sizes and brands. Check out cloth diapers as well. They are costly at first, but save money in the long run.
You can never have too many diapers. Some parents stockpile as much as two year’s supply of diapers. This will help you slowly adjust you to budget.
Stash away as many you can in different brands and of course sizes. In case your baby reacts to one brand, switch to the next.
How much should you expect to pay for childcare?
- Get on the daycare waiting lists as soon as possible. The moment you find out you are pregnant. Good daycare centers are hard to get in. Inquire about the costs, this will give a chance to compare in-home, nanny, or daycare centers.
- It maybe time to start living on a one income family budget. “Practice” paying for daycare, diapers, and formula expenses etc. It will help you adjust your budget, should any emergencies arise.
Many moms say that real expense is the time off work and daycare not medical bills. In some areas daycare fees are upwards of $ 2,000 a month. Pile your vacation days, you will need them during maternity leave.
There is no perfect time to start a family. But you can prepare your self to a certain extent. Implement the few steps mentioned here, for a smooth start. You will figure out the rest along the way.
How did you prepare for your family, share with us in the comment section below.
My fiance and I are thinking of starting a family in the next few years, but we were pretty clueless about what all the expenses would be. Thank you so much for writing this! I’ll be bookmarking this and coming back to it often!
Thank you for taking time to read. Good luck on starting a family.