When is a couple financially ready to have a baby?

Question

For those who took their finances into consideration before having children ONLY, please.

My husband is 35, I'm almost 26. We've been married 6 years. Seems like it's time, right? But we don't know if we're financially secure enough... but how secure is secure? So many people will argue that there's no "right amount," but how did YOU come to the decision that you were financially ready?

Answer 1

u know what i dont think u can ever be financially stable for a baby. i mean of course if your homeless and jobless making a baby would not be a smart thing to do but i truly feel that theres never a good time to have a baby u just have to go for it and deal with things as they come! good luck

Answer 2

You can "plan" all you want.. and pray that everything turns out just peachy.. however, there are always those little 'surprises". My husband and I both have decent jobs, our bills are paid every month, we just built a new house, have a healthy 22 month old daughter... just the "perfect" time for another child. Get pregnant.. then found out that our insurance didn't cover maternity. Second option was to wait until my husband got put on active duty orders with the military. They have decided not to give him the orders until October.. when he was suppose to get them in July. The "nest egg" in savings.. yeah.. our daughter needed tubes put in her ears and the deductible was $4,000. Bye Bye Nest Egg.. :) But everything will work out and we are still thrilled to have our little one on the way. The Lord will provide a way.. He blessed us with this miracle and He'll take care of us.  

Answer 3

Never! You are never financially secure enough to have a child, especially now a days. There's always going to something you want for your baby, something that make chores easier, helps put baby to sleep or something that promises to help your child get into Yale. So my advice is this, if your not sure your not ready. If you got pregnant now, how would the two of you feel? That's what you and your husband should figure out. Good Luck,and have fun trying:)

Answer 4

Well especially now with the economy problems, " no one is finacially secure"  I personally feel that if your not thousands of dollars in debt, have a firm fob, then why not?

Answer 5

In my opinion you are financially ready when you can support a child/family without government assistance.  Simple as that.

Answer 6

Very little debt is key.  It is very hard to do it if you have many other bills to pay.  Babies are expensive and they get more expensive as they get older.  Have a savings of at least $5000 to start.

Answer 7

There is no "right" amount.  If you are in a good posiiton finacially before you have children, then the better off you'll be while raising them.  In the end, it's not about how much a child costs, it's about how you manage your money.

Answer 8

> When is a couple financially ready to have a baby?

Never.  If you wait 'til you're secure, you will never have children.  Don't wait.  Have your first now.

Answer 9

you answered your question! you will never be ready but if i must answer this question, you should have in your savings about 5-6 months worth of mortgage/rent saved up and money in your spending account, you also want to make sure your credit is good, and you have health insurance! if all that is together go for it!

Answer 10

I don't think there is ever a perfect time but if you really want kids you will find a way. Just ask family to buy you useful presents for the baby (e.g carry cot, changing mat, nappy bin) when its born and have a baby shower to get some other stuff. It also helps if you buy clothes in the sales e.g. buy at then end of summer in the sales for the next summer. You will sacrifice things you once thought were essential once the baby is born. If people get by on benefits and have kids it must be possible!!!! Good luck!

Answer 11

A couple is never financially ready to have a child. They've already got their finances adjusted in a certain way that works best for them. You can, however, be financially stable. If you have a good income and don't mind the adjustments you would have to make again to support not only yourselves and the baby, then you are financially stable. Financial stability is better than waiting until you are financially ready. If you wait until you're financially ready, then you will never have a baby.

Some advice? Our daughter was unplanned, but very much welcomed. What we did to help prepare us for her (and what we're doing again) is each week putting away $20 a week into an envelope that will go towards our babies education and any other emergencies we will need. Having the extra money available in the beginning was a life saver for us as we learned to adjust our finances around our child.

Now, just as it's become simple to juggle bills, food and a child, we're learning to juggle bills, food and two kids. It's easier this time.

Save up what you can before the baby comes. It will really help, but don't wait to have a child. NOW is the best time (assuming you're financially stable).

Answer 12

My husband and I just decided to start trying. I don't think there is such a thing as being financially ready, it's such a huge surprise. I am almost 26 and my husband is almost 30 and we came to the decision not based on finances but the fact that we are both ready. We know it will be hard all around but we're comfortable with our lives right now.