Having your first baby is an exciting time that’s filled with planning and organising for the new person about to enter your life. From choosing a name, to getting a nursery ready and buying everything you will need, the list is seemingly endless and you will need to have finances in place to make sure you can provide everything that is required.
From birth through to infancy you will need specific supplies and equipment. A cot for your baby to sleep in is an essential and if you are a car owner you will need an infant car seat to keep your little one safe whilst on the road.
A changing table or mat is another piece of equipment many parents find useful to have in their home. Baby strollers will give your child a little more freedom to roam around as they grow, and high chairs are another essential purchase that will help keep meal times under control and mean children can join you at the table. More obvious essential basic purchases include nappies, bottles, baby food and basic baby clothing.
There’s no doubt about it, the arrival of your first child will definitely alter your financial status as you attempt to provide for an extra person out of the same income. After you’ve bought all the essentials you need to consider other factors such as childcare. If you plan to return to work after the birth you will have to arrange professional childcare, unless you are lucky enough to have a family member willing to care for your infant whilst you work.
Expenses are likely to fluctuate with your child’s age. From birth to infancy, costs will be high due to the basics you will need to purchase for the first time. You will be glad to hear, however, from the ages of four to around twelve the expense drops somewhat. Teenage years can be a costly time as your little bundle of joy will have grown up into a fashion and trend conscious young adult.
Finding ways to improve your financial outlook before your baby arrives is a therefore a good idea. Begin by paying off any major debts and review your budget. A spot of cost cutting will allow you to put aside money for a ‘baby budget’ and you can keep adding to this throughout the pregnancy.
