Registered User
Interested to know as well, #2 is in the early baking stages now. Being so close to DD, we still have everything we need for another baby, DD will still be in nappies so that's a bigger expense I guess. I'd be interested to hear what people say, as we aren't going to have many immediate costs to having a new baby, just the added expenses day to day.
BellyBelly Member
I'm interested, too.
There's going to be 19mos between DD and Bub and we haven't spent any money yet. Although, we haven't bought anything yet.
Registered User
Honestly it's as cheap or as expensive as you make it. I know I paid less setting up for 3 babies then when some of my friends did for their kids. I op shopped, ebayed and looked on fb pages for bargains. We are looking at moving to the other side of town to cheaper housing and near better public school options for DS so we can afford a second car and DS' therapy sessions.
Registered User
I think you just make do with what money you have.
Registered User
I will add the great thing with having 2 means you don't have to upgrade the car or stress to much about fitting into most houses. At the minute we make do with 3 kids in one room and DS still in with us but I would loveto have the extra space. Could you potentially move into an apartment or a duplex if MIL is against a second baby?
Registered User
For us the only real 'extra' expense at the start was nappies, DD2 slept in the bassinette DD1 had had and then when we moved she went into the cot (with the same mattress) when DD1 went into a bed.
Food wise i think we became BETTER with our eatuing & spending - i started buying a lot more fresh fruit & veg from cheaper places, we started making our own fresh meals instead of things from a packet etc.
DD2 had a dairy allergy so we stopped buying quite a few non essential things.
I find now both girls do swimming it can be expensive for some of the '' extras' but you just seem to find it and manage.
We over estimate by quite a bit on our CL stuff so when we do our tax we can get a little bit back, thats when we buy our x-mas presents and DD1's b'day stuff but it means we are a little more careful with the CL money we do get IYKWIM.
Registered User
The biggest initial expense for us was a car seat, we bought a new one for DD1 (as she was turning 3) and put DD2 into her old one.
With regards to cooking I think it is actually going to be easier with 4 than 3 as most things seem to be centred around 4 serves lol.
Can't help with schooling and such as we are obviously not there yet but I think you just make it work.
Registered User
I think it is as expensive as you make it. Some people have to have everything new, some people will use hand downs. Some people use private schools and some use public schools. I don't think one more cost much more, well it hasn't for us anyway. My kids will all go to a catholic school, do sport, yes they have hand downs but they don't miss out on anything and we are on a low income ATM, I'm a sahm and DH is doing factory work.
Registered User
DD2 didn't cost too much to begin with. Having two the same gender saved us a fortune in clothing (the initial huge costs were my fault though given my inability to stop buying cute baby stuff!). Small expenses in topping up the nappy stash etc but otherwise pretty good.
When it did get expensive is around the 2.5 yr old stage. Two kids doing swimming lessons, or gym classes, or dancing classes or whatever is a big price increase. They stop being able to share/hand down clothes so that increases. Now that both are at private school (again, our choice so its not necessarily an expense you HAVE to have) there's another big chunk out of our budget.
We had the same thoughts you're having when we were discussing the pros and cons of a #3. We probably can't afford it but we'll make it work.
Registered User
So really it's just living with MIL that is the issue?
A FB friend said for them it's an extra 40- 60 a week (with formula which I won't be using). Does that sound about right? We could manage that.
Registered User
I think the estimate would depend on age. If you've still got your cot, car seat, cloth nappies, you're breastfeeding and you've got more self control than me with baby clothing then for the first six months or so there's really nothing to buy. After that you've got start of solids which let's face it, they still eat nothing. I would think until you're talking 2yr + that's probably a generous estimate.
Registered User
Hmm will have to have a proper talk with DF then, about what we will need to buy and our spending. At the momenT we go out for dinner one a week, but if we stopped that we could easily afford the extra a week. What to do about MIL...
EEEK!
Registered User
If you work that one out can you let me know please
Registered User
I agree with the others, its what ever you let it be.. We made the decision before we had any kids that we would not do private school as we wanted at least 3 kids, so we looked at schools when we chose where to live. I buy a few extra bits of clothes to top up DD2s wardrobe as the girls have been different seasons. I Op Shop where i can, use Gumtree and local pages for bigger stuff. We upgraded DD1s car seat so DD2 could have the babyseat. This time round we will be getting a second (larger) car, but that was always in the plan so we have been saving so we will have the cash for it. My cloth nappy stash will be on to the 3rd baby with just a few binned and replaced along the way, I reckon i have spend $800 on a pretty big stash.. but thats nothing to the cost of 3+ kids in sposies.
I have a budget of about $200 for the bits i need for belly babe, a new change mat, a few new towels, and I'll get a few clothes bits if bubs a boy (not a whole new batch by any means).
Registered User
from one to two we upgraded to a pram with toddler seat, got another car seat (although dd1 was able to get a 6month-4 year booster which she would have needed at some point anyway) and a mei tai as we didnt have one before.
As we have three girls the cost of clothes arent too bad as there are lots of hand me downs but each season they do need a few new bits and pieces and shoes generally only last one child
Week to week food for one more isnt that much dearer we just each have more veg and less meat than we use to and I buy cheaper cuts of meat but still the same amount. School fees for dd1 were only $211 this year at a public primary, kindy fees were dearer about $160 per term. Child care costs are one thing that has impacted on our budget, not sure if that is something you need to consider. Nappies are an expense that can really add up if you have two and are using disposables. We have takeaway and treats less often but that doesnt hurt anyone.
Movies/zoos etc that have family passes are often family of four so the second child doesnt add much to those outings. Plus there are heaps of things to do that dont cost or cost very little, picnics at the park, fishing, walks to the beach. And thigns to do at home ie camping in the backyard dd1's favourite, baking, homemade playdough.
Swimming lessons are one of our biggest expenses but we think its important so we prioritise it. As yet we arent doing dance or other sports but if and when the girls ask I we will find somewhere we can afford. Talking to some of the mums at school there is a local dance class for $8 lesson or others that are $15+ per lesson.
As others have said you make do and find ways to save here and there. Budgeting really helps and we put money away each week for christmas as a couple of years we got caught short at christmas
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