We didn't have a car at all when we started trying, and only decided to buy one so we could go on holidays and see my sister more easily. We bought it when I was 7 months pregnant; it's a 13 year old 4 door hatchback. Meets our needs. I wouldn't be in a rush to go out and buy a new one. see how you go - the car yards will still be there after you have the baby if it's not working.
Keep your money stashed, and make it work for you while you wait, that's my advice.
redrobinridinghood: Wow, you guys did go through a few things! My parents ended up with bad luck as well when my sister and I were kids, thanks to the recession that happened in the late '80s. Things were great for them until that happened, and afterwards, well... I don't know how they managed, but somehow they did!
I guess we'll see what happens! It's nice to know, though, that having a family doesn't necessarily mean that things have to be perfect straight off. As many of you have said, you never really know what's going to happen, anyway...
It isn't all financially downhill with a baby either. Babies are cheap, it is children that are expensive! My savings have gone up since having my surprise DD; you go out less (movies, dinner, drinks etc), you usually end up eating cheaper (I don't keep things in the house DD can't have so no chocolate or drinks that aren't water or chips etc) and you don't have time for other things that cost money (reading magazines, DvDs, going to the hairdresser) plus if your baby is one to dislike car trips which is pretty common then you will save money on petrol Oh and I spend more reasonable amounts on clothing and shoes because I know they will end up with paint stains and cake mix streaks! The things my daugher enjoys most cost very little; painting the outside tiles with water, playing with dry pasta and empty tupperware, hide and seek, kicking a ball...
You make it work, I think the important things to budget for is medical (dental, if they need help such as speech therapy or OT etc) and schooling (depending on where you want to send your children and including extra activities).
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