if we had a baby now, how much would we get per f/n from centrelink?

[Onelittleprincess]

Sit down together and work out absoulty everything. My Husband has honestly no idea where money goes where but understands i have the financial mind for it all. Start purchasing odds and ends early. When we found out we were expecting bub 2 i bought extra things when they were on sale (nappies etc). Our belief was as long as the mortgage was paid and the bills and the kids had food who cares.

Start living off his wage now and put yours into savings. Live to a strict budget then what ever is left at the end of the fortnight put into your savings to bulk it up. only dip into it as required. You will be suprised how you can survive and save.

Another thing I do is work things out in small payments. For example DH wants to go to an event in March which will cost approx $300. I tell him he needs to save a certain amount each week ($5) to be able to have the money required by then. How easy is it to say "save $5 a week" compared to "save $300 by march"

[Peace]

Preggoeggo that's pretty much what I did. When DS was nearly a year old I went back to work part time. I did paid parental leave because it is more than the baby bonus. Was so hard to go from two wages to one but its definitely doable m&d2b

Good to know it worked out for you KittyK. I figure we will be doing less with a new baby anyway so hopefully we will be able to adjust. We are working on reducing bills at the moment too. My health insurance will halve after baby, DP getting rid of his mobile and just using the work mobile etc. small changes should make a difference.

[Phteven]

Personally I wouldn't make a budget that depended on welfare payments.
Next year is an election year. Both parties are likely to make big promises to win the middle class vote. Both parties are likely to cut payments as soon as possible after the election to give everyone time to forget before the next election.

[Amity]

I would start saving now. Buy nothing unnecessary. Don't spend money on Christmas and birthdays. Put that in a savings account and you'll have a decent amount before too long.

Save 10% of every pay before you do anything else.

And save all your pay to see if you can live on your partner's income alone.

If you do that, you should be able to work out what you need to save before baby is conceived.

[Mummy&Daddy2Be]

wow, thanks for all your replies . you have a point Onyx, should just count any $$$ from centrelink a bonus.

i'm quite shocked that $200 left over a f/n can be enough to afford a baby. that just sounds so out of reach for some strange reason...

to qualify for PPL what's required? i have tried reading all the documentation but it confuses me a little....

[Lenny]

Just wondering why you think babies cost a lot?

[Mummy&Daddy2Be]

Just wondering why you think babies cost a lot?

not sure really. have always been told they do . everything adds up though.

we just don't want to make a snap decision about having a baby. i don't want to have one, and then think "oh crap we can't afford this" IYKWIM

[briggsy's girl]

i do the estimate centrelink payments. put in DFs wage (i have tried putting no tax, and taxed) i picked parenting payment - partnered. it says i will get $0..

is that right?

When you go to the estimator choose Famil Assisrance Rmrate estimator NOT Centrlink rate estimator. And make sure you don't tick the box that says you are receiving any income support payments. Your partners income exceeds limits for any parenting payment but is well within the range for ftb.

[chody47]

not sure really. have always been told they do . everything adds up though.

we just don't want to make a snap decision about having a baby. i don't want to have one, and then think "oh crap we can't afford this" IYKWIM

My DH was always apprehensive about having a baby due to the cost. I know some people who spend a lot more on their babies than we do, but I also know we could have spent less. If you are prepared to try breast feeding and are able to, that's a big cost out the way there, as is buying cheap clothes or even second hand. We tend to buy most of DDs clothes from big department stores at a tiny price. I know many people who like to buy brand name stuff for their baby. Great if you can afford it, but I could never justify it with the speed in which DD grew and the fact she had extremely bad reflux and not only went through multiple outfits a day, but many got ruined and stained.

[Onelittleprincess]

DD1 outfits are mostly handed down to DD2. Bonds suits are awesome even if a little $$$ BUT they hold the wear well. We always doubted if we could afford it all and we can - we just make it work. Only do the things we can afford to do and always look at a big picture. Admitiddly we pay high tax through the year and get a big refund that goes to things we put off (updatign kitchen, driveway etc).