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FWIW - this all came into legislation on May 10 last year - so it was never going to be a lump sum payment for your when you became pregnant. perhaps people assumed and misadvised you, but it's been "out there" for nearly a year that everything was changing from Jan 1...
Yep.. $5k is a huge help in anyone's books I reckon.
You'll be right.. keep things to a minimum.. there's a lot of "stuff" that is completely unnecessary IMO. Don't look through baby catalogues or wander around Babies Galore - they'd have you convinced you need all sorts of contraptions and "essentials" for baby! Babies don't need a lot when they're little. Just somewhere to sleep and something warm to wear. You don't need play mats & baths and all that jazz. Sling is a great idea for when s/he's little, and there might be a cheap stroller that lies down enough for a younger baby. My biggest waste of money was buying bottles and steriliser etc etc.. never used em LOL. So don't buy up on that sort of thing until you actually need it.
Good luck. Try not to feel too overwhelmed.
hun I got a cot for $299 at Kmart and thats full price, the mattress was $100 and the pram I brought was $170, its a 3 wheel pram and it's quite good. So don't stress over those things. They can almost be paid in full with just the first installment.
Capsules can be hired, or borrowed if you know someone.
Heather- if your layby is from a Target/Kmart type place why don't you cancel it and buy some secondhand gear? If it's from a baby shop then there is no chance! Like the other few have said baby needs very little in the first months/years. Forget all the hype and extras and go with the essentials. I would also check your community paper or garage sales etc for any baby gear. I can't fathom people paying hundreds of dollars for cots/prams etc when they are so cheap secondhand. baby doesn't care and often things are in really good condition.
I know I am off the original topic but I think people need to be savvy financially and environmentally when it comes to babies. Cloth nappies (even the $30 packet of terry flats that lasts for years) are SO cheap compared to disposables. That's my rant!
i think its harder the first time around to 'not' have everything for baby.. if that makes sense... with DD we bought all the bits and bobs.. i bought things like bottles/sterilisers/dummies ''just in case'' and never touched any of it!
this time around im happy using all dd's pre loved clothes... no change table/baby bath, hiring a capsue instead of buying a second car seat... im stocking up on nappies this time around.. which is one thing we didnt buy before hand with dd!
it is hard to prioritise when you dont know for sure what you will and wont need. but even if you use the BB installments to pay off laybys or purchase things, your baby wont know he/she had to wait a month or two for certain things.
places like kmart and target always have % off kids and babies clothes... so dont be upset if you feel you're missing out on sales or whatever.. i have learnt that! if you're planning a baby showe, hint for gifts of things you will need (nappies/wipes/000 clothes/blankets) - i'm not one to have a shower just to receive presents.. but people do insist on buying presents.. and id never turn up to a shower without a gift!