Anyone with 5 or more children?

[maz]

I have 4...I know not the 5 plus but we're still classes as big and get stared at when we go out

Are you able to afford new clothes for each child?

yes....clothes arent THAT expensive and there are sales.

How far apart did you have your babies?

my first 2 were 18months apart - then had a 4 1/2 year gap - then the last 2 were 16 months apart

did you breast feed all of your babies? (IF so are you breasts still ok?)

just my last 2 and yep..girls are fine although their the last thing I worry about looking at in the mirror. I have a lovely 'gunt' from having c/s'

Did you plan all your children? Please explain...

YES!!! defently. I even went and had a tube reversal. I would have had more but my pg with Tank was very bad and almsot losing him was the last straw.

Also how do you afford your family? Do you work? or SAHM

the same way you afford to live. really....its not that difficult...buy in bulk is actually cheaper. My kids were in cloth so we saved $$$$, I personally us cloth, we have a vegie garden. Going on holidays is the pit's cause you barely find anywere that catters for families with more then 3 kids. I also have my own business and work from home...hubby has a full time job. I love ebay....I resell items on there only to use that money to buy more for the kids. I pay my bills fortnightly.....eg electricity, water, gas are all on payment plans so I dont get lumped with HUGE bill's at once.
OH and there's the HUGE large families allowance you get from the government

And honestly....you make do. I think it doesnt matter how many children you have..if money is tight, its tight. There is alot of love and crazyness in a big family.....its bloody fantastic!!!

[Lots_of_Love]

I have 8..... was working full time until 16months ago, when I became a stay at home mum. Re-adjusting to a much lower income was hard, but do-able. Just have prioritize the important things first. Hand-me-downs are very important now that I'm not working, and we have to be creative to make nice tasty, but cheap dinners...lol. I BF all of mine, for varied periods.... I'm still the same as I was before kids (except grey hairs and stretch marks). Most of mine were 2 years apart, 18 month gap between 4&5 and just 12 months gap between 7&8. Only my first was somewhat "planned"...lol...I love my big family & wouldn't have it any other way!

[halltribe]

Hi there Lots of love - I see you are new around here so welcome aboard. It seems to be very quiet in this section atm -I guess we all get busy with our larger broods. Like you I also have 3 girls and 5 boys so well done. Maybe if we getting yakking on here some more may come back and join us! I think I may start a new topic just to get some interest up again.....see you in the new topic.

[mom2PnE]

I have 5 boys and I maybe pg with my 6th child. I should know early next week if it's happened.

[~clover~]

OH and there's the HUGE large families allowance you get from the government

Lol, that whole $10.39 or whatever it is. I assume it stays the same when you have more?

We are about to have number 4. It will be our last, a very unexpected suprise! Not 5 or more, but big enough to upsize our car!

Our kids will all be 2.5 - 3 years apart.

We are only getting by atm because DH is working a second job. We could survive without it, but that is our savings & his petrol money, as both jobs are 45 minutes away.

I don't buy the kids new clothes very often. I could if we had decent clothes shops here, but they are an hour away. I prefer op shops, unless there is something I can't find that is really needed (DS needs a dressing gown, so I'll have to buy one new). Birthdays & christmas's are when they get new stuff, summer stuff at chrissy & winter stuff for b'days, coz they are at that time of year.

Part of our baby bonus after this baby will be paying for our first family holiday next year. Lots of patience & saving is the key.

I also pay our bills straight out of our accounts weekly/fortnightly. Alot easier to keep on top of things.

I bf the first 2 for a few weeks. TBH its that first pregnancy that ruins your boobs, not the bfing. 6 weeks of feeding DD1 & they looked the same as they do now after 23 months feeding DS. I'm lucky, mine aren't that big, so they don't look that bad tbh.

I'm a SAHM. The goverment helps. Not much, but we wouldn't survive without it! I will be going back to work when this one is weaned though. So in about 2.5 - 3 years. Will make things alot easier.
Money is always tight, but we get by