How much does it cost having 2 vs.1?
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Category: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Name: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Description: Trying to get pregnant? Going through fertility treatment? Just planning your first or second child? There are many people out there in the same boat to help and listen and share with
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Topic: How much does it cost having 2 vs.1?
Posted By: ALittleLoopy
Subject: How much does it cost having 2 vs.1?
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 3:45pm
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I guess what im asking is more financial advice...we get $126pw for DD and DH works fulltime on an average wage. I will be studying for two years from July so no income here.
We are also looking at a mortgage by the end of 2011 which will be about 200pw...no other debts but a small Credit card How did you/do you plan for #2 and how much more does it really cost? -------------    CHEM 6/12+ |
Replies:
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 3:54pm
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Hmm well Ive only started noticing the cost now that they are both toddlers and both eating a lot, we spend a bit on food for them and then when they need new clothes, and for us theres daycare Caden goes 2 days and Bella 1(but Caden will be free in 3 months woop!).
We are lucky as we live in the 3 bedroom flat at mumn dads and only pay $170 rent, but we have sooo many damn loan payments  but are paying them off slowly.
We get $180 for WFF and DH earns just over minw age 50 hours or so a week, so not great $$. Im just used to living like this so we just chug along and after we have the next one and have paid off our debts then we are going to look at buying. ------------- |
Posted By: ALittleLoopy
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 4:39pm
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thanks shez...
we rent a two bedroom for $100pw here off the inlaws and a mortgage payment would be about $150-$200 pw so it makes sense for us to buy as we have that money...plus well get more WFF and have no debts by then as our HP and car are almost gone...DH worked out we will be 100% debt free by JUNE 16th in keeping with our current payments...So hoping to buy end of 2011 ------------- CHEM 6/12+ |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 5:13pm
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It depends on what you have & when. If you have a boy then there is clothes & if it is at a different season you will need different clothes. If they are close together & both need formula & disposables that is an extra cost. Also a car seat & maybe an extra cot. Otherwise not too much more. The other child is always an on going cost.
The cost goes up as they get older. It is not problem to buy 1 child a pair of pj @ $15 but when you have extra kids you notice it, I have to buy for 3 so often can not get the amount needed all at once. So 1 pair of pj each instead of 3 for 1 child. As they get older they notice & do not want to miss out. House payments may not be much but make sure you have money for extras as those little things that go wrong cost heaps. We paid off all credit cards first. Also a bank maybe more "helpful" If you have one child so I would do the mortgage before #2...but make sure you can afford it when #2 comes along if only on 1 income. Don't count on WFF or any other assistance as that can easily change. We never got it till I had #3 and it has gone up & down over the last yr so much I can not rely on it too much as if it stopped I would have to get by. I would also open an account or bonus bonds for like $5 a week or more if you can & you can use this for the baby or as a back up, you wont notice it & it will build up. When they are babies it is really what you need & want & when they get bigger it is what they want & need. eta & a double pram if you use a pram |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 5:36pm
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Massive threadjack... sorry!!
Sheena, how do you get free day care? Does yours not charge a top up for ECE? My "top up" is going to be $107 for three days!!! 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 6:38pm
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Yeah I second the don't count on WFF and stuff like that, that is a nice "optional extra".
Once they get bigger is when the expense kicks on. Daycare, if you don't qualify for subsidies is VERY expensive, even for a few hours a week, 2 x lots of clothes, I just had to get PJs and underware and basic winter stuff for miss 4 and mr 5 the other day and although I got it half price, I didn't get much for $170  . I buy heaps of second hand stuff, but Miss is quite rough on her clothes so I can't re sell any of hers. She has a bit of hand me down form friends with kids etc. but yeah. they cost a fair amount to run! And do't even get me started on school uniforms, fees etc...Our fees are close to $400 for one, when she starts next year it will double (no discount) I try to put aside where I can and buy second hand and in sales etc.
The baby years are nice and cheapish if you make do but once they get past say 2 its $$$ And nice cheap mortgage!!! Lucky you! Good luck, save hard and you will be fine. Wher ethere is a will, there is a way. |
Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 6:44pm
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DD has just started costing us more now.
Its not really food costs even though she sure can eat now 
Things like Playcentre, clothes, shoes etc. These costs are really getting expensive. Our local kindy is $150 a term. $100 of that is donation but still i will be paying $150. So although i figured having a newborn wouldnt cost, when he arrives DD will be costing us more. I think the cost is mainly after the first 2 years. So when you have 2 toddlers. Or school fees, uniforms, books, Christmas, Birthdays, Easter. The list goes on..... -------------  
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 7:57pm
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I wouldn't rely on WFF or any other Govt assistance that could easily change and not be available.
I guess having a second is needing 2 of everything clothes can be recycled, you will eventually need 2 beds, 2 car seats. Agree with fattarts its getting to the pre-school and school years it becomes more costly. Having more babies means you are longer out of the workforce and not earning an income as well. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: tarns
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 8:05pm
Kiwilaurie I think Sheena means when her DS turns 3 she will get 20 free hours and he is only there for that amoutn of time. ------------- 
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kiwilaurie wrote:Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 9:21pm
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Those under three can get 9 hours free.
Yes once school hits, or even 3 with a girl, if you're thinking about ballet, 80-110 a term, uniform & the huge expense at then of the year as well. 2nd children often don't get much. Poor boy hasn't had swimming lessons yet his sister started when they could as a baby. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 9:29pm
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yip so agree, it's not the baby stage that costs a lot more cos you can get away with not buying too much if ya have a big enough gap. But they defo get more and more expensive as they get older! and buying clothes, presents, activities etc for 2 or 3 kids get damn expensive!
wow that's an awfully cheap mortgage!! still with the mortgage you have the extra expenses you don't have renting... in some ways I'd be inclined to keep renting at $100 a week!! that's incredibly cheap rent - nice inlaws... ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 9:56pm
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I'm finding two is getting more expensive now, although because mine are the same age, it's slightly different. They are quite hard on clothes, so I get a mix of new, TM and Sallies clothing. Daycare is expensive - my subsidy hasn't kicked in yet so it's $104 a fortnight (they go for 12.5 hours a fortnight). Once my subsidy kicks in it will go down substantially though. I get $149 WFF (doesn't include in work tax credit - that would add $60 a week) but I wouldn't rely on it.
Biggest expenses - food (man they can eat!! and I prefer to use fresh fruit/veges where I can) and clothes. And daycare. |
Posted By: mummytobesep08
Date Posted: 29 March 2011 at 10:21pm
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hey Nicola I have been wondering the same thing too a lot because we have been TTC but sometimes I wonder if we can afford it...the reality is though, people DO! Someway, somehow lol.
For us it's great that DD will be out of nappies and bottles so that cost is down and she goes to a community childcare and only 2 days a week so that's not much. We also got lots of clothes and TM and 2nd hand stores are awesome! We've still got the cot, bassinet, pram, high chair, even breastpump and bottles lol so the big stuff has been brought. Do you intend to study after bubs is born? Just wondered cuz I know when DH and I looked at how we'd afford it we found we could but not if we had both kids in daycare full-time. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
Angel babes '07 & '10- <3 <3 |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 30 March 2011 at 3:31pm
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Laurie - Caden is 3 in June and once he is 3 he qualifies for 20 free hours. I pay for him at the moment. ------------- |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 30 March 2011 at 3:32pm
Yep thats what I mean  ------------- |
Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 30 March 2011 at 3:34pm
| If relying on WFF or child care subsidies are part of your decision making then I'd recommend you wait till the 19 May - Budget Day! That will be VERY interesting! |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 30 March 2011 at 3:34pm
Tarns and Sheena.... In Wellington you have to have your child in day care for a minimum of 9 hours per day (if you're claiming ECE). ECE is only maximum of 6 hours per day, so they charge you the extra three hours at ridiculous rates. It sucks. I wish it were possible here to just send Jackson for the 6 hours per day that is free!! Have you double checked that your centre is totally free? I know it was a rude shock when I worked out it was only 6 hours a day "free". |
Posted By: _H_
Date Posted: 30 March 2011 at 5:18pm
I cant help with the cost of kids but i agree with this! You need to remember rates and also money for the little things that need to be done around the house (these can add up really fast!) |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 30 March 2011 at 5:57pm
Agree ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 30 March 2011 at 6:24pm
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Oh ok Laurie! Over here its just 20 free hours...So Caden will do 3 days at 9-3.30, so that's like 19.5 hours. ------------- |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 30 March 2011 at 8:11pm
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Lucky! There's only a few in all of Wellington that allow you to just do the 6 hours... and they're miles away from me.
Bet you're looking forward to those hours!! |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 02 April 2011 at 3:46pm
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Heck yes lol! ------------- |