More of a WWYD - new baby and new kitchen

[PhoebeGeebee]

DH and I have been saving for a kitchen for a few months. We've had it priced up and will be ordering in the next month or so. We'll be paying for this cash and it's about £5k.

I am also 17 weeks pregnant.

Once we pay for the kitchen, our savings go almost down to zero, however, we will have a few months (approx. 4/5) between kitchen installation and me going on mat leave to replenish the savings. If we save every last penny, we can just about get this up to £6k by Jan/Feb to tide us over for the year we're planning on taking off (I'll do 9 months, DH will do the remaining 3).

DH now thinks we should delay the kitchen installation until next year just in case we get hit with any other unforeseen expenses (car, boiler, etc...) but I'm worried that if we don't do it now, we never will and it's going to be doubly hard to sort out the logistics of a new kitchen with a baby. Kitchen desperately needs doing - ripped lino, cupboard doors hanging off etc...

So would you wait and make sure you're savings are really, really healthy, or would you just suck it up, get it done and cross your fingers that nothing in the house goes wrong!

[Niloufes]

Once the child comes along there will always be another expense you haven't thought of. I would do it now or you may find it will keep getting put back. Also a nice new safe kitchen for baby to grow in and for you to relax in on maternity leave will be good for the whole family. Do it, don't look back.

[sopsmum]

Do it. Your mat leave will be much nicer with a shiny new kitchen. I have brought 2 newborns home to houses being renovated and it is really hard.

[elQuintoConyo]

Do it now. Ifyou have an unsafe kitchen then it is as ne essary as a new boiler. We didn't find having our ds to be expensive: cheap pram, Ikea most other stuff, inexpensive kids clothes. We spent decent money on a sling and carseat.

Kitchen! Kitchen! Kitchen!

[eyebrowsonfleek]

I would do it now. Mobile child and dust = stress

[Noodlebetti]

I am 35 weeks pregnant and currently living in a building site as we have our house renovated. It's hard, stressful, messy and annoying, but I'd rather it was done (or the vast majority) before baby arrives. I have a toddler aswell who is loving the builders being here etc, but which adds its own stresses!
I'd say go for it, no point putting off. But be prepared for emotional days!!

[MatildaTheCat]

Could you get a credit card with six months' interest free and then save as you pay the kitchen off? That way if you do have to fix the car or boiler you have the funds still available ( although ring fenced against new shoes and holidays).

Get the kitchen done now. It's no fun having the work done and even less so with a baby.

[middlings]

Do it now. I have the scars of renovation work with a small baby on my back.

Believe me. Do it now.

[EsmesBees]

Do it now. You'll have enough to think about when the baby is here. We did a big renovation when our baby was just getting mobile and God was it hard to keep her out of danger. Also, as a pp said, babies are not actually that expensive, it's when you start factoring in childcare the cost ramps up.

[TheCrumpettyTree]

Do it now. You will not want the stress of a new kitchen and a baby.

[Backhometothenorth]

Do it now- it will be a lovely boost and much nicer than spending your maternity leave wishing you'd done it. We've recently finished ours and baby no 2 due next week. Very happy with it

[AgnesCactus]

Definitely do it now. We put off doing stuff and are now trying to do it with a toddler running around. I really wouldn't recommend it.