Living with a baby

[Possibleyoungmum17]

My boyfriend is telling me I'm not fit to be a mum. How much would you say per month is a suitable amount for a mum to live off? Bearing in mind they would get additional income from family members as they still live there and will with the baby too.
Thanks my lovelies.
❤️

[krakentoast]

There's no right answer to the amount of money question but your boyfriend sounds horrible.

[reallyanotherone]

Why does your bf say you're not fit to be a mum?

You sound young, living with and off family (additional income from family? How does that work?, still living where?) Does he maybe have a point that you're not in a stable situation to bring a baby into?

It's impossible to say how much per month you can live off. It depends on rent, living costs etc. I live on very little, but have low outgoings.

[BentleyBelly]

Impossible to say exactly.. what is your income? You just need to make sure your outgoings are not more than what is coming in. The £82 a month child benefit pays for nappies, wipes etc. Breastfeeding is free! Important purchases to consider are car seat, pram, cot/moses basket, clothes. Then for yourself you need to consider food, toiletries, rent, utility bills but if you are at home with your parents I guess they might pay for that? You will just need a bit for a social life, baby classes, transport (running a car?) etc.

[Emma2803]

What a horrible thing to say!!

Can you make out a little expenses list?
Try to work out what you will spend each month.
You could include things like
*Baby formula if bottle feeding (about £10 a week)
*Nappies, go through more when they are tiny, maybe 8 a day, usually change after every feed of wet and more if they have pooped (I used lidl nappies which are half the price of pampers and just as good say£2 for a pack of 28 of the tiny baby size)
*clothes, when small I mostly had baby in vests and sleepsuits until about 3 months, supermarkets do great ones for not too expensive also matalan is very good.
*your own bits and pieces, mobile phone etc.

Try and have a think of other things and some things you can stock up on before hand if on offer such as wipes, nappy cream, white muslin clothes for mopping up sick.
Do you know if you are having a boy or a girl? You could look out for clothes, Bibs etc at a good price.
I hope your boyfriend is gonna pay his share too!!

[AyeAmarok]

Does your boyfriend work? Is he an employee or self-employed?

[PatriciaHolm]

Are you pregnant, or just want to be? If you are 17 as your name suggests, he may well have a point...

[Mummamayhem]

Do not listen to someone who shows you such little respect.

Only you know if you are ready to be a parent. If you are well supported by family, talk it through with someone who genuinely loves and cares for you.

[Mummamayhem]

There is so much more to parenting than age. There are great teenage mums out there and awful 40 something ones. Do not be bullied into decisions.