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Conception

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Original poster

How to be best prepared before TTC - how much have you saved?

30 replies

mrsd2014 · 02/01/2015 17:33

So this is my first post. We're not trying as yet, but I am definitely getting baby fever!
Husband and I are recently married, and have booked our honeymoon for April. I am fully ready to jump in and start trying for our first little one, although husband (forever the voice of reason) says we should at least wait until we are back from honeymoon- who wants to be pregnant on honeymoon?- and have an opportunity to save up.
I can live with being pregnant on honeymoon, but I would really like to be as prepared as possible for our little one.
So if I could just ask how prepared are people before their baby arrives- in terms of financial? We both work full time and own our own place but due to the wedding and honeymoon we have zero savings. My maternity pay isn't going to be great- but we should be able to live off his wage, although I think having some savings behind us is going to be best. But knowing how much is a good amount to have, we're a bit clueless. I know this depends on a lot of things e.g. how much our outgoings etc are, but in terms of how much more a baby will cost us in the first few months we don't have a clue.

Any advice will be appreciated!

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsd2014 · 02/01/2015 18:26

Thanks Rainy34. It's so hard to budget savings when you don't know when conception will be happening! It seems so silly about trying to get ready for a baby even before conception- but I've already starting clearing out things so we have more space and I'm looking forward to our spare room being a blank slate for when we do hopefully become pregnant.

OP posts:
nightandthelight · 02/01/2015 18:25

Hi mrsd2014. Sorry I'm not going to be much use to you but I am leaping on this thread because I am interested too!

DH and I are planning to TTC in May (on a sort of second honeymoon). We have sat down and worked out maternity leave (I work for the NHS so quite generous) and childcare costs and we know that taking that into account we will have money left each month.

Having money left is important as we are saving up to buy our own house! However I am just wondering how much of that will be eaten up by baby stuff e.g. nappies as well as additional energy and water costs for example?

I am not precious about buying stuff second hand and I know that family and friends will be generous so not worried about the one off big items, more the day to day costs.

Hope that makes sense and sorry for jumping on your thread!

Original poster
mrsd2014 · 02/01/2015 18:23

Thanks so much for your advise! We don't really need to budget our money too carefully currently, but it has been a worry that having a baby would be leaving us short!

OP posts:
Rainy34 · 02/01/2015 18:22

Hi Mrs

I think the most costly part when they are small babies is the nappies, wipes and cream, I'm not sure how many nappies they go through when they are first born , i would maybe say 8 to 10 nappies a day and then maybe 6 a day once they are a little older, Also some of the parents i work with use Tesco and Asda brand nappies and they seem to be just as good as pampers ( i work in a nursery so i think that would be a rough estimate if i was to ask the children parents) then it would be milk that would cost you next but if you breast feed you can save and as they get older it would be weaning food such as vegetables and fruit until they more solid food, and then clothing

then before baby comes you need to buy pram, clothing, nappies etc, cot ,car seat , bottles and steriliser and probably other things i haven't thought off!!

I have a couple of thousand saved at the moment, the joy of saving and not getting pregnant as quick as we thought!!, you also have nine months to save once you fall pregnant too,

hope this helps

GuybrushThreepwoodMP · 02/01/2015 18:16

You will never have enough savings! If you're financially comfortable and own your house, I wouldn't worry about it. Dh and I both earn well but due to renting in London for 10 years, have no savings and will possibly never own our own place. We had dd 2 years ago and we're fine.
Babies don't need to cost too much- somewhere to sleep, a way to feed, some basic clothes. That's it initially. I honestly wouldn't even bother doing any calculations unless you are really struggling. Life is too short.

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