Did you carefully consider the costs of a second DC or just go for it knowing you’d make it work?

[Thinkerish]

People often say ‘you make it work, hand me downs etc, once you’ve got one you may as well have more’

We have our first DD on the way and we’d like another someday but just cannot see how the average family affords costs twice.

Did you give the finances much thought before or did you just go for it and find your feet along the way?

We did carefully consider it.

Except the fact that it would be twins.

Gosh! This has happened to a few people we know as well 😂

We thought about the timing, so that a car loan would be paid off by the time I went onto zero pay…for returning to work I altered my shifts so for a period they were opposite dh’s -he worked days and I worked evenings

Oh and ds really suited dd’s pink hand me down babygrows 😂

There was never any doubt that we wanted a second, and tbh the financial side never even entered out heads. We're not particularly well off, but very comfortable.

I have no idea how people in America afford to have kids, where the mere act of giving birth can bankrupt a person.

Yes, thought it through completely. We were older, had equity, one salary was manageable, if a little tight to begin with.

In those days mat leave was 6 months and stat mat for far less than 39 weeks was three and nine pence. No pat leave, no 15 hours of free nursery, no tax credits.l

We were ok, I had already decreased my working week from full time, down to 4 days, then down to 2 days, so we were used to what money was coming in. Yes, there was extra expense with nappies and formula, plus second was born different time of year, so clothes needed, although I did buy some secondhand, as we weren’t going to have anymore, so it didn’t matter as much when they got ruined, we were fortunate to have my mother in law who looked after my children.

Just went for it. No financial calculations at all.

We also only took 1 salary into account when we bought our first house

We planned for one but had twins.

Not really much choice.

2nd was a happy accident, so no planning. Always hoped for in the future, but landed earlier than expected.

Didn’t even really consider it for number 1! I don’t see it as double the cost as you’ll already have all the baby gear. Obviously have to consider nursery costs.

Always knew we wanted more than one so no more thought needed.

We planned it so that the eldest was starting reception in the September and DC2 was born in November so wouldn't have two in nursery when I went back to work.

I was on the pill when I got pregnant with my second.
No hand me downs as I had got rid of all the baby stuff as I wasn't having another!
To be honest we made it work by both having full time jobs, paid for all of the childcare required as no family help either.
It was hard but I wouldn't change anything.

2nd was completely unexpected and I didn't want a termination, so we didn't consider finances at all. It is tight but we're just about managing. A 3rd would be out of the question - just completely unmanageable.