Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think we can afford to have a baby on our income?

211 replies

LeilaBell · 30/05/2016 10:50

DH and I have been talking about starting a family for some time. We both want to start a family, but we disagree on the timing.

DH says we possibly couldn't afford to have children in London on our current income, so we should wait until our salaries hopefully go up in a few years.We both feel ready for a baby but DH thinks our income in London is not enough to start a family, while I think we would be just fine.

Our household income (two earners) is nearly £70k a year, we have no mortgage/ rent (inherited a two bedroom property) and no debt. On top of that we aren't big spenders, so we have a good amount of savings for maternity leave/ emergencies.

I think that given our income we can afford at least a baby (if not two!). Perhaps I think so just because I am naive and I don't realize how expensive babies/ children are?

AIBU to think we can afford a baby already? Are children so much expensive than I think? Is having children in London only for the millionaires nowadays?

OP posts:
DaveCamoron · 30/05/2016 10:51

Are you joking?

MyBreadIsEggy · 30/05/2016 10:52

Please tell me you are having laugh....
DH and I have one 13 month old DD and another baby on the way. We manage on £26k Hmm

OohMavis · 30/05/2016 10:52
Hmm
Bearbehind · 30/05/2016 10:53

Is having children in London only for the millionaires nowadays?

Yes - not a single person who earns under a million has children in London? Hmm

Is this a stealth boast or a daily mail reporter?

TheHiphopopotamus · 30/05/2016 10:53

Sounds to me like your DH just doesn't want a baby. A lot of people have kids on a lot less money than that.

Cerseirys · 30/05/2016 10:53

Has to be a stealth boast, surely? It fact I'm not sure it's particularly stealthy!

OohMavis · 30/05/2016 10:54

Is having children in London only for the millionaires nowadays?

Yes. Every newborn baby you see in London has millionaires for parents.

CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt · 30/05/2016 10:55

Millions of people raise children on a fraction of your income.

Is this post serious??

whois · 30/05/2016 10:56

You have a free 2 bed flat and are asking if you can afford to have a baby? Yeah.... You can.

Although you should try to save a 'rent' portion to try and move up into something bigger if you want 2 children.

meowli · 30/05/2016 10:56

If you wait until you think you can 'afford' to have children, you'll never have children.

silverpenny · 30/05/2016 10:56

Is this a wind up or daily mail fodder?

stiffstink · 30/05/2016 10:56

Can I just check you are talking about human babies and not babies made of diamonds?

BarryTheKestrel · 30/05/2016 10:56

You must be joking!
Granted I don't live in London but it's only really housing that costs more in London.
We happily manage on £24K a year and we rent!
If you believe you can't afford a baby on £70K a year you never will.

whois · 30/05/2016 10:56

Who inherited the flat - you or him?

Bearbehind · 30/05/2016 10:57

It's actually incredibly offensive to post on a parenting forum wondering if you can afford a child when you earn £70k and have no housing costs- you need to take a look around you OP and get a grip.

TwentyCupsOfTea · 30/05/2016 10:57

Your husband doesn't soubd like he wants a baby.

OohMavis · 30/05/2016 10:59

stiffstink Grin

formerbabe · 30/05/2016 10:59

London is primarily expensive for families and everyone else because of the cost of housing. If you are mortgage/rent free then I can't see why being in London is prohibitive.

DuckAndPancakes · 30/05/2016 11:00

A baby human?.....

MrsBungle · 30/05/2016 11:00

No rent/mortgage and £70k a year? No, you definitely can't afford a baby Confused

CoolforKittyCats · 30/05/2016 11:01

I think you are having a stealth bost about what you have

CrazyDuchess · 30/05/2016 11:02

Nope - totally not enough money... I'd put off reproducing until you are a millionaire living in London Hmm

SansaryaAgain · 30/05/2016 11:02

DP and I live in London with one DS and manage on about that. We pay rent on a two-bed flat in a nice area and DS goes to nursery. So if we can do it, so can you. However I suspect the real problem here is that your DH doesn't want a child, so if this isn't some weird stealth boast then that is what you have to worry about, not the cost of living.

yorkshapudding · 30/05/2016 11:03

Ooh this should be good

(puts feet up, grabs popcorn)

Sighing · 30/05/2016 11:04

You can only have a baby if you both want one. A baby requires a lifestyle change and a change of priorities for finance. It sounds as though your H isn't prepared to make that compromise yet / might not want to. What does he think will happen to uour income when you have children? Does he expect both of you to head straight back to work as it is? Has he calculated childcare? Have you?