Babies aren't expensive

[ImYourMama]

Hi all, I'm hoping you can help. I'm new to Mumsnet and I'm 22 weeks pregnant with first baby. So far myself and DH have bought everything we can think of she'll need, in the summer sales. We've not paid full price for anything! But I'm worries about costs when she's here.

Everyone says it's so expensive having a baby, but I can't work out what will change aside from buying nappies/wipes and possibly formula if breast feeding isn't successful. We can just about manage on maternity pay and DH's wage if these are the main expenses, but am I missing something? I always thought babies were as expensive as you wanted them to be?

Is it more when they get older?

Please help, I want to be financially ready and I feel like I'm missing something obvious

Fair enough, I have a (cheap) bouncy chair which I like because then DS can watch me.

We've been bought a playmat and a baby nest as gifts - so she will have somewhere to be set down safely (and I think the cats will love that too!) we've bought clothes from tiny baby (she's likely to be a bit early) through to 9-12 months to minimise the ongoing cost of clothes during Mat leave. The food is something to bear in mind :)