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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how much a baby costs?

53 replies

Kidsandcash · 18/09/2021 11:45

Hi all!

NC as going to expose some of our financials, we are trying for a baby and have worked out our financials which show we would have a total income of about 2.6k per month after tax and with child benefit.

Our current outgoings are about 1.9k per month, which would leave us 700 per month ‘extra’ to pay for all things baby related. We wouldn’t need to pay childcare fees as I would stay at home for a year and our income (this is with that calculated in) and my income would go up again after that.

We live a fairly low key lifestyle but as below on what we spend;

400 mortgage - 2 bed house so we have room for a child’s bedroom.
250 food - includes occasional takeaways etc
100 elec and gas
100 council tax
100 - water, Netflix, House insurance, Internet, homecare, misc house bits
40 - pet insurance for our cat (has claimed before hence high)
100 - travel (I work at home) partner has small commute
130 - Car insurances and tax (cars owned)
250 - joint savings and holiday fund, sometimes goes on things like the ho
300 - fun money, we split this pretty evenly, going out with friends, dinner out, etc
60 - phone contracts
50 - clothes (usually spend in one go every 6 months or so)

If we added 700 a month to those outgoings does that seem enough to look after a baby too?

OP posts:
Original poster
Kidsandcash · 18/09/2021 11:48

*like the house Confused

OP posts:
converseandjeans · 18/09/2021 11:49

A baby doesn't really cost much if you can stay home. They don't really need much. They get more expensive as they get older I find. However if you can go back to work at some point that should be fine.

happypet · 18/09/2021 11:53

I found this book interesting (ebay, £1!). Its dated now, but there might be a newer version, and even the older one has some great budgeting tips. Also, what you really should buy new, and what you can get 2nd hand.

Babynomics- Money saving tips for smart parents by Madeline Thomas.

Ponoka7 · 18/09/2021 11:53

Where in the country do you live? It is well enough for a baby. It's when they are older they cost money, as well as childcare. Price everything that you need, equipment wise. Then look at nappies/clothes/wipes etc. The costs soar at about 3, then carry on rising, but none of us know what will happen by then and it's often a matter of cutting your cloth.

Samafe · 18/09/2021 11:54

@converseandjeans

A baby doesn't really cost much if you can stay home. They don't really need much. They get more expensive as they get older I find. However if you can go back to work at some point that should be fine.
Well, they cost a bit also at the beginning. They need diapers, clothes, formula if you are not breastfeeding, clothes and all the basics. But it is true that the cost goes higher with time.

Can I ask how can you be sure that your income will go up in the future?

Generally speaking, I find anyway that (within reasonable limits) you can always find a solution and money should not block you from having a DC if you really desire to build a family.

CardiganAddict · 18/09/2021 11:55

Childcare is the biggest cost, then nappies.
Personally we had an initial outlay of £200 for a decent pushchair + cot mattress + plastics bathtub then ~£70 for a blender about 6 months in. Everything else we were either gifted or was second hand! People were really keen to get rid of their old stuff.
After that little to no food costs as it was all breastfeeding or home made. I just blended whatever we were eating that night.
Nappies depends on the child - we went through about 10/ day to start with. A months worth, was about £40/50 in total if I remember correctly. 2 of the big boxes from the supermarket.
Hope this helps

TimeForTeaAndG · 18/09/2021 11:56

What kind of costs are you foreseeing for a baby? Most of the essentials can be found 2nd hand, crib, buggy, baby gates, and don't all need to be bought straight away. Car seat and isofix base if your car has the anchors will probably be the biggest expense. Bottles and steriliser if you are planning on bottle feeding, if you're going to try to breastfeed then they can be bought later if needed, along with a pump/storage bags.

Ponoka7 · 18/09/2021 11:57

What I will day is when your DP says that he wants a baby, really dig to see if he wants to co-parent and go through what that would mean and change. Will he support you during your maternity leave? Will he expect you to be a housewife during ML? Does he seem to get how much change a baby brings? Is he respectful towards mothers/women and see how life choices can be curtailed because of women doing most of the parenting? Money is the easy bit to navigate.

Wowjustwow99 · 18/09/2021 11:58

I found minus child care costs a baby be a cheap or as expensive as you want them to be.
I have a DD who is 18 months now. She has only ever has Aldi or Lidi nappies with no nappy rash etc but I have a friend who will only use pampers and they cost at least double. They will only get the kids clothes from Next and John Lewis £££
I happily get most DD clothes from the supermarkets or 2nd hand off Facebook. Most the 2nd hand clothes are like new as they aren't in them that long.
We bought a 2nd hand pram, the only things we have bought new really are car seats and shoes.
My daughter has not gone without anything but you don't have to spend the earth Smile

Siameasy · 18/09/2021 11:59

It’s more the fact that if you go back to work part time or you stay at home there’s a financial hit. If you drop hours at work that will affect your pension. And then you may pay for childcare of course.
Yes they need some things but you’re probably not going to go out as much/go on as many holidays/be that bothered about buying stuff for yourself for a while so it sort of counteracts it.

SinoohXaenaHide · 18/09/2021 12:00

What a baby costs is typically about 120% of the spare income you would have if you didn't have a baby. And that's ok because you don't have time/space/energy for some of the things you would otherwise have spent money on.

People in all income brackets have babies, and the ones who have a lot of money will spend a lot of money. There is no set amount that is a standard cost, there's only your own decisions about how much you are prepared to pay.

Hopeislost · 18/09/2021 12:05

We didn't spend loads of money. We had a secondhand cot and Moses basket and just bought new mattresses. We spent about £200 on reusable wipes and nappies that sorted us for over 2 years!

Clothing can be expensive when they're little and going up a size every few months. Supermarket clothes are perfectly fine and we got quite a few hand-me-downs too. Whenever there was a sale I'd stock up in the next size, or ask for the next size clothes/shoes for Christmas and birthdays.

Polmuggle · 18/09/2021 12:09

John Lewis have just brought out any 'anyday' nursery range which is so so reasonable!

Fsa approved cot for £75 and a bassinet for £35!

Embroidery · 18/09/2021 12:18

Its the set up costs with babies.

There arent any running costs. Apart from nappies / wipes. Some toiletries but they dont use much. Maybe £50 per month on everything. Formula would make it a bit more. Baby food jars after 6months, or just make your own baby food.

Youll get a lot of gifts too.
No childcare costs if youre not using childcare.

PeonyTime · 18/09/2021 12:30

If that 2.6k income is with you on Maternity pay, you will be fine.
Yes, there are some set up costs, but after that nappies, clothes and formula for some dont cost anything like 700/month.

If you havnt factored in your salary drop, it could be tight. I lost way more than 700/month once on SMP - and if you take the full year, your income could be 0 by the end.

riotlady · 18/09/2021 12:36

Sounds fine to me, we had much less when DD was born. Childcare costs aside, most baby things (pushchair, clothes, nappies) can either cost a lot if you go new, fancy brands or can be had for a steal secondhand or budget options.

CaddieDawg · 18/09/2021 12:38

It sounds fine as you'll be able to save now for big expenses, pram/car seat/clothes/cot etc, then £700 spare pm whilst on mat leave is more than enough to cover nappies/formula and everything else that is a recurring cost while they are here.

The main element to consider is childcare when you return to work, if you return, and how that impacts finances long term. Nursery for 3 days per week here is £600pm, and you still pay that when they are Ill and you are therefore off work to look after your child, which in the first few years is likely to be at least once per month if returning to work FT. Consider long term goals, do you need to save for a new car/house etc or happy as you are?

WoozySnoozy · 18/09/2021 12:42

250 - joint savings and holiday fund, sometimes goes on things like the ho
300 -fun money

A lot of this can be spent on the baby

CoastalSwimmer · 18/09/2021 12:46

The main hit to finances is either giving up work or paying for childcare. Everything else can be done as cheaply or costly as you choose.

Will you need to move house in the next few years (extra bedroom for another child?). That will be a major consideration too. It's usually easier to secure a good mortgage for a move to a family home before children comealong and hit your income / outgoings.

Jemi202 · 18/09/2021 12:51

Echoing what peonytime said- the biggest cost is not working!
It’s way more cost saving for me to return to work at 6 months when pay drops to SMP and DH and I cover childcare than it is for me to take a year off.

I would look really carefully - unless you have an exceptionally generous employer who gives you a years paid leave. If that £2.6k includes your salary then you’ll have to bear in mind your income is going to drop dramatically.

As it is I’m expecting and we have only spent a few hundred quid setting ourselves up. We joined a local free giveaway Facebook group and no kidding I could dress triplets in a new outfit every day for a year with all the free clothes we got!

bonbonours · 18/09/2021 12:53

Washable nappies save you a huge amount in the long run, especially if you have a second or subsequent child. Breastfeeding and making your own baby food will save you a lot.

As said by others there is no answer, most people just muddle along according to their means and make choices about what is important to them.

Definitely they get more expensive as they get older though....

Cakeandslippers · 18/09/2021 12:59

Echo the other comments, babies can cost as much as you want but they don't have to cost much at all.

You've allowed £300 a month for going out to dinner etc.... unlikely you'll find the time to be doing much of that, at least for the first few months so that'll save you some. If you're anything like me though you'll end up spending it meeting other mums for coffee and cake!

twinningatlife · 18/09/2021 13:00

300 - fun money, we split this pretty evenly, going out with friends, dinner out, etc

This is a nice to have not an overhead

It needs adding to your £700

Also the £250 a month savings. - luxury for most families I have to say especially when only one is working

£1250 disposable income something most families can only dream of. You'll be more than fine

stairway · 18/09/2021 13:14

It’s possible to get everything you need for a baby free if that’s what you want. If you can breastfeed then that’s free food for 6 months. You would need nursing bras, but you can get those free on freecycle too if you really want to. Nappies aren’t really that expensive either, you don’t need to change them after every wee. Remember you get all your holiday allowance too so use that for the last 2 months of maternity leave.

YouJustDoYou · 18/09/2021 13:29

For those who don't have your kind of income/can afford formula, it's perfectly manageable.