We've just found out I'm pregnant but we planned a new kitchen

[ChocolateChip2016]

We moved in to our new house about 3 months ago and planned to get a new kitchen but have had to do a lot of other work that we hadn't planned (new fence, all new windows on the front of the house etc). We have decorated everywhere we need to and have done all the work. The kitchen is liveable but not to my taste. We have been tc for a year so we are absolutely over the moon that I'm 6 weeks pregnant with our first!! Due to a family member passing earlier this year, we are in a great position financially if we don't get a new kitchen as we'll have enough savings to get through maternity leave, which we can't believe. But we know we'll get a new kitchen at some point so part of me just wants to get it out of the way before baby arrives and so that we don't regret doing it sooner in a few years. Everyone without kids has told us to just go for it. But I'd hate to be in a position where we have a lovely new kitchen but are tight for money on MAT leave. What would you do?? Thanks!!

I'd do the kitchen

Firstly can I just say best MN thread title ever!

Definitely do the kitchen. It is a nightmare job when you have tiny people in the house.

I'd be inclined to go use the money for maternity leave rather than worry about doing the kitchen.
What kind of budget are you thinking for your kitchen? If it's going to be a really expensive one with all top end appliances and fixtures that would make a difference but if you are going for a more budget option then perhaps you can do both?

Do the kitchen! We did ours while I was pregnant and was so glad we did - would have been even more stressful with a baby and it was nice to be able to enjoy it while I was on mat leave

mintthins Thanks!

PoloZolo Definitely a budget ones. We'd get laminate wood effect floor instead of real wood for example. And we're looking at just getting new cupboard doors instead of ripping it all out. Thanks for input

Congratulations how bad is the kitchen? If it's holding together but not you taste how about a paint job? I'm 6 months pg now so we've opted to redecorate walls, cupboards and some new art it and it's feels lovely and new.

Actually, I would set up a savings account that you could use to transfer a regular top-up "wage" to you whilst you are on reduced maternity pay. Practice living on less now and work out how much is spare for inessential work?
You have until baby is mobile to do diy easily...

If you do the kitchen now it will inevitably get a bit bashed up during the toddler years (especially if you have more than one DC).

So I'd say either hold off, or make sure you choose a design which is robust and can be easily "repaired" - for example, a painted or paintable wood kitchen is a good option as it can very easily be repainted. Veneers or "foil wrapped" doors aren't so great as once it's chipped it's chipped.

Great thread title

If you do the kitchen now it will inevitably get a bit bashed up during the toddler years..

Nope, not the case with us, or anyone I know with new kitchens and new families. We had a new kitchen (new house built) the year before I conceived and no amount of damage was done once DD was toddling around.

Kitchen first.
1). You will have something substantial to show for your money.
2). Belts can always be tightened before and during maternity leave.

Get the kitchen done and out of the way. It will be much harder to cope with all the noise, dust and hassle with a baby/toddler. And it will make you happy to have a lovely, new kitchen..

Congratulations!

Do the kitchen.
We did ours in Dec 2005 and found out I was pg in Jan 2006, followed by 5 years leave.
If we hadn't done our kitchen then, it would prob still be the original kitchen now! Which was horrid

Do the kitchen now

And I loved the thread title op

I agree, among the best ever thread titles. MN rarely makes me laugh out loud so thank you, and have a lovely baby. Maybe next time you TTC it will turn out to be a dear little kitchen.

Wouldn't it be great if you could just have a 'special cuddle' and nine months later you'd have the perfect kitchen? No builders, no mess, no choosing handles and tiles!

Congrats on your pregnancy.

I'd do the kitchen now, much easier to do before you have DC.

And YY to start living off maternity pay now!

Maybe if people ask if it's a girl or a boy you can tell them it's a kitchen

Oh god just buy the kitchen if that's what you had planned

There's really no need to disrupt your life in advance of a baby that's still 6 months off being born!

Kitchen!

Do it now if you can. We had building work done when ours was 10 months old and, trust me, any renovation is much more stressful once there is a baby around.

Also, remember than maternity leave is actually the cheap bit. Yes, you'll need some new stuff but not as much as John Lewis would have you believe and there is a great second hand market. In my experience, babies start getting expensive when you have to factor childcare into the mix.