Finance Friday: How to Prepare Financially for a New Baby

Whether you are already expecting a child or you want to have a baby, financial issues will be a major concern. Could you afford another child? How much money would you need to ensure the comfortable and happy life of the new family member?

There are several things you can do in terms of financial planning. Minor adjustments in your spending and saving habits will help you succeed.

Come Up with a Financial Estimate:

Estimate the costs you can expect during the pregnancy and after the birth of your child.

Think about basic necessities, expenses connected to the birth of the child, doctor’s visits and day care apart from the baby furniture, clothes and diapers. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the average family spends 165,000 dollars on childcare from the birth of a baby to the child’s 18th birthday.

You should also be prepared for additional expenditures. Fertility treatments may be needed and these could be costly. Develop an emergency fund for unforeseen situations.

Cut Back Unnecessary Expenditure:

To start saving for a baby, you will have to do some spending reorganization. Think about the expenditure you can eliminate without compromising your family’s quality of life.

You can cut back on entertainment. Instead of going to the cinema, spend the night at home and watch a favorite movie. A restaurant dinner can also be recreated at home. Such activities will be great bonding options and they will help you decrease spending.

There are other possibilities you can cut down on. Mobile phone usage, cable subscriptions, gym memberships and other conveniences could be reconsidered. Once you do these changes, you will find out that you are now capable of saving more money.

Be careful with the baby purchases you make, as well. Some future parents get too carried away. Once the baby is born, they figure out that there are too many clothes and too many toys that the baby will never even try or use. Have a plan and buy solely the things that are absolutely necessary. Everything else could be bought after the birth.

Check the Condition of Your Saving Account:

Check the condition of your saving account. Be aware of the amount of money you have, so you can accurately determine your future saving goals.

Examine your bank reports from the past months to figure out what spending path you have developed, how much you have in terms of interest and whether you have withdrawn any money from the account. Know you credit history and score. If you have any worries or doubts after you pull your credit report, talk to a forensic accountant. Visit their websites where they defined their services. Check it here. A forensic accountant will investigate your suspicions of fraudulent activity, in case your account is missing money.

Use some of your savings to start a baby fund. The money should be dedicated solely to the pregnancy, the birth and the initial care of your child.

Reduce Credit Card Usage and Debt:

Your credit card can be an enemy. It provides readily available cash but you could find yourself incapable of repaying the debt.

Do your best to repay the credit card debt before you begin financially planning for a baby. Having to pay back will slow your saving efforts. Once you manage to deal with the debt, refrain from using the credit card again. Forget that you even own it! The credit card should be used in emergency situations only.

The Importance of Getting the Right Kind of Insurance:

Finally, think about insurance possibilities and the manner in which it will help you get the money needed for a baby.

For a start, maximize your health insurance benefits. Disability insurance is also going to help. Something might go wrong during the delivery and getting this kind of insurance will provide some much needed financial resources. Make sure that pregnancy and possible complications are covered under the type of disability insurance you choose.

Talk to a consultant to figure out how much life insurance you are going to need. Both you and your partner should be covered. You should also consider the most appropriate type of life insurance for your current financial status. Families that are currently experiencing budgetary strain can opt for term life insurance.

Remember to enjoy the moment! Do the necessary financial planning but understand that you will manage, regardless of the circumstances. Have fun and create some special memories. You and your partner will be capable of handling the financial issues, as long as you are ready to make some compromises and to do basic adjustments.

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Guest Post Bio: This is a guest post written by Nick Anderson. He is an experience finance writer

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