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First Child

I found out that my boyfriend and I are expecting our first child, just had my ultrasound and I’m 8 weeks. I’m due at the end of March. Is there any advice you could give to us? We are super nervous as we wanted to be more financially stable before we started having children as we both had rough childhoods.

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That you will never really feel ready or be ready, but when it happens it just comes natural and everything will be fine. Just don’t take what people say too seriously

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I agree with Felicia. You'll never feel ready, especially financially. There's never a right time but you will make it work. We did. Make sure you have support all around you and don't be afraid to ask for help. You'll be a fab mum!

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I’m not sure what your financial situation is and how much you can afford to save but my mom told me when she found out she was pregnant she saved $100 every paycheck into a savings account for me and I thought it was a good start! (She also continued after I was born)

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Also my husband and I make a good amount of money together and I still don’t feel financially ready! We will figure it out cause that’s what mamas do 💕

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Hey im 8 weeks too and its our first as well! Congrats!

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We were the same about worrying at being financially stable but it’s so hard. You will work it out and you have 9 months to save some money. Family will help. Don’t stress too much and enjoy it. It took me until 14 weeks to adjust to the exciting time ahead. Xx

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congrats

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Save 10% of every paycheck into a savings account! Seems like a small amount but it goes a long way🙌🏻
Congratulations !🎉

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Everything happens for a reason I was in same position now Iv ended up with a Morageand everything ready for baby to come in October, while doing a house up also in just over a month still working through a pandemic and were just getting there!!! good luck x

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Everyone says how expensive it is to have a baby, but I was shocked to find how little we had to buy. Moms of older kids are always looking to unload old clothes and toys, often in great condition because they grow so fast. Get on free cycling sites and Facebook marketplace to look for baby stuff, connect with local moms who have kids a little older. Especially for the first year, they don’t need a ton of toys or stuff. Talk to moms about what you really need and all the stuff you don’t. Also, right now diapers are $8 off at Costco, so you can start to stock up. Good luck!

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Buy used baby clothes. I have lots of used stuff and honestly saves money kids grow so fast. Get on wic especially if you formula feed they pay for your formula and baby food

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We always wondered how we would know how to look after a baby and it’s the weirdest thing because you get home and you just know what to do.
Don’t buy loads of baby clothes mine was in and out of some within a week. We kept him in baby gro’s for first 3 months as outfits were a waste of time.
If you want to breastfeed do loads of research on it I thought it was a case of latching on and away you go, it’s really not 😒
You will both be amazing and it really does come naturally

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Family culture difference on money

Sorry this is long, I hope some of you get to the end and give advice!!!

So I’m a very thrifty person, things are tight at the moment, the cost of living crisis and my house is heated by oil so things are extortionate. We aren’t on the bread line but we aren’t flush, hubby might be made redundant so there is some financial pressure.

Sometimes I buy my sons something nicer, on the justification that I can sell it on after (♥️ vinted ♥️). I have also been planning on pretty much breaking even most of the baby things I bought from face book market place, side by crib, baby changing unit, etc.

Hubby and I have different money cultures with our families (he’s Indian, I’m British). I’m my family we don’t mix money, we would help each other out if someone was in trouble and will get each other gifts on special occasions. With hubby’s family money is much more fluid, they will give each other things worth thousands of £ just because.

Hubby’s brother bought him a new laptop and a new Google phone, he’s been very generous to hubby. Hubby hasn’t given the same back because brother is much richer.

Hubby and I mostly share finances. If it’s relevant I’m the higher earner.

Now to the point! My babies are so cute they’ve given hubby’s brother (currently single) baby rabies. He’s asked for our baby stuff when we’re done with it. He’s been so generous to hubby I feel really stingy saying no. But I’d never have bought some of the stuff if I wasn’t going to get a return on it - the thought makes me a bit anxious. If we gave all our baby stuff given the second hand value it still wouldn’t equal what the brother had given hubby.


I thought maybe I could give him some stuff but sell some stuff, but hubby said then his brother will just have to go out and buy that stuff, so I should name my price and ask his brother for the money. That makes me feel very uncomfortable, given how generous the brother has been to hubby.

So what do I do ladies? Give it all and suck it up? Give part of it and sell parts on Vinted/FB, or ask hubbys brother for money for it and be uncomfortable? Or do you see another solution?

No one is being entitled or rude here, just a culture difference I need to navigate.

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My relationship is failing I feel so alone.. I need a girlfriend to talk to :(

I'm a sahm and I feel so stuck... anyone going through the same thing? I could really use someone to relate to and talk through this with. Feeling so vulnerable but if I don't I won't be able to pull myself out of this

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Going back to work!

Already thinking about this! Told my boss I was pregnant this week at 10 weeks, he was so happy for me. He’s recently became a first time Dad and was showing me pictures of his baby. I told him my plans about going back after 6 months and he looked at me like I was mad, am I!? I absolutely love my job and cannot imagine giving it up, I manage a team and am petrified my position won’t be there if I had a year off. My husband gets 6 months full pay so the plan would be for him to have the last 6 months off and I also made it clear to my boss that I would like to go part time. That way we can hopefully parent together 4/7 days rather than just the weekend! I am such an overthinking! 🤣 but this is what I’m struggling with the most, I’ve worked full time since I was 17 (12 years ago) and the max time I’ve had off in one go is 2 weeks when I got married. I’m sooo excited to be a Mum and we decided now was the right time, which it 100% is! But I feel so on edge about not working! I’m sure once I’m on maternity leave I won’t even think about work! Has anyone else felt the same?

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Go to dinner ideas

Looking for recipes you use in your family that are not the traditional lasagna, shepards pie, ect

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What are we giving our soon-to-be 3yo for their birthdays?

We have the magnetiles, we have the kinetic sand and play doh, we have the play kitchen…

Literally, is there anything left in the world to buy this spoilt kid? 😅

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Baby groups?

Hello there!!
I hope you enjoying the 5month babies 🫠 the cuteness outweighs everything over here.
We live in the area of Croydon & need to start going to baby groups ( I NEED it more than him though) but I am a little bit clueless. Any recommendations?
We are happy to travel a bit too.
Thanks ☺️

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